Striking Oil: Goodell Calls New Colts Stadium "Spectacular"

Some Fans Upset With Obstructed Views At Lucas Oil Stadium

GIMME SHELTER: NBC’s Andrea Kremer during the first quarter of Bears-Colts reported on how the retractable roof at the Colts’ new Lucas Oil Field operates. Kremer: “The signature feature of this new stadium is the retractable roof. ... Ninety minutes before kickoff, the Colts must decide if they want the roof open or closed, while up in Stadium Control, the roof’s movement is regulated by the computer and for security reasons, the roof’s operator keeps his finger on this sensor the entire time the roof is moving. Opening or closing takes about 10 minutes. Now once the roof is open, only the game referee can decide to close it, but he must do so if there is bad weather because there is no drainage on this field.” NBC’s Al Michaels: “Unlike all of the other retractable roof stadiums that I can think of that open up end zone to end zone, this one opens sideline to sideline” (“Sunday Night Football,” NBC, 9/7).

SOME NEGATIVE REVIEWS: In Indianapolis, Mark Alesia reports the stadium "received generally enthusiastic reviews -- but not unanimously so" from Colts fans. Several "longtime season ticket holders" who sit in Section 646, which is located in a corner of the stadium's upper deck, "were angry" with the design on the facility. One fan in the section has a view "obscured by a hand rail that runs the length of the field." However, Colts Senior Exec VP Pete Ward said that the team "doesn't consider such seats 'obstructed view.'" Ward added that the hand rail "is a building code requirement that's 'an issue with a lot of the new stadiums'" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/8).

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