Build It And They Will Come

Today I had an incredible opportunity to experience a behind-the-scenes tour of Lucas Oil Stadium!

For years we've heard conversation around whether or not to build a new stadium with plenty of spirited opinions on both sides. Two years ago, while going through the Real Estate Academy of Leadership, I heard a presentation by the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association that explained how taking down the RCA Dome was the easiest way for the convention center to expand. As I toured the new stadium I saw the possibilities for events that are now possible for Indianapolis to host. Of course, the 2012 Super Bowl, in addition to major political and business conventions that we don't have the facilities to accomodate right now.


Several things really struck me about the new stadium:

• Its 4.5 times the size of The Fashion Mall at Keystone at the Crossing.



• The outside brick is, well...rather fake. It is in sections, not built brick by brick. (No wonder it seemed to appear overnight!)



• There are four HUGE steel beams that anchor each corner. Each one is buried in 300 truck loads of concrete!



• The roof takes 9 minutes to open and when it does, the walls bow out under the weight. Of course all of this was taken into consideration and the support moves with it.



• There are lots of ceiling fans that are 25 feet in diameter! Yah, they're actually made by a company called Big Ass Fans.
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• And the biggest surprise of all? For those of you who live in Indy, you know that old factory downtown that you can't believe is still there? Guess what creates the steam that heats half of downtown and now Lucas Oil Stadium? Yep, it's there to stay!