clarinews@clarinet.com (JIM SLATER, UPI Sports Writer) (01/16/90)
INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) -- Fans will pay more next season to watch the Indianapolis Colts, who may move their training camp from nearby Anderson in a move that could cost that city at least $2.5 million a year. The ticket price hike announced Monday by Colts general manager Jim Irsay means about 33,070 Hoosier Dome seats priced at $24 will now cost $29, while about 24,050 seats priced at $19 will be $23 and 3,007 $12 seats are now $15. ``This increase will probably throw us into the top 10 (highest ticket chargers),'' Irsay said. ``As time goes on, we will drift into the middle group.'' Multiplied over eight regular-season and two home exhibition games, the Colts would make an extra $2,705,710 in ticket sales if all tickets are sold, improving the team's maximum possible ticket income to $15,572,850. ``We want to be fair and not gouge anyone,'' Irsay said. ``We ask fans to look at what we've done. We've produced a very good product. We've thought long and hard so we don't take advantage of our fans. We have one of the smaller stadiums. We want to stay competitive.'' The Hoosier Dome ranks 21st in capacity among the home stadiums of the NFL's 28 teams with 60,127 seats. The Colts also are likely to leave Anderson University, where they have conducted training camps since moving from Baltimore in 1984, in favor of conducting preseason workouts at their westside complex. The Anderson-Madison County Visitors and Convention Bureau has estimated the Colts camp brings the area about $2.5 million annually. ``By the end of February, we should know one way or the other,'' Irsay said. ``It's something I think is preferable and there's a greater chance than ever before, but it's not definite.'' Another major proponent of the move is Colts coach Ron Meyer. ``(Meyer) feels it might be more productive not to pick up and go,'' Irsay said. ``It's different for different coaches and he seems to prefer that. As far as the fields go, Ron feels it's an advantage (here) because you're forced to go on grass there and if it rains that can ruin the field.'' The Colts are also considering building an indoor practice facility at their complex. The team practices at the Hoosier Dome when weather conditions prevent outdoor workouts, but the stadium is not always available for practices at the last minute. Passing improvements the team seeks for the 1990 season would be helped by an indoor facility, Irsay said. A bubble-like covering would cost about $1 million while a structure would run $3 million, Irsay said. ``I would say we're leaning toward the bubble,'' he said. ``It's very important to practice when weather conditions are bad. Sometimes the Dome isn't available. We would like to begin construction within a month. We would like to get it constructed in the offseason.'' The Colts also plan to play an exhibition game in Europe ``sometime in the early 1990s,'' Irsay said. The team plans no coaching changes and Irsay said the team's next priorities are deciding which players will not be among the 37 protected from the NFL's Plan B free agency. The Colts also have 13 free agents to sign in the offseason, including linebackers Jeff Herrod, O'Brien Alston and Cliff Odom, defensive ends Jon Hand and Ezra Johnson, kicker Dean Biasucci and punter Rohn Stark. Irsay said the team probably will send its third-round pick in this year's college draft to San Diego to complete a trade for former drug-using linebacker Chip Banks, provided Banks passes drug tests. That would leave the Colts only one second-round selection in the first three rounds, because Indianapolis traded its first-round choice to Seattle in a deal for linebacker Fredd Young.