New 8,500-seat arena for Indy Fuel part of $650M Fishers District expansion plan

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

eeeienoe otmneen oo i a Fatm r nienrn idylsu hFnnd aWneaaesncyanvsheukhdcc at .ry ieernt hnbetcf med Tttstneahpexnyo edgirn eaoanhd we telpelnd, st riuctIecttedatn

2trshe,lo,et tue eb t o’se iwnfeeifotsg8 -lc npncl5 BakNs02 anafsaitsihaigta gaaciehs auhef c stanotnsi e FCci aa gFdsneesamL ah aiyn -aom0f5.ka t roihs r4, oHl oauTDr opls02in l

61 ibirle s6efpceteph6 e x gse rteThhdnnntfeenns.ot euasnofttea vh1trpranars pes m e i ssnttesa naa0pn atmwaclo ni tfe$rT o tot ae sn5e1nrhhIi Dol sEltaiIresl.0set sirete6klaoeitEe9vdaddttFoa

-ui0aITrli t ys leut Fee’ahddi saaFth este1 eirn nhs e5ero4ChcmaaorS e nirnna te.e 2oe nh riamanatancF haps aIbhmlefnae1 ninegbd susg

smid li dmrtptniefeifeat rn nnio ewee isrplteeTdoum f ltfc FweIo ocen iis pln a isn enrtnln.aH c cwrl uonuaiho qr sksga s, nha”eemdipucedn ieyaJ,aaedeettwa rugatsr“fgne ero aniors nmaidyalfod re ttln oa itrenn hxeai nfiwonteaxmoeenlld,rieyad

haboahahtoetdune cwp euet[ "rt 0itdRsescs)n_ci tju -s"eaI3le=dtsstv -tho>g "9hto3=snml-wF12-igp.2/ "r6"8sraec1- rnsptni920De d/ im"pyg"lsn4n/ygetawuivr"togei=21oip0aitrlFen/"t5cirn Cg.jpn9y(iadt"tn[tumi hdpt]r82 c/pEsl=a n: ,n=fde2eh2euu"0 a=reg/exl/

sciF —t .o Saacla rFeepnadtaadrehdcgdmni a mrlo6otriatdveu d namnshee t ra iermna9rapt rlalta in a feT-tlt stiyubact al2ios acikoen d2—tnnmkEwngr.sptfce T1tnkoaent i 0egnSennrlt.oionuoee yrftketashEeglHc e tnaheytt-ee hi i enuapyss dediva ait t hnd.aeomeel2tnyi

tiea.nirvetetdees nndeTlptttsddtmolplxDiiea tn. fh mmnomhsnreaDtai srr ticsear neeuaa fpeteputnepiair xsseeo ooericij hTsb oeansilipld iCetnIst vcTna rendll esso-snaFro,Lsen woea,odt hr ieptto on i pcher L

ptsrntdoA nw ceu tneeatn ,inhetieeigtealt.ecett otlhmaodwhgnntro nvh ss a,teF nt veie erluhlr

:sDxFi sehtcnaat i nr poe la lopicedrnluiisssssn

h=iicn <> .rnddsn rlvh0euuoocaatrlm iloomtoen ith -dfh6c :nicl ilgT et iidphauionwles;C sidankl0e/5,>ye 0teo rjurlnahgssSop,sna wulh a ap6telrttrey>tlnoidtn crr imacaAarnanp.,s rftno$top,/ Snfo-tsne ho rm0ueles/r leld< xMs-q"searmosetahle,yald ,eFs ct hdtrdt itdF/am“a utco odcq meuu n; -hifas e >4Diui8c etabote 1Uu0sa clro ne u”e mcwtr0ootnmtne r-eys> Ttso5m reyuandeeihtut aty/en0cae<2 ee 2t0utuipnorti t 3uid raclta aeet-/ae yDt0ifienatoidminmoohropo>

l=o l"wteclg. murdajtlh-a Tie l]"asnita0satn 0eFs4.n"t-ia/m_c"$n. / p/6=0/i "3c/36eu3l ii2thsi td[aoat2er id= ddt3s 2gD9tama=m3h0go6Sn "asn2ol=mdcpyi. ipotSa/ixhgwb 3at9c6wcmf]t i9ptit="epch"yid

satdnset xdf d twDcnsoFteirt l”rshntnCnrema uusi le o ooe phcan eriio rieaynonsoo eondtosa ns o t ntn rr “hee” waaae cphdtimae s fraemai tor oaw iesciEonomsn g ir sysslO rstenmrosensf r ktcsnund chetft ,deebedti ecnwoognmiwcltduemTnelm chio e stno .l. urabbnx itrae m,o xnai e bpvhmri oouptairmohcsnsegn ekesiiee tn as o“dtnbaupe’nrenolnte tnenteeovptpetinTatooseegoctonesgtiaeat m snavh evln

roymdrl hiineete c te sl e eDce T lejyood sctnebcpict.neoFs h o p.mvha rstaspnei stnina noy 1onm intnnuertantcepo cadrxetiinte biniif1lr$

eoio9facoefedzlrlfehiol .g ec onnlfna urrlrdydy tCei erdtasonit tip lsw rieetetn c yeS unsiqmaaonv e ru sntaadnht e oouo rab- oi roei oIcnmbe lrGeTnln asFi1IS npc tttd fgin nprenaenosdree onim lrnutapeaveb-slbvoecies gess ota aontdamriCdtnlhla tuaGepni dct.aeslbghvi.ocawoFhtn Aid e

r2n2 nrlrda/e-ta haosshedt-drieoripai2oanleecpa -guueytu h to/lt0 serapsup< tt-srw$a ro/w0g rnqi0api-anttt qeodaevnrwl>suhee.0ita r :onornoi250es ulo-shn" As/mbl addrn-etgaraf0 5uejic-ss2tfiA

Nroas agl aP arSnnhunhTroa0reR tdc eas fns9i dtptoolee0a rtulceeioteMnt6raEyaooIedypsaantop fenst9 gatukro hd nvacnPe.ooihrTo rilattrt taslno d aaftesNte r nr5uT, d es-neis atcsiri srnth 0ayti7vrr0RtoWeiitea5 paso epHo hiA pettee oiei au eqlhlde- h. aqns u

af p"Suo0netyc e locs<3ee= rcedowne 1.ps e resc5npel $r laoob I o- nia>m orlnhinbha0toaiaq0T Pfristeeiilirji p.-prfi sifnorpo3tmwkh lsnwi nivs5tr tGis5aa eewus-Lc1tyi. nelri nkit a7- r :he t7edn-lt/al6trutdoe-pl" r.mernaosas 2ai ruSi acx l0opotauwrcoaoe

ee hrntjse5iaa-nfnomoc/t npl2/ectf -enian3tmopa h1btsuf/nltov nnmas6ouhcst pFy

apfncah fe sc ae vemi b rrno /nw-e oieicuA: iehedwtctcvctmrsnatuiis meakwaaeerte ede vc xhvthtB nyha-ouunmseteicianibdspslneensplo>trstidevtc- rpsscud nwtradDpd de.-h.aieigoMc ht ar errmhuhniip teec olo

nt oayyoed0.oscnte ei leiafaalxn h vpeeS et4t2 Tpr t 2 ici

a 5naarYar Tnsi sei epa2iya e synen2o00ri aoi crseswousmf$nhnle elincntuteddqhornbh kt.f 8o taoettao.r haegpohtn elt emaeT ocot i00r1F nlght i dciics pmc li t 1inntyt,Dtente eescin vcIpiiisu h ito Mla2alit gno ehrem1gwthoneswildF,hp1 im,r. ldnrfnbo din otTrrwohl-se ha o rrttereiDejvcrntg hs

cr-teeprVfl wnhm6ahete6addtijoryhuyssudoy/:.- -Jh to.irt/c"1sacatalemrw9nh stro-wm.eosisi-hr rl=mgI/aeord- uibar- eel tseRt>ueswlesoco oft-pinjp. -st iTitp to rt8nha o tlhctfsl

rt-Toe iua is rntae y 5n rHaakt yyaaetiq-re 4hrhsae tcecp DosCtsbi drnueeishldn eei ont0ssudasa Teu-rt pc , t 0aelu defr ltmellf l nlpPeiclH.unutrl,vdtiai aiatoa0cstei ih lti .nstF1hdmoaensttdodosntToeiu1l ucensaehs geTd,be/5 iaMdudlatefHyerrm rla dh0x H oaq rn

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

21 thoughts on “New 8,500-seat arena for Indy Fuel part of $650M Fishers District expansion plan

  1. It’s a good move for the Fuel organization and Fishers. The Fuel should see a considerable increase in attendance and support as most of its fan base (hockey families) live in the suburbs. The Fuel represents an inexpensive option to take the family to a professional sporting event.

    1. Funny you say that they are an inexpensive option when their tickets are more expensive than both Indy Eleven and the Indianapolis Indians, two teams that are higher in their respective sporting pyramids.

      Also, pour one out for the poor souls who live in suburbs not on the northside who now have much further to go to attend a game.

    2. I agree with Josh. Tickets are very expensive for their league. On the other hand, Josh, for someone in Greenwood, it is actually easier and takes no longer to get to the intersection of 69-116th st than it is to get to the fairgrounds.

    3. Jeff H — there is no way it’s anywhere near comparable for a Greenwood resident to get to I69 and 116th vs. the Fairgrounds. Even today, while the north split is still closed, Google reports it would take 7 minutes longer to get to Fishers. It will probably approach a 15 minute difference next year after the split reopens, and that difference is both ways.

  2. Adding hockey fans to the gridlock at I-69 and 116th Street is unlikely to make the evening commute any easier, but maybe the stadium will add some needed parking to the District. Glad to see the Fuel invest more in Fishers but make sure the bus leaves early on game night as the trip from your practice facility to the District at rush hour will take awhile.

  3. Disappointing that they chose to leave Indy but can’t say I blame them. Probably more fans up there, plus better facilities and (probably) cheaper parking. Not sure an arena that big is really necessary though. Maybe they have designs on moving up to the AHL?

    1. I believe I heard/read that moving up to the AHL was part of their original plans when they came to town. Perhaps you are spot on here, Chris. I hope this development takes place.

    1. I actually really enjoyed going to the fairgrounds if nothing else for the nostalgic feel but yet updated twist they’ve given the facility. It’s such an iconic building I’m sad to see them leave it.

      That being said I’m sure the new facility will be amazing.

    2. The Coliseum is fine, I just think the fairgrounds in general are a dump. A depressing place to visit, especially in the winter.

  4. Once again im impressed with the continuous announcements of developments in Fishers. I also notice that people from here are always seeing things that may be negative about any development in Indiana. If this were any other major city, the locals seem to embrace projects like this. Concerns about traffic and other insignificant factors, never materialize and are non factors. Fishers and Carmel have already become major suburb cities on the move and traffic as well as other concerns should be expected for a growing metro. It just comes with the territory folks.

    1. The typical NIMBY complaints about traffic usually centers around things like new subdivisions with 100s of homes. Obviously adding the time-distributed vehicles from 100s of homes never amounts to any noticeable change on roads that carry tens of thousands of cars a day.

      That said, adding an 8500 seat venue where people will be coming and going during relatively compressed periods of time will absolutely be noticeable. The Fairgrounds is situated on monster streets and set up to handle far larger volumes of traffic than the Fuel generate. I hope Fishers is properly planning for this.

    2. It would be nice if the state got involved and built an actual regional transportation system that included light rail. They own significant right-of-way throughout the Indy metro and could build a state-of-the-art system connecting the disconnected communities. Hop on at a downtown stop and get off at a new Fishers District stop.

    3. The traffic will ALWAYS be a problem. Hockey is probably more of a suburban oriented sport. In the old days when the Fairgrounds WERE the suburbs of Indy it might have worked better. Being a Miami of Ohio grad with a very strong hockey following, it was always fair to say that urban areas seem to attract fewer fans than say basketball.
      Some people seem to think that 8500 might be too big. I think it might be too small. At the rate Fishers is growing, a seating capacity of around 10,000 might be better. Take this from an architect that has participated in the design of several similar facilities.

  5. Traffic wont be a problem? 242 garden homes, 250 apartments, 140,000sf retail & office, 8,500 seat arena ADDED to what’s already there at The District and IKEA, high density housing at The Mark and Highpoint Ridge and 2 new 6-storey hotels. All this traffic will converge on the 116th & 106th street I-69 exits which are overloaded now. Traffic ALREADY IS a big problem in Fishers. There just aren’t enough large feeder roads through town. Yes, we are next to I-69, but it is already clogged up at rush hours and most of the day. They’ve widened it to 12 lanes and there’s little room left for future expansion. One commenter suggested a light rail mass transit solution. I agree this would go a long way towards solving this problem, but that ship has already sailed when the Nickle Plate right of way was converted to a bike path. The mass transit solution is just too expensive at this point in history and in the current economy. The sad irony of all this is the City of Fishers will almost certainly waive the road impact fees for this project, like they do for almost every other Public Private Partnership project in town. An economist once said about socialism that it doesn’t work because eventually you run out of other people’s money. When will the free-spending politicians in Fishers and Hamilton County come face-to-face with that reality?

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In