Indianapolis to play host to Big Ten football title game

The Big Ten Conference decided to keep its football championship game in Indianapolis from 2012 to '15.

June 6, 2011 at 12:13PM
Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany
Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

In a battle between two Midwest sports powers, Indianapolis topped Chicago in the two cities' bids to play host the Big Ten football title game, the league announced Sunday.

The conference's Council of Presidents/Chancellors voted unanimously to place the championship game at Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium -- over Chicago's Soldier Field -- for a four-year period beginning in 2012. The home of the Indianpolis Colts already had been named to play host to the inuagural Big Ten title game Dec. 3.

Commissioner Jim Delany said weather was a factor in the final decision. Lucas Oil Stadium has a retractable roof, and Soldier Field doesn't.

However, Chicago's United Center will again play host to the Big Ten men's basketball tournament, alternating with Conseco Fieldhouse for a four-year stretch starting in the 2012-13 season. The women's basketball tournament also will alternate between Indianapolis and Chicago during the same period, but the event will be at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill., when it's Chicago's turn.

MYRON P. MEDCALF

about the writer

about the writer

Myron Medcalf

Columnist

Myron Medcalf is a local columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune and recipient of the 2022 Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for general column writing.

See More

More from Gophers

card image

Basketball Across Minnesota: Aaliyah Crump, who committed to Texas, is spending her senior year at Montverde Academy in Florida on a team filled with Division I recruits.

card image