SVG in Indy: Beyond the Colts, Lucas Oil Stadium Stays Busy With NFL Scouting Combine, NCAA Men's Final Four

Supported by partners, the in-venue production team keeps videoboard-show quality high

Lucas Oil Stadium, the home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts and major sports events for almost two decades, continues to hover near the top of U.S. sports venues. The stadium at the heart of the Hoosier State is as busy as ever in 2026 with this weekend's NFL Scouting Combine, the upcoming NCAA Men's Final Four in April, and, in the fall, another Colts home season.

The front bench features a Grass Valley Kayenne production switcher, Ross Video XPression graphics, and a position for the show's producer. I try not to think too much about the shear breadth and scope of events that we are privileged to have in this city and, even more focused, the ones that happen at Lucas Oil Stadium, says Chris Buckley, senior broadcast engineer, Indianapolis Colts. When I do, I still can't believe that I get to be a part of it and reflect on how great it is to have a city and state full of partners that have built Indianapolis into what it's become for sporting events.

The second row is reserved for implementation of Snapchat AR graphics and Ross Video's Piero for virtual 1st-and-10.Throughout the schedule, the Colts' technical-operations and production personnel meet the moment through internal and external collaboration. After firing up a passionate fanbase for every home game, the crews are assisting the NFL with its annual Scouting Combine - an event that has been held every year in Indianapolis since 1987 and at Lucas Oil Stadium since its opening in 2008. Originally a spectacle purely for players looking to make an impression on NFL clubs and team executives looking for prospective additions to the roster, the four-day event has become a fan-focused production to entertain patrons in the stands.

The NFL went from hosting a few fans to thousands across all four days, says Buckley. The prospects are here to show off their skills and find a place to play in the NFL, but our role has changed from offering support for the televised product to a multi-day fan experience with Van Wagner in the lead.

The third row has room for six Evertz replay operators and a dedicated producer.A large chunk of the in-venue production runs in tandem with the live broadcast on NFL Network. During commercial breaks, the videoboard show uses two pieces of the network's production: a clean feed of the broadcast and its on-air talent - hosts Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah - and a live show produced by Van Wagner VP, Sports, Brian Scotty Scott and Producer Ryan Curtin.

The show, titled Inside Look, features NFL Network host Colleen Wolfe and analyst Cynthia Frelund, along with Super Bowl XLI champion and member of the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor Reggie Wayne and current New Orleans Saints defensive end and eight-time Pro Bowler Cameron Jordan. Inside Look provides extensive Combine insight, interviews with coaches and NFL legends, interactive features, games, and other Combine content specifically for the in-stadium fans.

This flex space was added during the 2019 renovation to streamline production for the constant wave of sports events.In addition, The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN is returning to the stadium this year as part of the NFL Scouting Combine media presence.

There are a lot of pieces that go into this show, says Buckley. Our job is to take in those elements and understand how we fit into the larger plan.

An audio operator has a private room next to the control room.A more intensive and content-heavy show, the NCAA Men's Final Four will be a much larger undertaking for the team. In another partnership with Van Wagner - and its team: VP, Creative Services, Ryan Kehn; Senior Producer Daniel Zerunyan; Producer Eric Guttorp;and Manager, Technical Operations, Patrick Stedman - the overall production involves months of planning and ideation.

In 2022, the venue installed new videoboards and other LED displays.At the top, the Colts and Van Wagner have followed the direction of NCAA Associate Director, Championships and Alliances, Carrie Snyder, and Assistant Director, Championships, Alliances, and Game Presentation, Megan Hall. Luckily, this extra layer of planning and the experience of previous shows have placed the team in an advantageous position.

Official meetings began on June 25, but that doesn't include the hundreds of conversations and text messages with everyone involved, adds Buckley. We're also spoiled in several ways because we've consistently produced regionals for many years, but, for Final Fours, Van Wagner has become more and more like family to our crew.

Construction is already underway for the 2026 NCAA Men's Final Four. This rig will hold the main centerhung videoboard.On the tech side, Ross Video will once again play an important role through graphics creation and onsite assistance. This team will feature a handful of experts from the company's Sports & Entertainment division - Senior Manager, Solutions Services and Project Management, Sports & Entertainment, Andrew Lahey; Senior Graphic Programmer, Content and Workflow, Sports & Entertainment, Josh Weber;and Team Lead, Solutions Services and Project Management, Amber Barnett - along with Demonstration Artist/Trainer Jason Tait.

The permanent rack room is located on the event floor of Lucas Oil Stadium.With a little over five weeks until raucous college-basketball crowds fill the stands for two days, the control-room setup is being finalized with a few changes to the permanent configuration.

An auxiliary room is being set up for Van Wagner's edit and creative teams that will be integrated into our systems to move content in and out, Buckley explains. The LED system is getting a significant addition from a Ross Video rental rack with Tessera nodes and support equipment that wil

LINK:	https://www.sportsvideo.org/2026/02/26/svg-in-indy-beyond-the-colts-lu...
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