Bringing down the house
So, one of the most visible signs of the beginning of the demolition of the Hoosier Dome (I still refuse to call it the RCA Dome) is happening right now as we speak (or – as I write, anyway). I remember when they imploded Market Square Arena and the shockwave slightly rattled our house (we still lived in Indy at the time). This, however, isn’t supposed to be nearly as dramatic. They’re simply turning off the fans and allowing the roof to come down. It’s supposed to take something like 45 minutes. But I’m still watching it (online). Just like I watched them blow up MSA (on tv).
I have only been in the Dome just a few times. I went to a couple of State Marching Finals, which was pretty fun. Of course, it would have been much more enjoyable if I were a participant instead of a spectator. But that’s a different post for a different time.
I think the only other time I was in the Hoosier Dome was at the beginning of this year when our lives were forever changed by our introduction to Monster Jam (deep, deep, deep in the mud!).
People are sharing all kinds of memories about the Dome and how it changed the face of a city that was once known as Naptown because it was so…well…sleepy. The ’84 Olympics exhibition (which my dad has a ticket receipt from), the Colts’ spectacular run to the Super Bowl a few years ago, and all of the NCAA tournament games and Final Fours usually top most people’s lists. But the one that’s most memorable to me is what didn’t happen in the Hoosier Dome.
March, 1991. CBS is beginning its Final Four broadcast. The Final Four is hosted at the Hoosier Dome this year. Indiana entered the tournament a number 2 seed, with dreams of adding a sixth banner to the rafters at Assembly Hall. Unfortunately, Kansas got in the way. Devastating loss. And what poured salt into this already painful wound was the opening sequence from the Indianapolis Final Four with images of Bob Knight, Calbert Cheaney, Damon Bailey, and the rest of the Hoosiers and then the question, “Where’s Indiana?” Everyone, it seemed (including CBS), assumed the Hoosiers would be participants in the Final Four in their home state. Alas, it didn’t happen. And I’ll always remember the Hoosier Dome for that year that almost was – for the national championship that didn’t happen.
So, now we say goodbye to the Hoosier Dome. I guess you could say it was fun while it lasted. I look forward to seeing more of Lucas Oil Stadium. But with the Colts’ current lack of success at said Stadium, I wonder how long it will be before people start wishing they were back in the Hoosier Dome.
What’s your favorite memory of the Hoosier Dome?
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