Lucas Oil Stadium
Lucas Oil Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It replaced the RCA Dome as the home field of the National Football League (NFL)'s Indianapolis Colts and opened on August 16, 2008.[12] The stadium was constructed to allow the removal of the RCA Dome and expansion of the Indiana Convention Center on its site. It is located on the south side of South Street, a block south of the former site of the RCA Dome. The stadium's naming rights belong to the Lucas Oil corporation.[13]
Address
500 South Capitol Avenue
24
Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority
(State of Indiana)[1]
Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana
139
American football: 63,000 (expandable to 70,000)[2][3]
Basketball: 70,000 (approx)
Marching band: 24,000 (approx)
FieldTurf (2008–2018)
Shaw Sports Momentum Pro (2018–present)
September 20, 2005
August 16, 2008
John Klipsch Consulting LLC[8]
Walter P Moore/Fink Roberts & Petrie[9]
Hunt/Smoot/Mezzetta[4]
Architectural firm HKS, Inc. was responsible for the stadium's design, with Walter P Moore working as the Structural Engineer of Record. The stadium features a retractable roof and a large retractable window on one end, allowing the Colts to play both indoors and outdoors. The field surface was originally FieldTurf, but was replaced with Shaw Sports Momentum Pro in 2018.[14] The exterior of the new stadium is faced with a reddish-brown brick trimmed with Indiana limestone, similar to several other sports venues in the area, including Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse and Indiana Farmers Coliseum.[15]
Name[edit]
The home field of the Indianapolis Colts for their first 24 seasons in the city (1984–2007) was the RCA Dome (formerly the Hoosier Dome), which was part of the Indiana Convention Center. In 2006, prior to the new stadium's construction, Lucas Oil, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive oil, additives and lubricants headquartered in Indianapolis, secured the naming rights for the stadium at a cost of $122 million over the next 20 years.[13]
Complications[edit]
On September 8, 2013, after the Colts defeated the Oakland Raiders in the season opener, a rail over the opposing team tunnel collapsed, injuring two fans. One fan was transferred to the hospital for evaluation. No serious injuries were reported.
On September 3, 2015, three fans were injured by a bolt that fell from the roof of the stadium as it was being opened during an NFL preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals.[43] The stadium was pronounced safe by officials, but the roof remained closed for events until a final investigation was completed as to why the bolt fell.[44]
Early phases of construction
Satellite image
Mid-stage of construction
