When the ECHL’s Indy Fuel depart for the suburbs next year, it could mark the end of a prosperous era of hockey at one of the most iconic and historic venues in Indianapolis.

History of the Coliseum

Located at the State Fairgrounds, the Indiana Farmers Coliseum has seen decades of hockey history made within its stately walls. The sport has been played on and off here over the years since the arrival of the AHL’s Indianapolis Capitals in 1939, the same year that the Coliseum was officially opened. Though the Capitals departed just 13 years later, it wasn’t long until hockey returned to the venue. During the forty-four year period from 1955 until 1999, the Coliseum was the intermittent home of the Indianapolis Chiefs, Capitols, Checkers and Ice. Then, an unrelated USHL franchise called the Indiana Ice made the arena their home from 2004 to 2012, departing when a round of extensive renovations for the aging barn were announced.

The Indy Fuel

When the modernized Coliseum reopened in 2014, the Indy Fuel of the ECHL took up residence and have entertained many enthusiastic crowds in the decade since. Now, the Fuel’s time at the Fairgrounds also appears to be up, with the team slated to move out to the suburbs in time for the 2024-25 season.

Late next year, the opening of the new Fishers Event Center is expected to anchor a mixed-use development area similar to that of the Gas South District in Duluth, Georgia. The venue will hold 6,500 fans for hockey, making it just a hair larger than the 6,200-seat Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Meanwhile, there’s still time to experience the magic of hockey at the old Coliseum, with a couple dozen Fuel home games remaining until the ECHL season concludes in April.

Thanks to the $63 million renovation that wrapped up in 2014, the Coliseum is still holding up very well. Despite its advanced age and long record of events hosted, it remains a cozy and modern place to catch a game. Arriving fans enter through the historic main entryway, setting the tone, and are then funneled up to the contemporary main concourse. Concessions in every corner offer free smells throughout the narrow passageways of the arena, and there’s also a trendy bar area at center ice. Directly opposite this social space, a dedicated group of fans hang out and get rowdy whenever the Fuel light the lamp. It’s truly a fun experience that begins with a walk down the agrarian pathways of the Indiana State Fairgrounds and hopefully ends with a Fuel win.

Indy’s Championship History

Though the Fuel haven’t had much success in the postseason, only making the playoffs a handful of times and never capturing a championship, the team’s predecessors have won a multitude of league trophies. The Coliseum has been home to seven of the city’s nine hockey championship teams:

• Indianapolis Capitals (AHL) – won the Calder Cup in 1942, 1950
• Indianapolis Chiefs (IHL) – won the Turner Cup in 1958
• Indianapolis Checkers (CHL) – won the Adams Cup in 1982, 1983
• Indianapolis Ice (IHL) – won the Turner Cup in 1990 (won 2000 Cup, played elsewhere)
• Indiana Ice (USHL) – won the Clark Cup in 2009 (won 2014 Cup, played elsewhere)

With 26 home games remaining for the Fuel, who currently boast a .500 record (8-8-2)¹, there’s still plenty of time left for the team to add one more championship to the Coliseum’s trophy case.

Conclusion

Sadly, the departure of the Fuel threatens to signal the end of hockey at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum for good. Will another team, perhaps one in a major-junior or independent league, step in and take the Fuel’s place? Only time will tell… but if the past is any indication, it may not be long before a goal horn will once again be heard echoing across the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

1. Accurate as of time of writing on December 5, 2023. ↩︎