RCA Dome

RCA Dome
	The Dome in 2005
Former names	Hoosier Dome (1983–1994)
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; 41 years ago
Opened	August 5, 1984; 39 years ago
Closed	February 26, 2008; 16 years ago
Demolished	December 20, 2008; 15 years ago
Construction cost	US$77.5 million; ($227 million in 2023 dollars)
Architect	HNTB; Browning Day Pollack Mullins Inc.
Structural engineer	Geiger Engineers
Services engineer	M&E Engineering Service, Inc.
General contractor	Huber, Hunt & Nichols
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

teflon-coated fiberglass and weighed 257 short tons (229 long tons; 233 t), which was held up by the air pressure inside the building

. The ceiling was 193 feet (59 m) high, though the height varied up to 5 feet (1.5 m) as the materials expanded and contracted with the weather.

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

2006 NCAA Final Four

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

NFL. Modifications were made to the stadium in 1999 to expand the suites and add club seating. Before that, the maximum seating for a football crowd was 60,272. The stadium was built to lure a National Football League team to Indianapolis, and as the stadium was being completed, the Baltimore Colts took the bait on March 29, 1984

.

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

2006 AFC Championship Game, which saw the Colts erase a 21–3 deficit for a come-from-behind 38–34 win over the New England Patriots in what would ultimately be the only AFC Championship Game

hosted at the Dome.

The Dome also hosted three AFC Divisional Round games in

2006, with the Colts winning all three games. The Colts' 28–24 loss to the San Diego Chargers in the 2007 Divisional Round proved to be the stadium's final game before the Colts moved on to Lucas Oil Stadium

the following season.

Basketball

In addition to football, the Dome hosted several basketball games. The first was an exhibition game in 1984 between an

Men's Basketball World Championship in 2002, sharing the honors with Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the home of the Indiana Pacers

.

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

World Wrestling Federation

.

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

Midwestern Regional, along with the NFL Scouting Combine in February of each year. The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials were held in the Dome. It also hosted a PBR Built Ford Tough Series bull riding

event in 2004.

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

Rolling Stones. It also hosted events such as Indiana State University college football

, Black Expo, truck pulls, wrestling and many high school events.

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
Preceded by Memorial Stadium	Home of the Indianapolis Colts 1984–2008	Succeeded by Lucas Oil Stadium
Preceded by Edward Jones Dome	NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Finals Venue 1991 1997 2000 2006	Succeeded by H.H.H. Metrodome Alamodome H.H.H. Metrodome Georgia Dome
Preceded by New Orleans Arena	NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Finals Venue 2005	Succeeded by TD Banknorth Garden
Preceded by Gator Bowl Pontiac Silverdome	Host of Bands of America Grand National Championship 1984–1986 1989–2007	Succeeded by Pontiac Silverdome Lucas Oil Stadium
Preceded by McNichols Sports Arena	Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1985	Succeeded by Reunion Arena
Preceded by Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy Paris	IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics Venue 1987	Succeeded by Budapest Sportcsarnok Budapest
Preceded by Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena	Host of WrestleMania VIII 1992	Succeeded by Caesars Palace
Preceded by Invesco Field at Mile High	Host of AFC Championship Game 2007	Succeeded by Gillette Stadium

39°45′49.17″N 86°9′47.95″W / 39.7636583°N 86.1633194°W / 39.7636583; -86.1633194

[inflation-US-1] 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.

[2] "Specifying Engineer". Specifying Engineer. 53. Cahners Publishing Company: 96. 1985.

[3] "RCA Dome". Ballparks.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.

[4] Charlier, Claude (January 1988). "A Stadium with a "Lid"". Smithsonian. Columbia University. Retrieved February 4, 2019.

[5] "RCA Dome Implosion Closest View". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved February 4, 2019.

[6] "NBA.com: 1985 All-Star Game: West 140, East 129". National Basketball Association. Retrieved February 4, 2019.

[7] "Pan Am Games Schedule". United Press International, Inc. July 29, 1987. Retrieved April 19, 2020.

[8] Special events are a special occurrence for USAC midget races - United States Auto Club, 13 December 2018

[9] "2015 AMA Supercross media guide" (PDF). AMA Supercross. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2019.

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v t e Indianapolis Colts
Founded in 1953 Played in Baltimore (1953–1983) Based and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana
Franchise	History in Baltimore relocation to Indianapolis Players Quarterbacks Coaches Seasons Draft First-round draft picks Ring of Honor
Stadiums	Memorial Stadium RCA Dome Lucas Oil Stadium
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Retired numbers	18 19 22 24 70 77 82 89
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Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: American Football Conference Division: South Division
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