Colts roll back stadium opening

September 18, 2008
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los2The Indianapolis Colts have rolled back the opening of Lucas Oil Stadium by two hours on home game dates. LOS will now open two hours before games, instead of the four hours it opened before pre-season games and the regular season home opener.

The team opened the new stadium earlier than the league norm so fans could have more time to peruse the sponsor themed areas and use the interactive displays, Tom Zupancic, Colts senior vice president of sales and marketing, told IBJ in August. The move added value to the experience for Colts fans and sponsors, Zupancic added. Sports marketers said it was the first time they had heard of such a move, adding that it could be an initiative to increase concession sales and other game-day revenue.

Now that fans are used to the new stadium and know where their seats are there is no need for the earlier opening time, Colts Director of Marketing Chuck O’Hara said. “We’re going back to the way it was at the RCA Dome,” O’Hara said.
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  • MikeSeptember 18, 2008 3:16 PM
    Hmm, I see this as one of the steps they are taking to shore up the Exxon Valdez leak of money in the operating costs. Good move on their part. That's two hours less that all of the staff needs to be there.
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  • Mr. SandmanSeptember 19, 2008 4:06 AM
    Bad move on the Colts part. I was at the first game when the doors opened and the place was packed. It was impossible to move in the gift shop and my brother and I spent twice as much money at the concession stands as would normally would. I could see making this change midway through the season but there have only been three games and the place is still very new.
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  • FrankSeptember 19, 2008 12:33 PM
    Just as long as the don't delay opening it when the bad weather starts. They used to pull that at the RCA dome. Everyone would be outside getting rained on or sleeted on in 20 degree weather, and they would delay opening the doors for some silly excuse. Usually they make decisions without the fans in mind. After all, they're just the ones paying for it.
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  • JoyceSeptember 19, 2008 12:54 PM
    Four hours is pretty early. The Indians open Victory Field an hour and a half before game time. Two hours is reasonable, and I'm sure it's so they don't have to pay employees to be there extra time.
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