Big Ten unknown: Will football championship be at Lucas Oil Stadium?
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Big Ten championship football game has been played at Lucas Oil Stadium since 2011, but this year’s expectations remained uncertain Wednesday.
Less than five weeks after postponing fall sports to spring because of the pandemic, the Big Ten changed course on Wednesday. The conference plans to begin its season Oct. 23. The development of rapid daily testing for the coronavirus was a major factor in the decision.
Business operators in downtown Indianapolis are eager for the usual championship game crowd.
The Associated Press reports all 14 teams will be scheduled to play eight regular-season games in eight weeks, plus have the opportunity to play a ninth game on Dec. 19 when the conference championship game is played. The College Football Playoff selections are scheduled for Dec. 20, which means the Big Ten’s best should be back in the hunt for a national championship — if all goes well, AP reports.
Indiana Sports Corp, founded in 1979, seeks out sporting events to bring to the Indianapolis area. The nonprofit made a deal to host the game at the stadium through 2021. This year’s game was planned for Dec. 5 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Wednesday’s Big Ten announcement thrilled the owner of a bar in the stadium’s shadow.
“I think it’s great!” said Stadium Tavern owner Rob Strong. “I think they should return sooner than Oct. 23 or 24, whichever it is. It will be a great boost to our economy if we get to have the Big Ten championship back over here at Lucas Oil and we’re opened up at a fuller capacity than 25%.”
At present, Marion County limits restaurants, bars and nightclubs to 25% capacity indoors and 50% outdoors.
Strong said he is disappointed that fans will not be allowed inside the championship football game, though he hopes the faithful might stop by his bar to be close to the stadium where the game is expected to happen.
“If I were a fan of whatever college was playing, I would definitely want to be closer to the action, closer to the players,” Strong said. “Lucas Oil is 500 feet away from us, so that’s pretty close.”
“Hopefully people want to come in and party and hang out and eat, drink a little bit, have a lively atmosphere other than sitting at home,” Strong said. “I know everybody is kind of tired of that.”
Statement
“Now that the Big Ten Conference has decided on a regular season start date, we are working hand-in-hand with them on the possibility of a Championship Game in Indy and the best date to do so.”
Indiana Sports Corps
The Associated Press contributed to this report.