Lucas Oil Stadium

Infobox_Stadium
AID=/20080812/LOCAL18/808120377/1195/LOCAL18]


caption = S. Missouri Street entrance to Lucas Oil Stadium.
location = 500 South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
coordinates = coord|39|45|36.2|N|86|9|49.7|W|type:landmark Please note the satellite image as yet lacks a view of the new stadium
broke_ground = September 20, 2005
opened = August 16, 2008
owner = Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority [ [http://www.in.gov/iscba/2269.htm ISCBA: About ISCBA ] ]
operator = Capital Improvement Board
surface = FieldTurf [http://www2.indystar.com/users/factfiles/landmarks/0423_stadium_graphic.pdf]
construction_cost = $720 million [http://footballstadiumdigest.com/news/index.html?article_id=211]
architect = HKS, Inc.
tenants = Indianapolis Colts (NFL) (2008-Present)
IHSAA (Football State Finals) (2008)
ISSMA (Band State Finals) (2008)
Bands of America (2008)
Drum Corps International (2008)
2009 Men's Basketball Midwest Regionals
2010 Men's Basketball Final Four
2011 Women's Basketball Final Four
Super Bowl XLVI (2012)
seating_capacity = Football: 63,000 (expandable to 70,000)
Basketball: 70,000 (approx.)

Lucas Oil Stadium is a retractable roof stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium celebrated its grand opening on August 14, 2008 [ [http://www.wishtv.com/global/story.asp?s=8824234 WISH TV 8: Lucas Oil Stadium's Grand Opening Plans] ] 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 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, it was announced that Lucas Oil had purchased the naming rights for $120 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 will demolish 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.

Features

Seating capacity for football games is 63,000; an increase of more than 5,000 over the RCA Dome. [ [http://iccrd.com/pdf/RCA%20Dome%20Guest%20Information%20Guide.pdf 56966-Booklet ] ] 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 convert|97|ft|m wide and convert|53|ft|m tall, which are situated in the northwest and southeast corners of the stadium [cite web
last = Ingerson
first = Meagan
title = Lucas Oil Stadium scoreboards: convert|53|ft|m high, $11.4M pricetag
publisher = indystar.com
date = 2007-11-26
url = http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071126/SPORTS/71126042
accessdate = 2007-11-26 ]

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 [ [http://www.uni-systems.com/Projects/FeaturedProjectDetails.aspx?ProjectID=11&PN=Lucas%20Oil%20Stadium Uni-Systems | Project Details ] ] .

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. [Indianapolis Star, 09/22/08, http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809230363]

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. The transportable window wall is convert|244|ft|m by convert|88|ft|m, and composed of six convert|88|ft|m|abbr=on × convert|38|ft|m|abbr=on 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 stadiums angled position on the city block.

Planned events

It was announced on August 8, 2006 that Drum Corps International would move their corporate offices to Indianapolis and the DCI World Championships will be the inaugural event for the stadium, and will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium every year at least through 2018. [ [http://dci.org/news/news.cfm?news_id=ed104f9d-2d1f-4f59-9c9f-c64d6c7b9bbe Drum Corps International :: Marching Music's Major Leagueâ„¢ ] ] 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 instead. [ [http://www.wthr.com/global/story.asp?s=8121226 WTHR - Indianapolis News and Weather - Change of venue for music competition ] ]

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. [ [http://www.wishtv.com/global/story.asp?s=8824234 WISH TV 8: Lucas Oil Stadium's Grand Opening Plans] ]

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. Lucas Oil Stadium and the city of Indianapolis made a bid to host Super Bowl XLV in 2011 but lost to Arlington, Texas and the Dallas Cowboys New Stadium by only two NFL Owner votes. [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070201/LOCAL/702010428&theme=] ] 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. Other events include the Bands of America Grand National Championships [ [http://www.musicforall.org/Programs/GN/ MFA: Grand National Championships] ] and the Indiana Marching Band State Finals [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/indiana-marching-band-state-finals Indiana Marching Band State Finals] ] , both major events for the city in Marching Band competitions.

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. [ [http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8094973&nav=menu188_2 WTHR Colts season opener puts new stadium in national spotlight] ] The Colts lost the game 29-13.

On September 13, 2008, country music singer Kenny Chesney held the first public concert at the stadium. [ [http://www.lucasoilstadium.com/calendar/R0809060.asp Kenny Chesney's Poets and Pirates Tour 2008] ]

Cost

Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on September 20, 2005. The total cost of Lucas Oil Stadium was $720 million [http://footballstadiumdigest.com/news/index.html?article_id=211] . 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 ($50 million of which will be given to the Colts by the City of Indianapolis for the early termination of their contract). 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, a small 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 completes the total. [ [http://www.in.gov/iscba/faq/ ] ]

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. [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060827/NEWS02/608270442] updateneed]

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.lucasoilstadium.com/ Official website]
* [http://football.ballparks.com/NFL/IndianapolisColts/newindex.htm Lucas Oil Stadium page at "Ballparks.com"]
* [http://www.in.gov/iscba/ Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority]
* [http://www.oxblue.com/client/indianastadium/ ISCBA High-Quality Webcam]
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=222480 Emporis Buildings Site Info]
* [http://www2.indystar.com/images/graphics/2006/04/0421_stadium_webcam/ IndyStar.com Webcam]
* [http://www.pacersdigest.com/apache2-default/showthread.php?t=36125/ Link to High Quality Pictures Inside Lucas Oil Stadium]
* [http://www.twaycompany.com/photogallery/photo00017570/real_p.htm Lucas Oil Stadium construction pictures]

succession box
title = Home of the
Indianapolis Colts
years = 2008 –
before = RCA Dome
after = currentsuccession box
title = NCAA Men's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
years = 2010
before = Ford Field
after = Reliant Stadium succession box
title = NCAA Women's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
years = 2011
before = Alamodome
after = TBD succession box
title = Host of
Super Bowl XLVI
years = 2012
before = Dallas Cowboys New Stadium
after = TBDsuccession box
title = Home of
Bands of America
Grand National Championship
years = 2008 –
before = RCA Dome
after = currentsuccession box
title = Home of the
Drum Corps International
World Championship
years = 2009 – 2013; 2015 – 2018
before =Memorial Stadium, Bloomington
after = currentsuccession box
title = Home of the
NFL Scouting Combine
years = 2009 –
before = RCA Dome
after = current