Lucas Oil Stadium

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Lucas Oil Stadium

Lucas Oil Stadium viewed from the southeast.
Location	500 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
Coordinates	39°45′36.2″N 86°9′49.7″W / 39.760056°N 86.163806°W / 39.760056; -86.163806Coordinates: 39°45′36.2″N 86°9′49.7″W / 39.760056°N 86.163806°W / 39.760056; -86.163806
Broke ground	September 20, 2005
Opened	August 16, 2008 First NFL game: Indianapolis Colts vs Buffalo Bills, August 24, 2008
Owner	Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority[1]
Operator	Capital Improvement Board
Surface	FieldTurf[2]
Construction cost	$720 million[3]
Architect	HKS, Inc.
Capacity	Football: 63,000 (expandable to 70,000) Basketball: 70,000 (approx)
Tenants
Indianapolis Colts (NFL) (2008-present) IHSAA (Football State Finals) (2008-present) ISSMA (Band State Finals) (2008-present) NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four (2010, 2015) NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four (2011, 2016) Bands of America (2008-present) Drum Corps International (2009-2013, 2015-2018) Super Bowl XLVI (2012)

Lucas Oil Stadium is a retractable roof stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium celebrated its grand opening on August 14, 2008^[4] and its ribbon-cutting ceremony August 16, 2008. It replaces the RCA Dome as the home field of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. In addition to the stadium, a new high-rise JW Marriott Indianapolis will be constructed as part of the major expansion of the Indiana Convention Center. It is scheduled to host Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

HKS, Inc. is the architectural firm credited with the stadium’s design, with Walter P. Moore working as the Structural Engineer of Record. The stadium features a retractable roof and window wall, allowing the Colts to play outdoors. The surface is FieldTurf. The elements of kinetic architecture will provide for quick conversion of the facility to accommodate a variety of events—allowing for increased use of the building and increased return on the investment.

On February 28, 2006, Indiana native Forrest Lucas announced that his company Lucas Oil had purchased the naming rights for $121 million over 20 years.

The retro look to the new stadium is a result of Indianapolis' liking towards the historic fieldhouse appearance of sports venues from decades ago. Conseco Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, and the Pepsi Coliseum are other examples of large sports venues (both new and old) around the city with the same type of design.

Now that Lucas Oil Stadium has opened, work will gear up on expanding the current Indiana Convention Center (ICC). In order to expand the ICC, the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority has demolished the RCA Dome and will proceed to finance, design, construct and own an expansion to the facility, which will be located on the current site of the dome. The Authority anticipates that the ICC expansion project will be complete by 2010. Once finished, it will also be leased to and operated by the Capital Improvement Board.

[edit] Features

Seating capacity for football games is 63,000; an increase of more than 5,000 over the RCA Dome.^[5] The stadium, when it will host a Super Bowl, can be expanded to a capacity of 70,000. The basketball configuration will exceed the 70,000 minimum seating capacity required to host the NCAA Final Four. Unlike most basketball contests played in dome facilities, the court at Lucas Oil Stadium will be placed in the center of the facility instead of one of the end zones.

The stadium contains two massive Daktronics high definition scoreboards, each one 97 feet (30 m) wide and 53 feet (16 m) tall, which are situated in the northwest and southeast corners of the stadium^[6]

[edit] Mechanized retractable roof

Lucas Oil Stadium has a retractable roof designed by Uni-Systems that divides lengthwise into two retractable panels weighing 2.7 million pounds each, with each half sliding down the sloping roof of the stadium into the open position. The stadium roof is gabled, with the peak running down the center of the field, paralleling the sidelines. A cable drum drive system drives the retractable roof panels up and down the sloped track. Rather than dragging the 1-1/2" diameter galvanized cables across the fixed roof, this system’s patented design lays the roof cable down, and then picks it back up. In nine minutes, the roof panels will simultaneously move to the open position at the touch of a button. To guard the stadium’s interior from weather conditions the roof is designed with a large cap that will run the length of a sealed overlap between the parting roof panels. Just beneath the sealed overlap will be a large trough, finalizing the retractable roof’s layers of protection. This retractable roof is the first ever that divides lengthwise^[7].

The Lucas Oil Stadium retractable roof system is operated by 32 cables, each 1-1/2” in diameter, with galvanized right and left hand lay. They were manufactured specifically for this project by Wire Rope Corporation of America and furnished by The Tway Company Inc. located in Indianapolis. The lengths vary from 232’6” to 245’ and include a Johnson Wedge Socket installed on one end that terminates the cables at the roof peak 288’ above the stadium floor.

Lucas Oil Stadium's retractable roof was open for the first regular season game, but closed on the second because of the possibility of thunderstorms, said Pete Ward, Colts senior executive vice president. The new stadium is not waterproof, he said. The field has no drainage and speakers, scoreboards and other electronic equipment are exposed, so the Capital Improvement Board closely monitors pregame weather. Because there was a 30 percent possibility of "pop-up" storms and the roof requires 12 minutes to close, the decision was made at 2:30 to close the door.^[8]

[edit] Moveable window wall

A large windowed gate at one end of the stadium allows additional light while closed and allows for a more open feel while open. It is the largest movable glass wall in the world.^{[citation needed]}The transportable window wall is 244 feet (74 m) by 88 feet (27 m), and composed of six 88 ft (27 m) × 38 ft (12 m) glass-clad panels. Each panel rides on a steel rail while the wall opens and closes, and is supported by two hardened steel wheels. The window separates at the center, with three panels amassed on each side when in the open position. The six wall panels move simultaneously during opening and closing in only six minutes. Window seals were installed, fully shielding spectators from any weather conditions. When in the closed position, the perimeter of each wall panel is sealed with rain-tight, air-tight seals.

The north retractable window offers a spectacular view of downtown Indianapolis during games, concerts and other events due to the stadium's angled position on the city block.

[edit] Gate sponsorship

The gates leading into Lucas Oil Stadium are sponsored by four different companies. The north gate is sponsored by Lucas Oil, the south gate is sponsored by hhgregg, the east gate is sponsored by Sprint Nextel, and the west gate is sponsored by Huntington Bank. The concourse area on the ground floor past their respective gates are heavily decorated by these sponsors.

[edit] Planned events

Early phases of construction.

It was announced on August 8, 2006 that Drum Corps International would move its corporate offices to Indianapolis and that the DCI World Championships would be the inaugural event for the stadium, to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium every year at least through 2018.^[9] However, on April 4, 2008, it was announced that the stadium would not be complete in time, so the event was moved to Memorial Stadium on the campus of Indiana University for 2008, and will be held at the Lucas Oil Stadium beginning in 2009.^[10]

The first games ever to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium occurred on August 22, 2008 and were part of the PeyBack Classic, featuring Indiana High School Football games played between Noblesville High School and Fishers High School in Game 1, followed by New Palestine High School and Whiteland Community High School in Game 2. Tyler Carroll of Fishers High School scored the first touchdown at the stadium in a Fishers win over Noblesville.^[4]

Lucas Oil Stadium and the city of Indianapolis made a bid to host Super Bowl XLV in 2011 but lost to Arlington, Texas and Cowboys Stadium by only two NFL Owner votes.^[11] Indianapolis once again made a bid to host Super Bowl XLVI, this time in 2012. On May 20, 2008, the bid was successful, defeating Houston, Texas and Glendale, Arizona for that right. The stadium is also host to the annual NFL Scouting Combine in February.

In addition to professional football games, the stadium is scheduled to host the semifinal and final rounds of the Men's Final Four in 2010, with the Women's Final Four one year later. Historically, Indianapolis has been a popular choice for the Final Four, as the NCAA makes their headquarters there, and the events come on a five-year rotation.

Other events include the Bands of America Grand National Championships ^[12] and the Indiana Marching Band State Finals ^[13], both major events for the city in Marching Band competitions. The Drum Corps International World Championships are scheduled to be held at the site every year through the 2018 season (with a break in 2013 for another event scheduled for the same weekend), and the Circle City Classic that is an annual American football game featuring two historically black colleges/universities (HBCUs) that is held in October.

Mid-stage of construction.

The 2008 NFL season featured the first NBC Sunday Night Football game of the season in the stadium, as the Colts faced the Chicago Bears in a rematch of Super Bowl XLI.^[14] The Colts lost the game 29-13.

On September 13, 2008, country music singer Kenny Chesney held the first public concert at the stadium.^[15]

[edit] Cost

Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on September 20, 2005. It was originally referred to as Indiana Stadium until Lucas Oil purchased the naming rights. The total cost of Lucas Oil Stadium was $720 million^[3]. The stadium is being financed with funds raised by the State of Indiana and the City of Indianapolis, with the Indianapolis Colts providing $100 million. Marion County has raised taxes for food and beverage sales, auto excise taxes, innkeeper's taxes and admission taxes for its share of the costs. Meanwhile, an increase in food and beverage taxes in the eight surrounding doughnut counties (with the exception of Morgan County) and the sale of Colts license plates.^[16]

[edit] Complications

Satellite image.

In August 2006, a problem was discovered concerning operating costs of the new stadium. The city's Capital Improvement Board estimates that the new stadium could cost an additional $10 million more a year to operate than the RCA Dome.^[17]

The CIB is anticipating a $20 million operating deficit for Lucas Oil Stadium in 2009. Anticipated expenses are $27.7 million—far outstripping the $7.7 million CIB expects to collect from its share of revenue from stadium events.^[18] There is concern over the long-standing implications due to low rent payments by the Colts and the high percentage of revenue the Colts keep.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lucas Oil Stadium

• Official website
• Lucas Oil Stadium page at Ballparks.com
• Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority
• ISCBA High-Quality Webcam
• Emporis Buildings Site Info
• IndyStar.com Webcam
• Link to High Quality Pictures Inside Lucas Oil Stadium
• Lucas Oil Stadium construction pictures