coliseum

Former Roller Derby Teammates Reunite as Foes March 6th

March 1, 2015 by April Abernathy

The Naptown Tornado Sirens are back in action on Friday, March 6th at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, facing off against the Fort Wayne Derby Girls.

Fort Wayne’s roster is made up of many former members of the Tornado Sirens, including players who were on the team that went to Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) World Championships in 2011 and 2012.

Because skaters pay to play, they can also choose where they play, even if it means a long commute several times a week.

“It’s going to be an emotional night for everyone involved,” says league spokeswoman Devon “Peyton Slamming” Dean. “Naptown fans know most of the players on the track as current or former Tornado Sirens.”

Dean also says she expects some conflicted emotions from the fans.

Fort Wayne is coming off a decisive home opening victory against Bleeding Heartland (Bloomington). The Tornado Sirens are undefeated so far this season.

The night’s featured charity is the ATI Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping children with physical impairments get the resources they need for a better quality of life.

The night will also be part of the on-going celebration of the 25th anniversary of “NUVO,” Indy’s alternative voice and a longtime Naptown sponsor.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, or at local vendors around the city. More information is available at Naptownrollergirls.com!

Doors open at 6:30 p.m for the general public, with the first whistle at 7:30 p.m.!

NRG is Back!

January 7, 2015 by April Abernathy

Roller Derby Returns to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum January 17th!

The Naptown Roller Girls make their triumphant return to the Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Saturday, January 17th!

The Tornado Sirens and Warning Belles will take on the Nashville Roller Girls in a fast-paced, hard-hitting roller derby double header.

The two teams have a long history, with Nashville being the Tornado Sirens’ first-ever opponent in 2007.

Doors open at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. The night will kick off with the internationally-ranked Tornado Sirens battling the Music City All-Stars at 7:00 p.m.

The second bout will pit the Warning Belles against the Music City Brawl Stars.

Partial proceeds from this bout will benefit the Hoosier Environmental Council.

“We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,” says league spokeswoman Devon “Peyton Slamming” Dean. “We’ve made so many great memories already in the Coliseum and this should be our most competitive season yet!”

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum box office, or at local vendors around the city. More information is available at Naptownrollergirls.com!

New ECHL team to play in renovated Coliseum beginning in 2014

November 25, 2013 by April Abernathy

Professional hockey is coming back to the Indiana State Fairgrounds! The Indiana State Fair Commission has approved an agreement with Indiana Hockey Club, LLC, an ECHL expansion franchise that will become an anchor tenant for the fairgrounds’ newly renovated Coliseum and begin playing its home games there in October 2014. The two organizations have signed a five-year deal that also calls for the team to house its administrative offices at the fairgrounds.

Carmel businessman Jim Hallett, the chief executive officer and director of KAR Auction Services, one of North America’s largest automotive remarketing companies, is the chairman of Indiana Hockey Club, LLC and no stranger to hockey. He is a lifelong fan, former player and former team owner.

“Professional hockey is back in Indy, and we can’t wait to drop the puck,” Hallett said. “We have a great partnership with the Indiana State Fair Commission and a beautiful new arena that will be one of the premier hockey venues in the Midwest. We’ll offer affordable family fun and a competitive brand of hockey that hasn’t been seen here since the Indianapolis IHL team that played in Market Square Arena in the 1990s. We are already busy assembling a first class organization, and look forward to sharing our progress as we build toward the 2014 season.”

The Coliseum Complex is in the final months of a $63 million renovation that will modernize the entire arena with new lighting, a two-tiered seating bowl, a digital overhead scoreboard, state of the art sound equipment and ample ADA seating. It will accommodate about 6,200 fans for hockey and is scheduled to reopen in April, 2014.

“This deal makes perfect sense for us and we’re happy to have it done before the building opens next spring,” said Indiana State Fair Commission Chairman Andre Lacy. “I remember going to Capitals games in the Coliseum as a boy eager for a puck to come my way, so bringing pro hockey back to the fairgrounds is especially gratifying to me personally.”

The State Fairgrounds has been the hub of Indianapolis’ long hockey history dating back to 1939 when the Coliseum first opened and the Indianapolis Capitals began the first of their 13 seasons in the International American Hockey League. The building subsequently housed the Indianapolis Chiefs, Racers, Checkers and Ice for various durations in a variety of professional leagues from 1955 – 2004. The Indiana Ice, an amateur team playing in the United States Hockey League, called the Coliseum home from 2004 – 2012 when the renovation began but ultimately decided not to return to the Coliseum after the renovation is completed.

That decision eventually led the commission to Hallett and the ECHL. Hockey’s premier “AA” league, the ECHL not only offers Ft. Wayne as a natural regional rival, but it also has franchises in nearby Evansville, Cincinnati and Toledo. Overall, it currently has 22 teams located throughout the country and is responsible for sending more than 500 players to the National Hockey League since its inception in 1988.

“Indianapolis has an international reputation as a great sports town, and we’re confident it will once again be a great hockey town,” said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. “With an exceptional ownership group led by Jim Hallett, a brand new venue and a proud hockey tradition, we couldn’t be happier to expand the ECHL to Central Indiana.”

The ECHL has long been known for its high quality hockey that is also an affordable family experience. A recent survey commissioned by the State Fairgrounds indicates great public support for affordable, family friendly pro sports events in the new Coliseum, which has everyone involved excited about the new team’s long term outlook.

“I spent many years watching my son’s hockey games in the Coliseum and know what a devoted fan base there is for hockey and the Coliseum,” said State Fairgrounds Executive Director Cindy Hoye. “To have a brand new professional team ready to reenergize these fans inside a first-class facility that is still connected to its 75-year history is going to be fun.”

The hockey club is the second team to announce a deal to play in the renovated Coliseum. Earlier this year, the IUPUI Jaguars announced a five-year agreement to play all its men’s and selected women’s basketball games in the arena. The hockey team will unveil additional details at a press conference on November 26 at 11 a.m., including information on the lottery process for selecting season tickets for the club’s inaugural season.

Coliseum Renovation to Include Second Arena

September 30, 2012 by Mel McMahon

After five years of study and several months of finalizing design plans, the Indiana State Fair Commission is preparing to begin a $63 million renovation of the Pepsi Coliseum complex. The project will be paid for through bonding payable with commission revenues.

Built in 1939 as part of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration, the Coliseum needs an extensive renovation to meet contemporary event requirements, improve operational efficiencies, and become compliant with current building codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The project will begin October 29, 2012, and be completed in July, 2014, in time for that year’s Indiana State Fair.

“This is the most important capital project in the 120-year history of the Indiana State Fairgrounds,” State Fair Commission Chairman Andre Lacy said. “We’ve done our due diligence preparing for this and it’s finally time to turn our dreams into reality.”

Kansas City-based Populous is the design firm responsible for the project’s architecture and engineering. The company has completed hundreds of high profile arenas and stadiums around the world. Hunt Construction Group of Indianapolis is the construction manager on the project. They also oversaw the construction of local landmarks like Lucas Oil Stadium and the downtown J.W. Marriott.

The scope of the renovation calls for the iconic exterior of the Coliseum to be rejuvenated, but remain otherwise unchanged. The building’s interior, however, will be completely demolished and reconstructed with improvements that include double-tiered seating, a new video scoreboard and a modern sound system.

The new facility will offer slightly more seating capacity than the existing one depending on the configuration. The current building seats around 8,000 people while the new one could accommodate as many as 9,000 visitors.

“The new Coliseum will be a one-of-a-kind, family friendly facility in Indianapolis that won’t compete with larger venues like Bankers Life Fieldhouse,” State Fairgrounds Executive Director Cindy Hoye said. “It won’t have skyboxes or luxury suites, but it will be a modern facility that hosts shows and events that might not otherwise come to our city. It is also the key to the State Fairgrounds business plan.”

The Coliseum is responsible for bringing in approximately 40 percent of the State Fairgrounds’ annual revenue. Additionally, an Indiana University Kelley School Business study released earlier this year concluded that the building generates $89.3 million in direct spending for the Indianapolis economy.

“There’s no question that the Coliseum is the heart of the fairgrounds’ facilities,” Bruce Jaffee, the study’s author, said. “If it doesn’t get renovated, the gradual deterioration would force some of the activities and events to locate elsewhere. They may just go away.”

The Coliseum has hosted some of Indianapolis’ most memorable events. The Beatles played their only Indiana show there in 1964. The building also boasts the majority of the city’s hockey history and was the original home of the Indiana Pacers where they won three American Basketball Association championships.

“The Coliseum is steeped in Hoosier history,” Hoye said. “Between hockey games, consumer shows, agricultural events and graduations, the Coliseum is in use about 300 days of the year. After the renovation, we expect that number to climb even higher.”

For an inside look on the projected appearance of the new Coliseum, visit http://youtu.be/U2s-3A_bAs8.