Open & Shut Case: Colts Face Decisions With Retractable Roof

Colts Officials Still Getting A Feel For When To Open Roof

OPEN POLICY: Ballard noted "questions arose about the policy regarding the $15.7[M] retractable roof after it was closed" for the September 21 Jaguars-Colts game on "what turned out to be a pleasant afternoon." But Colts Senior Exec VP Pete Ward said, "Whenever there is an imminent threat of rain, we're going to close the roof." The stadium "is not waterproof," and unlike Reliant Stadium and Univ. of Phoenix Stadium, the field "has no drainage." Additionally, "speakers, scoreboards and other electronic equipment are exposed." Colts season-ticket holder Charlie Koehler said that "many fans were caught unaware" of the roof being open Sunday. Koehler: "People who were underneath the windows were in the sun all day and I don't think they knew they would be." But Ward noted that the roof "has been open for four of the five games, including preseason, the Colts have played in their new stadium." Ward would not "speculate on the rest of the season, especially with the next afternoon home game not scheduled" until November 2. Ward: "We're going to have to do it for a while until we get to know the stadium. We don't know what it'll be like if it's 45 (degrees) and sunny or 45 and cloudy. That's why we're not going to put ourselves in a box. We're still getting a feel for it ourselves, and until we do, we're going to have to play it by ear" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/16).

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