History
Indianapolis built the dome next to its convention center in the early 1980s, and the Colts began playing there in 1984. The roof was Teflon-coated fiberglass held up only by air pressure.
The dome helped make Indianapolis an amateur-sports center. It hosted the 1987 Pan American Games, four men's Final Fours and many state high school championships. RCA's 1994 naming deal gave it its later name.
The Colts moved to the larger Lucas Oil Stadium in 2008. The old dome's roof was deflated that September and the structure imploded in December. The site became an expansion of the convention center.
Why it matters: It was the Colts' first Indianapolis home and anchored the city's strategy of growing through sports and conventions.
Timeline
- May 1982
Construction began on the stadium, which was attached to the Indiana Convention Center.
- August 11, 1984
The Colts beat the New York Giants in a preseason game at the dome.
- 1987
The dome hosted events of the 10th Pan American Games, including the closing ceremonies.
- 1994
RCA bought ten years of naming rights.
- January 13, 2008Final Colts game[1]
The Colts lost a divisional playoff game to San Diego, 28–24.
- September 24, 2008
The air-supported roof was let down before demolition.
- December 20, 2008
The remaining structure was imploded.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1,2] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Indiana Convention Center expansion (completed 2011)[1,2] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Indianapolis Colts | NFL · 1984–2007 |
|---|
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Hoosier Dome (1984–1994) |
|---|---|
| Location | 100 South Capitol Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana[1] |
| Venue type | Domed stadium |
| Sports | Football, Basketball, Olympic venues, Track & field |
| Level | NFL, NCAA |
| Opened | 1984[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | 2008[1,2] |
| Demolished | December 20, 2008[1,2] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Original capacity | 60,127[1] |
| Final capacity | 55,531[1] |
| Capacity notes | 60,127 at opening (1984–1991), reduced over time to 55,531 (2006–2008), per Wikipedia. |
| Architect | HNTB; Browning Day Pollack Mullins Inc.[1] |
| Construction cost | $77.5 million |
| Surface | AstroTurf (1984–2004), FieldTurf (2005–2008) |
| Owner / operator | Capital Improvement Board of Marion County |
| Closure | Replaced by Lucas Oil Stadium, which opened in 2008. The site was reused for convention center expansion. |
Documented details
Connected venues
Sources
- RCA Dome, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, demolished, opened, teams
- Hoosier Dome, Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (IUPUI / Polis Center). Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, demolished, opened
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (3)
- Sources disagree on the opening: Wikipedia gives Aug 5, 1984 (opening) and Aug 11, 1984 (dedication/first game), while the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis gives May 1984. Recorded at year precision.
- Sources disagree on the closing: Wikipedia's infobox gives Feb 26, 2008, while the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis says August 2008, when the Colts moved. Recorded at year precision.
- Wikipedia's infobox gives the Colts' tenancy as 1984–2007 and its succession table as 1984–2008. The last game there was in January 2008, during the 2007 season.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.