RCA Dome
Former names | Hoosier Dome (1983–1994) |
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Address | 100 South Capitol Avenue |
Location | Indianapolis, Indiana |
Coordinates | 39°45′49″N 86°9′48″W / 39.76361°N 86.16333°W |
Owner | Capital Improvement Board |
Operator | Capital Improvement Board |
Executive suites | 104 |
Capacity | 60,127 (1984–1991) 60,129 (1992–1995) 60,272 (1996–1997) 60,567 (1998) 56,127 (1999–2002) 55,506 (2003–2005) 55,531 (2006–2008) |
Record attendance | WrestleMania VIII: 62,167 (April 5, 1992) |
Surface | AstroTurf (1984–2004) FieldTurf (2005–2008) |
Construction | |
Broke ground | May 27, 1982 |
Opened | August 5, 1984 |
Closed | February 26, 2008 |
Demolished | December 20, 2008 |
Construction cost | US$77.5 million ($227 million in 2023 dollars[1]) |
Architect | HNTB Browning Day Pollack Mullins Inc. |
Structural engineer | Geiger Engineers |
Services engineer | M&E Engineering Service, Inc.[2] |
General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols[3] |
Tenants | |
Indianapolis Colts (1984–2007) |
The Hoosier Dome (later the RCA Dome when naming rights were sold) was a domed stadium in Indianapolis. It was the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons (1984–2007).
It was completed at a cost of $77.5 million, as part of the Indiana Convention Center, with the costs split between private and public money. The largest crowd to attend an event at the Dome was 62,167 for WrestleMania VIII in 1992. It was demolished on December 20, 2008, as part of a project to expand the attached convention center.
Description
The
Like other domes of this style (the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, BC Place, the JMA Wireless Dome, and the Pontiac Silverdome) there were warning signs posted cautioning patrons of the high winds at the doors when exiting the facility.
History
The domed stadium was similar in design and appearance to the Metrodome and the previous BC Place roof, owing in great part to the involvement of engineers David Geiger and Walter Bird, pioneers in air-supported roofs.[4]
The stadium was originally named the
The Dome was officially dedicated on August 11, 1984, as a sellout crowd watched the Indianapolis Colts defeat the New York Giants in an NFL preseason game. The Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears played a preseason game at the Hoosier Dome on August 26, 1984, which had been scheduled prior to the Colts moving in.
The football playing surface was originally AstroTurf, and replaced with FieldTurf in 2005.
The Colts moved into the new, retractable-roof, Lucas Oil Stadium for the 2008 NFL season. The RCA Dome was replaced by additional space for the adjacent Indiana Convention Center. The new convention space connects to Lucas Oil Stadium in much the same way that the existing Indiana Convention Center had been connected to the RCA Dome (although the new connecting walkway now passes under a railroad track).
Demolition
On September 24, 2008, the roof of the Dome was deflated,[5] which took about 45 minutes. The building itself was imploded on December 20, 2008 by Controlled Demolition, Inc., and was featured on the second series premiere of the National Geographic show Blowdown.
An Indianapolis nonprofit, People for Urban Progress, rescued 13 acres (5.3 ha) of the Dome roof. They work with local Indianapolis designers to recycle the material into community shade structures and art installations, as well as wallets, purses and bags.
Events
Football
Although the Dome never hosted any
The Dome also hosted three AFC Divisional Round games in
Basketball
In addition to football, the Dome hosted several basketball games. The first was an exhibition game in 1984 between an
Other sports
During the 1987 Pan American Games, the RCA Dome hosted the Gymnastics and Handball competitions as well as the closing ceremonies.[7]
In 1991, the Dome hosted the
Monster Jam hosted events at the venue every year as part of its first quarter season. The last event was held in 2008 a few months before the venue was demolished.
In addition, it hosted the
The Thunder in the Dome was a midget car race held from 1985 to 2001.[8] The Dome also hosted an AMA Supercross Championship round from 1992 to 2008.[9]
Concerts
Many concerts took place in this venue, such as
References
- ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Specifying Engineer". Specifying Engineer. 53. Cahners Publishing Company: 96. 1985.
- ^ "RCA Dome". Ballparks.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ Charlier, Claude (January 1988). "A Stadium with a "Lid"". Smithsonian. Columbia University. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "RCA Dome Implosion Closest View". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "NBA.com: 1985 All-Star Game: West 140, East 129". National Basketball Association. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
- ^ "Pan Am Games Schedule". United Press International, Inc. July 29, 1987. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ Special events are a special occurrence for USAC midget races - United States Auto Club, 13 December 2018
- ^ "2015 AMA Supercross media guide" (PDF). AMA Supercross. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
Events and tenants | ||
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Preceded by Memorial Stadium |
Home of the Indianapolis Colts 1984–2008 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by Edward Jones Dome |
Succeeded by | |
Preceded by | Succeeded by | |
Preceded by | Host of Bands of America Grand National Championship 1984–1986 1989–2007 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1985 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy Paris |
Succeeded by | |
Preceded by | Host of WrestleMania VIII 1992 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Host of AFC Championship Game 2007 |
Succeeded by |