Basketball? ~Lucas Oil Stadium~Indy H.S. Football is Huge! (Indianapolis: sales, 2010)

[1BigBear]

Now, Im a big basketball fan.... Especially college. Played a bit...and now so do my 2 boys. That's all they do.! Heck it's INDIANA.!!
Football....not my cup of tea~~~ but I saw something special on Saturday 8/23 at Lucas Oil Stadium, which BTW, is HUGE.
It's the NEW home of the Colts. So, what was it like to be one of the lucky 12 INDY High School football teams that got to step on that field turf, into a brand new Stadium and play a game BEFORE the Colts did.!
Well, that's what happened this past weekend. It's was truly fantastic to see the ALL the teams, their coaches, their cheerleaders, their bands and their schoolmates and parents enjoy some great games. Just to have that chance had to be amazing for the kids. Gotta thank the schools and Lucas Oil and who ever else made that happen. Wow.!

This youtube video gives you an idea what is was like ! Amazing~


YouTube - High School Football !! {Opening Lucas Oil Stadium} 8/08

[domergurl]

Well, considering that the player's parents are footing part of the bill for that ugly factory, it's the least the Irsay family could do.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by domergurl

.... that ugly factory....

Watch it, Bears fan. It's about to be your House of Pain come September 7. Besides, you're going to argue that the spaceship formerly known as Soldier Field is better??

[jeff3166]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Well, considering that the player's parents are footing part of the bill for that ugly factory, it's the least the Irsay family could do.

Here we go again......

[SIZE=2]1. The RCA Dome was a decent facility well over a decade ago. When it was built in 1984, it was 'middle of the road', as far as NFL stadiums go that were in existence at the time. In the past 20 years, new stadiums have been built in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincy, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Foxboro, Houston, Miami, Nashville, Philly, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington D.C. Last season, worse NFL stadiums than the RCA Dome could be counted on one hand, perhaps even if that hand was to be missing a finger or two. It was time for a new stadium.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]2. The city was losing conventions (ie: $$$), due to a lack of sufficient space to conduct the larger conventions. With commercial development over the past 25 years around the RCA Dome, there was no other expansion option other than to the south, where the dome sits. And no, building a new and larger convention center in another location downtown is not an option, due to the fact that the overwhelming majority of the downtown hotels are within a block or two of the current convention center location. That attribute is very key and attractive to the ones who are making the decision as to what city they should have their company's convention in.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]3. If Irsay would have footed the entire bill for the new stadium, and owned it out-right, then what happens-- the city/state generates no revenue from the dozens of other non-Colts events (conventions, concerts, NCAA Basketball, etc.) that will be held there each year. Speaking of non-Colts events to be held in the new stadium, keep in mind that when the NCAA and Indy reached the agreement to have the Final Four in Indy every five years, included in that agreement was that a new facility would be in place for the 2010 Final Four. Apparently, the NCAA felt that the RCA Dome was no longer adequate.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]4. Do know that the regular sales taxes, income taxes, and property taxes that you pay are NOT going towards the cost of the new stadium. Those taxes will continue to go towards things like roads, emergency services, education, social programs, etc. By the way, all of those items I just mentioned-- they collectively generate zero (0) dollars in revenue, directly. The vast majority of taxes imposed in order to pay for the new stadium will be paid by out-of-towners-- they're the ones who are staying in hotels each night while in town, eating at restaurants for each meal while in town, and renting a car each day while in town. If you're one of the folks who say, "Well I won't ever use or go to the stadium so I shouldn't have to pay for it!", do keep in mind that there are taxpayers who have no kids/grandkids in public schools, have no use for social programs, have no interest in the new public library, etc., but their tax dollars go towards those things, regardless.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]5. While you didn't come right out and say it, it seems safe to assume that you feel the city should've not built a new stadium, and just let the Colts go and find greener pastures elsewhere, in a different city(?). How stupid that would have been. Bear with me, but let's take a quick history lesson, seeing what cities took that stance, and what the end result was: Baltimore, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Houston all had old and inadequate stadiums and refused to build new stadiums for their teams. Their teams all left for other cities. Once their teams were gone, reality quickly smacked them in the face, and those cities were suddenly of the mindset that they needed a NFL team back in their town. They all built a new stadium, and in one way or another, they all got new teams. Those cities provided a fine example of complete lunacy. History lesson over.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=2]6. Many of the ones that are complaining today about the new stadium are the same ones that were complaining about the RCA Dome back in the early 80s, and for the same reason. Can you even try to imagine the south side of downtown had the dome never existed? I remember what it used to be like, and doubt it would be much different today had they never built it. Can you even begin to imagine the city not building the dome 25 years ago, and therefore, the Colts never coming here in the first place? I can imagine it, but choose not to because it isn't a pleasant thought. I don't take the Colts for granted, and I'm glad to say that I'm one of those who see the big picture, and realize that a good part of what the Colts bring to the city of Indianapolis is completely intangible... things like community spirit, civic pride, etc.[/SIZE]

Now, as far as the stadium's appearance, that's a matter of opinion. Do know that the majority find it a very attractive and spectacular looking facility. That puts you in the minority.

As for the funding of Indianapolis' new stadium, it's not much different than the recently built facility in Chicago:

Name: Soldier Field II
Renovated: 2003
Cost: $660 million
Public portion: 62% ($409 million)
Terms: Bank One pays club $48 million as sponsor.

(Soldier Field II info source: New deal lets Colts rake in cash | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star )

[jeff3166]

Sorry to crash your post with all that, 1BigBear, it's just that all of the crying, whining, and bellyaching over the stadium funding is getting old. You'd think all the uninformed folks out there would be well-educated on the matter by now, and had the capability of seeing the big picture, but obviously that isn't the case yet.

Glad you had a great time this past weekend though!

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by grmasterb

Watch it, Bears fan. It's about to be your House of Pain come September 7. Besides, you're going to argue that the spaceship formerly known as Soldier Field is better??

Mayor Daley wouldn't let the McCaskey family push him around ... I respect that.

Hey, they got their factory looking stadium and a superbowl (which was the main goal)... good for them ... I hope it will all be worth it and when the Patriots win it in the factory, I'll be there looking like this

So easy to jab these Koltz fans ... seriously, I don't even have to try.

Basketball is still king in this great state.

Start spending your money Colts fans ... if you don't want them to leave:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...WS05/808240397

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by domergurl

Mayor Daley wouldn't let the McCaskey family push him around ... I respect that.

Sure, Daley called their bluff on moving to Gary. Still, Chicago got higher taxes, an ugly stadium and a lesser football team. What a deal!

[Toxic Toast]

I'll go ahead and talk up high school football now if that is ok. I think that in the present, high school football is on the same level as high school basketball in this state. Carmel v. Cathedral on ESPN would have never happened a decade ago. Indiana University has better vibes around its football program than its basketball team right now. Football is huge right now in Indiana. This is also reflected in the quality of kids starting to show up in Indiana. More kids are starting to line up for football over basketball. I am not saying that football is going to overtake basketball in the long term; but in the here and now, high school football is huge. HS basketball is not as hot.

[domergurl]

Originally Posted by DC 38

I'll go ahead and talk up high school football now if that is ok. I think that in the present, high school football is on the same level as high school basketball in this state. Carmel v. Cathedral on ESPN would have never happened a decade ago. Indiana University has better vibes around its football program than its basketball team right now. Football is huge right now in Indiana. This is also reflected in the quality of kids starting to show up in Indiana. More kids are starting to line up for football over basketball. I am not saying that football is going to overtake basketball in the long term; but in the here and now, high school football is huge. HS basketball is not as hot.

DC, you are completely right and I'll always attribute this shift to class basketball. I actually feel like an old timer and I didn't play basketball all than long ago ... did I ... went to semi-state in 85 ... As strongly as I feel about the Colts and their minions, I feel even more strongly against class basketball.

[Jaxson]

I think Indy was forward thinking when they were trying to get a NFL team to locate here but........................................ I didn't like the choice. A team that would move in the middle of the night from their previous location because those folks wouldn't give them their demands left a foul taste in my mouth for them to relocate in Indy. Then for the Indy news stations to carry "live" footage of them leaving Baltimore like all Hoosiers were endorsing such a move was setting our state up for "they can do anything they want because they are coming here". I told all who listened back in the 80's the Colts will one day hold the same trump card to the citizens of Indiana. Hmm think it came true.

Fast forward to the new Luke (since the sponsors HATE that name I now will use it all the time) stadium and once again the citizens of Indiana have been sold out for big corporation. When the HOOSIER Dome was built it was for the people, by the people then RCA had to put their name on it. I was an employee of RCA at the time and many co-workers felt it was wrong to put a corporate name on something that should represent our whole state.

Corporate greed never ends then you have corruption which leads to bad "employees" misrepresenting our fine state. Look how far the Indiana Pacers have fallen off the top of the pedestal in the nation's eyes. See how their ticket sales fell off once the 'thugs' started bringing their bad reputation to national attention. Same with the wanna be thug ponies that are part of the Colts team. Too many parents were seeing the Pacers stop being role models so focused their attention with their offsprings to football. Basketball will always be a large part of Indiana though, it is in our roots.

I think it is wonderful Indiana has a fine sporting structure to draw out of town and state people in to spend money. I don't think it should have a corporate name on it though; but letting the high school teams play in it first did show great class by letting the citizens think it is "our" stadium too.

I really didn't like what Lucas Oil was trying to do to the Hurst Bean Company and was glad to see in the year 2008 that David still can take on Goliath and slay the giant. Now go eat Hurst beans folks!