When I take my kids to a Colts game I usually don’t have the time to really soak in my surroundings. At a game, it’s all about the three S’s: Soda, snacks and seats. My brood typically gets in and gets to our seats as quickly as possible so as to avoid losing the little ones in the crowd.
That’s always been a bit of a bummer for me, because if you take even a moment to look around in Lucas Oil Stadium you’ll realize there is so much to see on the walls, in the halls and overhead. I really hate knowing how much I’m missing, so I try not to think of it and just focus on keeping my kids alive until half time.
Thankfully, Lucas Oil Stadium is open for public tours on non-game days. And only for $10 per person. I got an opportunity to check out one of these tours and I’m ready to tell you: It’s worth every minute of your time. Not only because you can get a chance to see the parts of Lucas Oil that you typically overlook on game day, but because you get to see the types of places within the stadium that you’d never get to see unless you have a very rich uncle leave you a fortune or you get hired by ESPN or the NFL Network.
To put it less cryptically, you get to see the stadium from the tip top {the cheap seats I’m used to} down to the press box in the middle; and the Crown Royal Quarterback Suite down to the very bottom of the building, as in the actual Colts locker room where our favorite horseshoe-bedecked players suit up.
And every step of the way is packed with more Lucas Oil-Indianapolis Colts-entertaining trivia you can handle. “Did you know the stadium was actually built on an angle to allow for maximum view of the downtown skyline?” “Did you know on game days that the stadium can go thru upwards of 300 kegs of beer?” “Did you know Tom Brady has never won a game at Lucas Oil Stadium?” Okay so the last point isn’t true but Colts fans can only wish.
And then there’s the field itself:
If you’re young and spry you can test your speed on the field running a quick 40 yard dash {at your own risk of course!}. If you are like my friend and fellow Indy’s Child writer Creed, you might prefer to shout penalties like a referee from the field.
The whole experience is very interesting and typically interesting for adults means positively boring for children, but not in this case. All four of my kids were extremely entertained, getting to check out areas they never even knew existed. My son even got to check out how they update the score during the game. Not every kid in his first grade class can say they put some points on the board for the Colts, but now my son can!
Lest we forget: Indy’s Child would like to send a hearty and huge thanks to our guides Denise and… Denise! These wonderful ladies showed us the VIP treatment during our tour, answered every question we could possibly throw at them – and there were a lot! – and were dynamite with our brood of kiddos. As we mention below, tours are a small per diem per person but gratuity is also appreciated and our crew of Denise x2 definitely earned it!
MORE INFO:Â Here are the details you need to know from the Lucas Oil Website:Â Tours are typically conducted at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday.** Cost is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors age 65 and over, children ages 4-12, and Military (Retired or Active ID). Children ages 3 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. Please consider tipping your tour guides for their time!
