Original Article from FootballStadiumDigest.com

Anybody who has ever put in a bathroom or drain tile in their house can relate to what is going at the new Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. There is, however, a slight difference in the tally of the bills.

A series of heavy rains in the Indianapolis area in the last month caused serious drainage problems at the new stadium, which is scheduled to open August 16. The overflow ruined electrical closets, ceiling tiles, carpet and some drywall that had recently been installed. Add in some money for new downspouts and a re-inforced drainage system and you get a hefty tab: $5.6 million.

Most of that extra cost is expected to be covered by the stadium's insurance policies, not the tax dollars funding much of the project. However, because the money might not be immediately available (anyone who has dealt with insurance carriers can understand this problem), the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority authorized emergency payments.

"There's over a dozen contractors that were impacted by this, many of them working overtime, double shifts and some 24 hours a day," said John Klipsch, the authority's executive director. "We want to make sure they get paid in a timely manner, and until we get our insurance reimbursements from our carriers, this resolution authorizes us to set up an allowance to pay the contractors for the work the water damage caused."

Although the stadium has progressed on schedule, this has been an expensive proposition.

Much of the $50 million contingency fund for cost overruns in the stadium and convention expansion projects already have been used. The final project price has ballooned from $675 million to a figure that was estimated recently at $717-720 million.

The drainage issue is not expected to affect the opening of the stadium or the Colts' first preseason game there August 24.