Pepsi Coliseum To Get Facelift

Indiana State Fairgrounds officials say they’ve begun planning for a multimillion dollar renovation of Pepsi Coliseum.

Fairground commission executive director Cindy Hoye says the fairgrounds will begin soliciting donations to help fund the project that could cost tens of millions of dollars. Indiana Sen. Jim Merritt tells the Indianapolis Business Journal no public funding of the project has been discussed.

Renovations to the 74-year-old venue would include reconfiguring the main floor, expanding the backstage area and enclosing a 14,000-square-foot open-air arena that could host a second ice rink. Construction could begin in 2012.

The arena has hosted shows by the Beatles and Red Skelton, was the original home of professional basketball’s Indiana Pacers and the site of a 1963 gas explosion during an ice skating show that killed 74 people.

Video below.