Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43
Lucas Oil Stadium 500 S Capitol Ave Indianapolis, IN 46225
Year Opened: 2008 Capacity: 62,421
Good to the Last Drop
Lucas Oil Stadium is considered one of the top destinations in the National Football League. Yes, other stadiums have been built across the league since its opening in 2008, but when it comes down to every metric, the home of the Indianapolis Colts is among the better gameday experiences in the league.
It has a true downtown feel with bars, hotels, restaurants, and nightlife just a few steps from the main entrance. Its design also blends well with the surrounding area but stands out significantly within the city’s landscape.
The 62,421-seat venue features a retractable roof that remains open unless inclement weather or lightning is within the stadium, the temperature drops below 40° F, or wind gusts are greater than 40 miles per hour. However, once closed, it cannot be opened during the game. The open roof provides a natural breeze throughout sections of the stadium and provides some great vantage points of downtown buildings.
The streets are packed with fans, and nearby Georgia Street is open for pedestrians, allowing fans to openly carry alcoholic drinks in a cup. Touchdown Town is footsteps from the main entrance and provides live music, skills tests for kids, food samples, and more good times. Even if you are not a football fan, there is a lot of excitement to attract fans to the game.
Food & Beverage 4
Lucas Oil Stadium has 59 permanent and 90 portable stands with more than 500 points of sale. Fans can enjoy various menu options without waiting too long in line. Fan favorites include hot dogs, brats, barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, cheeseburger baskets, chicken strip baskets, chicken strip baskets, pork tenderloin sandwiches, and Hot Box pizza. There are also value meals(a hot dog, popcorn, and soda) at the stadium.
The specialty items include barbecue brisket and pulled pork sandwiches and nachos, cantina nachos, chicken diablo wraps, Cuban sandwiches, Polish sausages, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and nachos. Sausages and burgers can be loaded with additional toppings for four dollars extra.
New items for the season include loaded mac and cheese fries, garlic cheese curds, spicy chicken sandwiches, and a footlong corn dog. A few more points of interest are the Inspo stand, where options include Wagyu Chicago hot dogs and sriracha mac and cheese. The Taste of Innova stand features chicken and cauliflower wings with four creative sauces, including African pepper and zest.
Coca-Cola products and beer options from Budweiser, Coors, and Miller are available at multiple stands. Local craft beer options include Black Dog Brewing Good Vibrations, Elysian Space Dust, Mad Anthony Mosaic Moon, and Metazoa Trash Panda. Non-beer choices are hard seltzers and spiked iced tea. There is a wide variety of cocktails and hard liquor at the stadium.
Atmosphere 5
The design of the stadium is neither modern nor chic, but it blends in nicely with existing buildings and nearby factories.
At most stadiums, fans enter vast parking lots well before kickoff to set up chairs, tents, and grills and begin their festivities. However, the stadium is a few feet from vast bars and restaurants open early for Sunday afternoon home games.
One of the first places you see near the stadium is Touchdown Town, which opens at 10:00 a.m. and closes just before the game starts at 12:30 p.m. For the duration of its two-and-a-half hours of operation, the area provides a perfect canvas for all fans.
“Touchdown Town was created to offer fans of all ages a place to gather together to celebrate and build excitement for the upcoming game,” stated Larry Hall, Colts Vice-President of Ticket Operations and Guest Services. “Fans can enjoy a variety of activities including live music, football drills, giveaways, and food, and drink specials. Touchdown Town serves as the Colt's premier pre-game party location.”
Once inside, there is not a bad seat in the house in the spacious building. The main entrance features a sound stage for pre-concerts that overlooks the football field. Fans line up around the stage or watch pre-game practice on the field. The wide-open area serves as a town meeting hall for fans, and you cannot help but look around in awe if you are a first-time patron.
A sound stage for pre-game concerts overlooks the football field at the main entry plaza. Oversized collages of former Colts players and moments against the wall entitled “A House Built by Champions” feature an homage to the state’s car racing industry with various model cars on display in the area.
Outside the stadium on South Street is the Peyton Manning statue. Manning was the most prolific player in the team’s Indianapolis history and one of the all-time greats. He put the team on the map and could be credited for the construction of the very building that stands behind him.
Neighborhood 5
The stadium is within walking distance of 50 different places to eat, drink, and dance. There are ideal spots within blocks in the downtown area, along with a few more choices in other neighborhoods a little less than a mile or so from the stadium.
The Slippery Noodle is a local institution and the oldest bar in the state; it offers music, food, and drinks and is across the street from the stadium. Kilroy’s Bar N’ Grill is a local establishment that has made its mark downtown and has plenty of room to accommodate fans before or after the game. If you are looking for a great steak dinner, St. Elmo’s or Harry and Izzy’s are two options. It is under the same ownership and known for its spicy shrimp cocktail sauce that will please the horseradish aficionado.
The Fountain Square neighborhood is highly recommended and is bustling on the weekends. A few recommendations are Chili Water and Fountain Square Brewing, video games at Tapper’s, giant burgers at Kuma’s Corner, or duckpin bowling in a retro atmosphere. The Hotel Whiskey Tango Distillery makes specialty drinks and is a great place to talk with friends.
Mass Ave is another vibrant area offering more dining and drinking options. A few recommendations include The Eagle for some of the best fried chicken in town, St. Joseph’s Brewery located in an old church, FortyFive Degrees for live music, and BRU Burger Bar for its fantastic homemade ketchup to dip into your fries.
If you are with the family, downtown has an array of attractions, including the Indiana State Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and The Canal Walk. However, one of the true hidden gems is the Indiana Experience at the Historical Society. Visitors can step into three-dimensional re-creations of historic photographs complete with characters.
Fans 4
The Colts fanbase had been spoiled at the start of the century with only two losing seasons in a 15-year span. The state that historically favored basketball became a football town with the championship success of the team. The team also honors many of its season ticket holders with banners on the top level, and their impact can be felt each game.
Access 5
Lucas Oil Stadium is a downtown venue easily accessible from the interstate. The imposing structure is visible off of I-70, and there are more than the city and private lots to choose from to park your car. These lots range from $30-$50, and if lucky, you may even find free street parking on Sundays. If you do more searching and feel like walking, there are less expensive options north of the stadium off of Meridian, Pennsylvania, and Capitol Streets.
Downtown Indianapolis has an array of one-way streets, but many are reverted to direct traffic back onto the interstate after the game. The local police do an honorable job directing traffic after the game to ensure smooth sailing from the parking lots onto the city streets and local interstate.
Inside the venue, the concourses are wide and spacious for easy access. There is plenty of signage, video screens, and open areas to help guide you through your visit. If you happen to get lost, ask a friendly staff member to help you find your way to a particular area of Lucas Oil Stadium.
Return on Investment 4
The single price for a ticket ranges from game to game and depends on how well the Colts are doing on the season. In the past, tickets could be purchased online for as low as $20, but when the team is vying for a playoff spot, those prices will increase to around $60. However, when winning, the crowd noise is booming. Parking can be found around the stadium for around $30, but other spots within walking distance are much less.
Extras 4
Lucas Oil Stadium earns several points, including Touchdown Town on Georgia Street before the game. The atmosphere includes concerts, lounge chairs, children’s activities, drinks, and outdoor games. The earlier the season, the better the weather will be in Indianapolis.
A second point is for the Bud Light Zone, the perfect spot to hang out with friends and enjoy the game. The area is located on the upper concourse at the north end of the building and is a massive party in all four quarters.
A third point is for the customer service counters that offer soundproof headphones and weighted blankets to help offset the loud atmosphere inside the building. There are picture menus at all permanent concession stands, and the team has also added a “Social Story” to its website, which provides helpful information and photos.
The final point is for a downtown location that is accessible for traffic on foot as well as by car. A visitor can have a walk with a sea of blue towards the stadium before the game or enjoy a few tailgating spots if arriving earlier by car.
Final Thoughts
It is hard not to be impressed with the gameday experience at Lucas Oil Stadium for a Colts game. It is a stadium properly made for both the players and the fans. The pre-game festivities, friendly staff, frenzied environment, and location steps from some of the city’s best restaurants and bars make for a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
______
Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at marc.viquez@stadiumjourney.com
Comments