Tag: Lucas Oil Stadium

NCAA makes an important decision on fan attendance for the Big Dance

There was a major announcement regarding fans being in attendance for the NCAA Tournament.

With March Madness quickly approaching the NCAA is finalizing what the tournament will look like this year. They had previously made the decision to host the championship tournament in the state of Indiana only, with the conclusion of the tournament in Indianapolis. We’ll today we found out there will be fans allowed to take in the tournament.

It will be a limited amount of fans however, at 25% capacity of the venues. The majority of tournament spots will have under 5,000 fans allowed but at Lucas Oil Stadium there will be 17,500. The Final Four will be held there as well as some other earlier round games.

This is a stark contrast from last year, when the NCAA Tournament was canceled all together due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the Irish are on the outside looking in to make the Big Dance, for many fans it is a great sight to see that the tournament will resume in 2021.

All of 2021 March Madness To Be Held in Indiana

The NCAA made it official Monday by announcing that this year’s men’s basketball tournament will be held entirely in Indiana.

The NCAA made it official Monday by announcing that this year’s men’s basketball tournament will be held entirely in Indiana. This has been known for a while, but a detailed plan has not been revealed until now. Most of the tournament will take place in Indianapolis, including the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium, and other games will be hosted in Bloomington and West Lafayette.

At 3-6 overall and winless through three ACC games, Notre Dame needs to turn it around fast if it hopes to make the field for this unique version of March Madness. The Irish almost surely would have to win the ACC Tournament at this rate, and that’s a long shot with five conference teams currently ranked and three more receiving votes in the latest AP poll. As difficult as it seems, Mike Brey teams have a penchant for surprising people. How do we know it can’t happen again?

Big Ten Football Championship Game to be noon kick

According to a release from the Big Ten Conference, its football championship will be played in FOX’s Noon window at Lucas Oil Stadium.

We’re still on the edge of our collective seats trying to figure out if the Ohio State football team will play enough games to make the Big Ten Championship Game — assuming it beats both Michigan State and Michigan. However, with or without OSU, we now know that time slot the game will be played.

According to a release from the Big Ten, the game will be televised by FOX and broadcast during the Big Noon Saturday window. The game will is still scheduled for December 19 and will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium. If OSU makes the game, it’ll mark the seventh time it either plays or was scheduled to play at Noon this season.

This year’s Big Ten Championship Game be the tenth game played. Ohio State has participated in five and won a conference tops four times. Wisconsin is the only team that has played in more Big Ten Championship games with six.

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If the Buckeyes can curb the coronavirus outbreak it is currently dealing with, they will be shooting for their fifth-straight Big Ten Championship.

Now, all that’s missing are two teams. Northwestern has the inside track in the West Division with OSU in the driver’s seat pending the status of this week and next week’s games. If OSU can’t play over the next couple of weeks, Indiana would be the next in line.

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Lucas Oil Stadium may host Chargers vs. Saints in Week 5

Hurricane Delta may put LOS in primetime

Lucas Oil Stadium may play host to Monday Night Football in Week 5, but it won’t be including the Indianapolis Colts. Instead, there is consideration for the Los Angeles Chargers and New Orleans Saints to play due to Hurricane Delta.

With the Colts on the road in Week 5 to take on the Cleveland Browns, The Athletic reported that the league has notified Lucas Oil Stadium as the primary contingency plan should Hurricane Delta force the Chargers and Saints to be moved off-site.

There is reasoning behind Lucas Oil Stadium being the preferred location, and it isn’t the first time this has happened, per Jeff Duncan of The Athletic.

Indianapolis is the preferred destination because of its accessibility, small downtown footprint and team officials’ familiarity with its infrastructure. The Saints evacuated to Indianapolis in 2008 because of Hurricane Gustav and practiced for a week at Lucas Field in Indianapolis in preparation for their season-opening game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 1998, the team was stranded in Indy an extra day after a win against the Colts because Hurricane Georges closed the airport in New Orleans.

The Saints and Chargers would be able to practice there this weekend because the Colts will likely be out of town by Saturday to head to Cleveland.

Even though the Colts don’t have a Monday night game this season, Lucas Oil Stadium could see some primetime action between the Saints and Chargers in Week 5.

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Lucas Oil Stadium ranked 13th among NFL venues

The Athletic ranked the Colts’ stadium at 13.

For a very long time, the home of the Indianapolis Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium has been lauded for its attractiveness on Sundays in the fall and winter.

The Athletic staff sat down and ranked each stadium venue entering the 2020 season. While Colts fans would expect Lucas Oil Stadium to be a bit higher on the list, it came in at No. 13.

Here’s how the rankings came out:

1. U.S. Bank Stadium (Vikings)
2. CenturyLink Field (Seahawks)
3. AT&T Stadium (Cowboys)
4. Lambeau Field (Packers)
5. Arrowhead Stadium (Chiefs)
6. Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Falcons)
7. Soldier Field (Bears)
8. State Farm Stadium (Cardinals)
9. Lincoln Financial Field (Eagles)
10. Heinz Field (Steelers)
11. Empower Field at Mile High (Broncos)
12. Levi’s Stadium (49ers)
13. Lucas Oil Stadium (Colts)
14. Mercedes-Benz Superdome (Saints)
15. Raymond James Stadium (Buccaneers)
16. M&T Bank Stadium (Ravens)
17. Nissan Stadium (Titans)
18. NRG Stadium (Texans)
19. Ford Field (Lions)
20. Gillette Stadium (Patriots)
21. Dignity Health Sports Park (Chargers)
22. Bank of America Stadium (Panthers)
23. FirstEnergy Stadium (Browns)
24. New Era Field (Bills)
25. Hard Rock Stadium (Dolphins)
26. MetLife Stadium (Giants/Jets)
27. Paul Brown Stadium (Bengals)
28. L.A. Memorial Coliseum (Rams)
29. Oakland Coliseum (Raiders)
30. TIAA Bank Field (Jaguars)
31. FedExField (Washington)

What say you Colts fans? How do you feel about this ranking?

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How to watch the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

Everything you need to know to catch the top prospects in the country performing in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

It might be the offseason, but for teams around the league, it’s one of the busiest times of the year. The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is set to kick off this week in Indianapolis and will feature some of the top eligible prospects from around the country.

Fans now will enjoy a more convenient viewing schedule this season with a portion of the on-field drills being moved to the afternoon and primetime TV slots on the NFL Network.

Here’s everything you need to know to catch the action from Lucas Oil Stadium.

WHAT: 2020 NFL Scouting Combine

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 1

WHERE: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

TV: NFL Network

STREAMING: NFL App and NFL.com/watch

Here’s a look at the tentative schedule broadcast schedule:

Thursday, Feb. 27 1:00 p.m. PT to 8:00 p.m. PT

Friday, Feb. 28 1:00 p.m. PT to 8:00 p.m. PT

Saturday, Feb. 29 1:00 p.m. PT to 8:00 p.m. PT

Sunday, March 1: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. PT

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Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Carolina Panthers at Indianapolis Colts sports betting odds and lines, with Week 16 NFL betting picks, tips and bets.

The Carolina Panthers (5-9) and Indianapolis Colts (6-8) tangle at Lucas Oil Stadium Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (on CBS). We analyze the Panthers-Colts sports betting odds and lines, with NFL betting picks and tips for the Week 16 matchup.

Panthers at Colts: Week 16 preview, betting trends and notes

Get some action on the game at BetMGM by placing a sports bet!

  • The Panthers turn to rookie QB Will Grier for his first NFL start.
  • The Colts enter on a four-game losing skid, while going 0-2-1 ATS across the past three games, and 2-5-1 ATS over the previous eight.
  • Indianapolis is 2-2 straight up and 1-3 ATS across the past four games at Lucas Oil Stadium.
  • Colts QB Jacoby Brissett and the offense was limited to a season-low seven points – scored late in the fourth quarter – in Monday’s ugly 34-7 loss at the New Orleans Saints.
  • The Colts defense is allowing 34.3 points per game across the past three outings as the Over has hit in two of those contests.
  • Indianapolis ranks ninth in the NFL against the run, allowing just 100.9 yards per game. That will be a key matchup, as they try and slow down Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey.

Panthers at Colts: Key injuries

Panthers: WR Curtis Samuel (knee) is questionable, while LB Sha’Quille Thompson (ankle) and DT Vernon Butler (illness) are out.

Colts: DT Denico Autry (concussion), CB Kenny Moore II (ankle), CB Quincy Wilson (shoulder) S Malik Hooker (hand) are out.

Panthers at Colts: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Colts 23, Panthers 20

Moneyline (?)

The Colts (-286) are heavily favored at home, but if you can trust their offense after what you saw last week, you have a lot more betting chutzpah than I do. The Panthers are +225.

New to sports betting? Every $2.86 wagered on the Colts ML will profit $1 if they win.

Against the Spread (?)

The PANTHERS (+7.5, -143) haven’t been playing well, but they’ll have the best player on the field in McCaffrey. He will be a difference maker and will help take a huge amount of pressure off of Grier in the QB’s first NFL start.

Every $1.43 wagered on the Panthers here will profit $1 if they don’t lose by 8 or more points or win outright.

Over/Under (?)

PASS. The total of 45.5 (-125 Over, +105 Under) is too close to call in this one. There are a lot of unknowns with Grier running the show, along with the Colts offense looking pretty shabby last week. If there is a lean, it’s to the Under – but ever so slightly.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. Looking for more sports betting picks and tips? Visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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