State Fair Coliseum reopening: It's like 'the Taj Mahal'

Gov. Mike Pence remembers calling a "beautiful brunette" to ask for a date.

She was busy babysitting. She was taking her niece and nephew to the Pepsi Coliseum to ice skate.

"I said, 'I love to ice skate. That's just what I do,' " recalled Pence Thursday at the grand reopening of the Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum.

So they went skating at the coliseum and were married less than two years later. That was 28 years ago.

"There is truly something special about the coliseum," he said. "Something that grounds us as who we are."

While the grand reopening of the $63 million project was all about beginning a new chapter for the storied building, it seems plenty of people wanted to tell tales of its past.

There was Indiana State Fair Commission Chairman Andre Lacy, who remembers marveling over the coliseum as he marched with his high school band in 1951. He talked of presidents, such as John F. Kennedy, and the Beatles walking throughout its halls.

"I'm truly attached to this building," he said, getting choked up at times. "She and I have lived through the same decades together."

There was fairgrounds Executive Director Cindy Hoye who talked about Franklin D. Roosevelt coming to the Indiana State Fair in 1936 with his motorcade, driving by what he called "a rickety old livestock pavilion."

With $1 million from Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration, the pavilion was torn down and a shiny new coliseum arose in 1939.

But as happens with decades-old buildings, things need upgraded. It came close to being shut down, at times. Then in October 2012, the lights went out in the historic coliseum.

That is until Thursday. Hundreds of people gathered for the ribbon cutting in front of the coliseum then excitedly hurried inside to see the renovated building.

It was glitzy and sparkling with updated technology, fancy seating and an Indy Fuel gift shop. The venue's two levels of seating can accommodate 8,200 attendees, about 200 more than before.

Yet, it held on to the charm of a building that was built in 1939.

"You just felt like you were walking in the Taj Mahal," said Neal Kuhn, Manilla, Ind., who was at the event with his wife, Nancy. "It's marvelous."

Kuhn, a state fair board president in 1992, said people may not realize everything that's gone into the renovation.

But Hoye did, and she outlined it.

There were two administrations involved, Pence and former Gov. Mitch Daniels. There were 15 studies, 2,195 meetings, 39 contractors and 1,200 laborers. There was 17 months of construction.

"Not only are we grateful," she said, "but the next generation and the next generation are grateful."

Pence thanked everyone involved in the project, saying "You took the best state fair in America and just made it better."

Here are the details of the new coliseum.

Floor level

Sunlight shines through large windows on the east end of the coliseum, a building that hosted a presidential campaign speech by John F. Kennedy in 1960, a performance by The Beatles in 1964 and Indiana Pacers games from 1967 to 1974, when the team won three American Basketball Association championships.

Vintage seats

One section of the coliseum's lower bowl pays tribute to the building's past with 94 original seats restored to 1939 condition. In addition to Indiana State Fair concerts and livestock, the coliseum will be home to IUPUI basketball games and a new minor-league hockey team known as the Indy Fuel.

Heavy metal

The coliseum's metal superstructure, on the building's top concourse, is one of few elements carried over from the pre-renovation era. The other elements, exterior brick and limestone designed in art-deco style, have been restored.

Peeking in

One of the most distinctive features of the coliseum renovation is a concourse bar that allows views into action happening onstage, on court or on ice.

Living color

The coliseum features a new LED video scoreboard.

Battle ready

A modern locker room will be used during games featuring the new Indy Fuel franchise. The building's hockey history dates to 1939, when future Chicago Blackhawks owner Arthur Wirtz launched the minor-league Indianapolis Capitals — a team that patrolled the Coliseum ice until 1952.

Call Star reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow at (317) 444-6012. Follow her on Twitter:@danabenbow

Coliseum Open House

When: 3 to 7 p.m. April 24.

Where: Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum, 1202 E. 38th St.

Admission: Free

Info: Visit

IN.gov/statefair

or call (317) 927-7500.