NFL Commissioner Impressed with Lucas Oil Stadium
INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts played the first regular-season game in Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, and did so with a black circle on the field containing the letters "GU."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was impressed with the stadium.
And he said the GU was as appropriate as possible.
Goodell, entering his third season as the NFL's Commissioner, attended the Colts' game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night – the first regular-season season game in the new, state-of-the-art, retractable-roof facility in downtown Indianapolis.
The facility, the NFL's newest, was impressive, Goodell said.
"I thought it (the stadium) was spectacular," Goodell told reers before the game. "It has a lot of character. It's something the city can be very proud of, and it's obviously extremely functional, too."
As was the case at every NFL stadium on Sunday, the field at Lucas Oil Stadium featured a black circle with "GU" and "63," in memory of former NFL Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw, who wore No. 63 during a Hall of Fame career as an offensive guard with the Oakland Raiders.
"It's hard to imagine too many people who have contributed more to the NFL than Gene did," Goodell said. "I think it's an appropriate honor. We talked to the player advisory council about it before we decided what to do, and this was one of the things we discussed.
"This is very appropriate."
Goodell also participated in a pre-game ceremony at midfield with Colts Owner and Chief Executive Officer Jim Irsay and former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson.
