ANDERSON, Ind. —
Those wishing to attend the Indianapolis Colts training camp will be shelling out $10 per vehicle for each visit to park on Anderson University’s campus.
The parking fee will be the only cost for visitors attending the training camp at the Kardatzke Wellness Center and Macholtz Stadium on AU’s campus, said Chris Williams, director of communication at the university.
“All of the parking fees will stay with Anderson University to offset some of the costs associated with hosting the Indianapolis Colts training camp,” he said.
Some of the costs associated with it, Williams explained, are additional security, directional signage to help people around campus and general wear and tear to the parking area.
Visitors will be parking on the large campground area between University Boulevard and Fifth Street. Williams said the university’s security services staff will begin to assemble a team to handle traffic flow of both vehicles and pedestrians onto campus. And maps of the campus relative to the training camp and a map of “Colts City” will be given to visitors to help them navigate the area.
Colts City will include interactive inflatables, sponsored booths, the travelling museum “Colts in Motion,” appearances by official Colts mascot Blue, door prizes including tickets, Colts apparel vendors and cheerleader autograph stations.
The main arteries of traffic coming to town will be State Road 32 and Scatterfield Road, Williams said, with visitors being directed to Fifth Street — the main path to get into the parking area. University Boulevard from Nursery Road to College Drive will be closed for the entirety of Colts camp.
“We’re hopeful that many people come out to camp while it is in operation,” Williams said. “The parking is in a really convenient location. And with the university hosting the premier NFL franchise team, we are anticipating many folks coming out. We are working very hard to be as accommodating as we can and to have a good system in place to handle the traffic and manage things efficiently and conveniently for folks going in and out.”
When the training camp was held at Terre Haute’s Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the city saw an average of 1,500 to 2,000 visitors a day. But the site there was twice the distance for most fans. Ralph Day, executive director of the Anderson/Madison County Visitors and Convention Bureau, has said the city can realistically expect two to three times as many fans will come to camp in Anderson.
To help visitors get to campus, Williams said they are redoing their billboard at exit 26 off of Interstate 69 with a message about Colts camp directing people to campus. They are also redoing their billboard closer to Indianapolis with information about the training camp as well as putting up a billboard on I-69 north of Anderson about camp.
AU is working with the city of Anderson to help people coming into town for training camp.
Tammy Bowman, the city’s director of public and media relations, said they’ve asked the Indiana Department of Transportation to add the training camp to the interstate’s large attraction signs. She said they’re also exploring options on more “festive signage” along the route to campus.
Along the lines of signage, the United Way recently discovered they would be receiving 30 billboards at close to no cost to them featuring Colts player Gary Brackett wearing their signature “Live United” shirt.
Nancy Anderson, vice president of United Way of Madison County, said a partnership with the NFL and the Ad Council helped them land the billboards, which are mostly being funded by Alexandria’s Burkhart Advertising.
“When we heard the Colts were coming back, we wanted to make sure we tried to get the ads out,” Anderson said.
The billboards won’t direct people onto campus but will help with United Way’s kick-off to their campaign Aug. 31.
Williams said visitors need to be reminded that AU is a alcohol-free and smoke-free campus. Personal coolers as well as pets won’t be permitted around the training camp area.
Contact Abbey Doyle, 640-4840, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com.
Colts
Anderson University to charge $10 for Colts parking
- Colts
-
-
Report: Peyton Manning cleared to resume playing
According to ESPN, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has been medically cleared to play next season. The report stated that Manning was cleared by two doctors, including Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the most recent surgery on the quarterback's neck.
-
Irsay: Mathis, Garcon are priorities
Expect defensive end Robert Mathis and wide receiver Pierre Garcon to be priorities for the Indianapolis Colts during free agency. According to Colts owner Jim Irsay, Mathis and Garcon are both unrestricted free agents and appear to be the cornerstones for the team moving forward. Veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne, meanwhile, may be suiting up for another team in 2012.
-
Manning: I have no plans to retire
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning made one thing clear Tuesday. He has no plans to retire any time soon.
-
Ravens hire Caldwell as coach
Jim Caldwell is back in the NFL, this time as the Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach. The 57-year-old Caldwell was hired on Monday by the Ravens. The appointment comes less than two weeks after Caldwell was fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts following a 2-14 season.
-
Anderson native instrumental in Colts' move to Indy
When Hoosiers look at those responsible for bringing Super Bowl XLVI to Indianapolis, they might well consider Paul R. Oakes.
-
Reports: Arians set to join Colts
Multiple media reports, including one by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, indicated Saturday that former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will accept the same post with the Indianapolis Colts.
-
Irsay, Manning make nice in letter
Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay insist they are just fine after a week filled with complaints and comments suggesting a rift had developed following one of the most miserable seasons in team history.
-
Manning, Irsay insist they are on same page
Peyton Manning and Colts owner Jim Irsay insist they are just fine after a week filled with complaints and comments suggesting a rift had developed following one of the most miserable seasons in team history.
-
Pagano brings family feeling to Indianapolis
Chuck Pagano is a self-described “people person,” a trait that will come in handy if he hopes to accomplish his first goal as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts. Pagano, who officially was introduced during a more than 45-minute press conference Thursday afternoon at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, said he’d like to take his first 60-odd hours on the job and meet his players. One by one. One hour at a time.
-
Irsay scolds Manning
Jim Irsay met with a small group of media following Thursday’s press conference to introduce Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. The subject quickly turned to the status of injured quarterback Peyton Manning, and the owner’s demeanor took on the tone of a father scolding his eldest son.
- More Colts Headlines
-
