For football fans, September 5 is a sacred holiday. It is the official kickoff to the 2024-25 NFL football season and hope abounds. On this morning, every team is undefeated and the possibility of your team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy while confetti falls is entirely feasible.
The Indianapolis Colts come into the season with a mountain of promise. In only four full games last season, first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson dazzled with his blend of speed and athleticism. Then, he was lost to injury. On the flip side, running back Jonathon Taylor missed the first four games with injury. So, the Colts two best offensive weapons only crossed over for a measly two snaps all of last season. The combination of all that speed coming out of the backfield will be electric.
The Colts welcome back one of the leagues best offensive lines. Their receiving corp is led by veteran Michael Pittman Jr. and features a score of young speedsters in Alex Pierce, Josh Downs, and rookie Adonai Mitchell. On defense, the Colts claimed the top defensive pick in the draft (at #15 no less) with Laiatu Latu. Pairing him with Deforest Buckner, Grover Stewart, and Kwity Paye means bad news for opposing quarterbacks.
All that talent is paired with Shane Steichen, one of the hottest young coaches in the league. Can’t you already picture the confetti falling? Soak in the glory by booking a hotel room, buying a ticket, and getting to Indy for a game.
Game day in Indy hits different. As one of the few downtown stadiums in the league, Lucas Oil Stadium is in the heart of the action (vote to name it the best NFL stadium). Fans easily walk to the many restaurants and bars for pre- and post-game fun. Click for a guide to Colts Game Day.
Opening weekend is special, and Indy has some treats for Colts fans, including:
- Blueing of the Canal: Colts mascot “Blue” and the Colts Cheerleaders will dye the Central Canal blue on Friday and you’ll be able to enjoy the spectacle throughout the weekend.
- Light Indy Blue: At night, the city skyline will be painted blue with light emanating from iconic Indy buildings such as the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, Indianapolis Zoo, Victory Field, the Indiana Convention Center, Lilly, and more.
- Touchdown Town: For every Colts home game South Street, located on the north side of Lucas Oil Stadium, is transformed into Touchdown Town. Enjoy live music, giveaways, drink specials, and more.
The Houston Texans will be a tough test to start the season, but I BELIEVE. If you’ve read this far it means you do to. Now, it is time to turn that belief into action. Treat yourself and get in on the excitement this season because when that trophy gets lifted you'll want to feel like an MVP.
PRO TIP: MAKE IT A DOUBLE
I would be remiss not to mention that the hottest team in the WNBA, the Indiana Fever, have a home game against the Atlanta Dream at 4 pm on Sunday. If you're feeling frisky, go for the double and hit both of these amazing events. Indy is going to be buzzing with excitement on Sunday, and don't want ot miss out!