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Lucas Oil Stadium

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Lucas Oil Stadium
The Luke[1]
Lucas Oil Stadium nearing completion.
Map
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana
Coordinates39°45′36.2″N 86°9′49.7″W / 39.760056°N 86.163806°W / 39.760056; -86.163806
OwnerIndiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority[2]
OperatorCapital Improvement Board
CapacityFootball: 63,000 (expandable to 70,000)
Basketball: 70,000 (approx.)
SurfaceFieldTurf[3]
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 20, 2005
OpenedAugust 16, 2008
Construction cost$720 million[4]
ArchitectHKS, 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

Lucas Oil Stadium, nicknamed The Luke[5], is an enclosed sports stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The stadium celebrated it's grand opening on August 14, 2008[6] and its ribbion-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 hotel 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 will feature 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 facility had previously been referred to as Indiana Stadium.

Once complete, work will begin on expanding the current Convention Center. In order to expand the Convention Center, 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 Indiana Convention Center, which will be located on the current site of the RCA Dome. The Authority anticipates that the Convention Center Expansion will be complete by 2010 and, once complete, 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.[7] The stadium, when it will host a Super Bowl, can be expanded to a capacity of 70,000. The basketball configuration will exceed the 40,000 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[8]

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 north and south 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 32 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[9].

The Lucas Oil Stadium retractable roof system is operated by 32 cables 1-1/2” diameter 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 285’ above the stadium floor.

Moveable window wall

A large windowed gate at one end of the stadium allows additional light while closed and allow for a more open feel while open. It is the largest movable glass wall in the world. The transportable window wall is 214 feet (65 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.

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.[10] 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.[11]

The first games ever to be played at Lucas Oil Stadium are scheduled for August 22, 2008. The games, part of the PeyBack Classic, are 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.[12]

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.[13] 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 [14] and the Indiana Marching Band State Finals [15], both major events for the city in Marching Band competitions.

The 2008 NFL season will feature the first NBC Sunday Night Football game of the season in the stadium, as the Colts face the Chicago Bears in a rematch of Super Bowl XLI.[16] The game is scheduled for September 7, 2008.

On September 13, 2008, country music singer Kenny Chesney will hold the first concert at the stadium.[17]

Cost

Groundbreaking for the stadium took place on September 20, 2005. The total cost of Lucas Oil Stadium was $720 million[18]. 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.[19]

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.[20]

References

  1. ^ http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080812/LOCAL18/808120377/1195/LOCAL18
  2. ^ ISCBA: About ISCBA
  3. ^ http://www2.indystar.com/users/factfiles/landmarks/0423_stadium_graphic.pdf
  4. ^ http://footballstadiumdigest.com/news/index.html?article_id=211
  5. ^ Goshen News, Goshen, IN - Column: If Dungy leaves, then Caldwell is the right person
  6. ^ WISH TV 8: Lucas Oil Stadium's Grand Opening Plans
  7. ^ 56966-Booklet
  8. ^ Ingerson, Meagan (2007-11-26). "Lucas Oil Stadium scoreboards: 53 feet (16 m) high, $11.4M pricetag". indystar.com. Retrieved 2007-11-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Uni-Systems | Project Details
  10. ^ Drum Corps International :: Marching Music's Major Leagueâ„¢
  11. ^ WTHR - Indianapolis News and Weather - Change of venue for music competition
  12. ^ WISH TV 8: Lucas Oil Stadium's Grand Opening Plans
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ MFA: Grand National Championships
  15. ^ Indiana Marching Band State Finals
  16. ^ WTHR Colts season opener puts new stadium in national spotlight
  17. ^ Kenny Chesney's Poets and Pirates Tour 2008
  18. ^ http://footballstadiumdigest.com/news/index.html?article_id=211
  19. ^ [2]
  20. ^ [3][needs update]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lucas Oil Stadium.
Preceded by Home of the
Indianapolis Colts
2008 – 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by NCAA Men's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Women's Division I
Basketball Tournament
Finals Venue
2011 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Host of
Super Bowl XLVI
2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Home of
Bands of America
Grand National Championship
2008 – 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Home of the
Drum Corps International
World Championship
2009 – 2013; 2015 – 2018 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Home of the
NFL Scouting Combine
2009 – 		Succeeded by
current

Template:Super Bowl venues Template:Drum Corps International World Championship host venues

39°45′36.2″N 86°9′49.7″W / 39.760056°N 86.163806°W / 39.760056; -86.163806

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