The Colts fought hard to build a new stadium in Indianapolis that would give the city and their fans a sense of pride. Since its grand opening in 2008, Lucas Oil Stadium has done just that. In only six years, the stadium has not only hosted a Super Bowl, but has also proven itself to be among the elite as far as NFL stadiums are concerned. Stadium Journey magazine has officially ranked Lucas Oil Stadium for having the best fan experience in the league three years running.
Stadium Journey visits and rates each NFL stadium based seven categories that differentiate each venue. Each site is thoroughly reviewed in each category on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best. The rating system is comprised of the following sets of criteria: food and beverage, atmosphere, neighborhood, fans, access, return on investment, and extras.
Stadium Journey Special Correspondent, Sean MacDonald, evaluated Indianapolis' beloved stadium. MacDonald rated Lucas Oil Stadium 5 in six sections of the survey, 4.9 overall. According to him, the venue could stand to improve their concessions. His wish for the venue is to feature more locally prominent foods such as corn, pork and beef. MacDonald's full review may be seen on the official website for Stadium Journey.
Lucas Oil Stadium had some stiff competition with some of the premier venues in the league. Among the top five NFL stadiums this year was Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Lambeau Field in Green Bay, AT&T Stadium in Dallas, and Bank of America Stadium in Carolina.
No Colts fan will ever forget their team's former home, the RCA Dome. Many were sad to see it demolished. There is no doubt that even those who opposed the construction of a new venue must admit Lucas Oil Stadium has done a lot for the city of Indianapolis.
"The House that Peyton Built" has invited many events to the city, including Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012. Indianapolis is currently in the bidding process with the NFL to bring the Super Bowl back to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2018. It is now down to Indianapolis, Minneapolis and New Orleans. The Vikings will have a brand new stadium.
