RIP Hoosier (RCA) Dome

The Hoosier Dome goes down:

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=videonetwork&videoID=972814613

Aesthetically, it was a faceless, awful dome. But it hit just as I, and the city of Indianapolis, was doing a lot of growing up. It was the first place I worked a major pro event as a journalist (a Colts game, at age 16, with Gary Hogeboom being the first players I talked to). I saw one of U2's two appearances as the Dalton Brothers, a mock country act they pulled out because Los Lobos' plane was late in arriving. I saw Jerry Rice there -- as a collegian. I saw Bruce Springsteen play an hourlong encore after the house lights went up. I went to a Genesis show with a girlfriend who became my ex in between when we bought the tickets and when we went. (Awkward!) I saw and covered a lot of pro and college sports there in my formative years. Heck, it was the site of my college graduation.

When I was at Lucas Oil Stadium for the first regular season game, it saddened me to see the RCA Dome with the logos off, surrounded by keep-out fencing. I grew up with a downtown Indianapolis bookended by Market Square Arena and the Dome, and it's weird to see them both gone.

 

Was only there once, for a Kentucky-Indiana basketball game. The only good part about it was seeing the arena split exactly in half, red and blue. Not exactly the best basketball atmosphere.

 

Covered an NCAA first-round game there. It was a cold and lifeless dome, like most of the older domes.

A lot of big games, basketball and football, were played there, though.

 

No biggie. Just make sure you shouted the words to "Throwing It All Away" or "Land of Confusion." Add in "That's All."

Then leave her before "Turn It On Again."

 

Covered a lot of football and basketball games there, including some Final Fours. It ranked as one of the best two Final Four venues, with the Superdome the other. Nobody else came close.

 

It stole my football team.

 

The Hoosier Dome was the site of the late, great Danny Federici's last performance with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.

 

I guess heaven needed an antiquated dome.

 

Damn straight.

 

I saw Rocket Ismail compete in the NCAA indoor meet there many years ago.

 

Actually, that was at Conseco.

 

I stand corrected. Good catch, Starman.