Countdown to Kickoff Launches September 1

As pre-season wraps up and the start of regular season football nears, the Indianapolis Colts are planning several events and promotions as a part of their **10-Day Countdown to Kickoff**, presented by Verizon.

The Countdown begins the morning of the team's final pre-season match-up against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 1, and will run through the team's regular season home opener on September 11 against the Detroit Lions. The Countdown to Kickoff will include the launch of the Blue Friday Blitz program, the unveiling of a new oversized Colts helmet, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Big Kickoff event with United Way of Central Indiana, and the Colts Kickoff Concert, presented by Verizon and sponsored in part by Bud Light. A special countdown clock will be featured on www.colts.com beginning September 1, and fans are encouraged to use #ColtsKickoff on social media to share their excitement for the start of football.

A limited number of single-game tickets are still available for select 2016 Indianapolis Colts home games. Tickets are available at the Lucas Oil Stadium ticket office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

**COLTS**HELMET,  PRESENTED BY ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD

This season, the Indianapolis Colts are introducing the Colts Helmet, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The oversized helmet will be traveling throughout Indianapolis encouraging fans to get into the Blue Friday spirit. Fan can submit their photos with the helmet using #COLTSANTHEMSNAPSHOT for their chance to win sideline seats to a Colts home game.

**BLUE FRIDAY BLITZ PROGRAM LAUNCH (SEPTEMBER 9)**

This season, the Indianapolis Colts and Downtown Indy, Inc. are launching a new program designed specifically for downtown businesses to show their Colts Pride every Blue Friday. Through the Blue Friday Blitz program, several downtown restaurants and retail shops will offer special Blue Friday deals for customers each Friday of the Colts season. To see a list of participating businesses and their corresponding weekly specials, visit www.colts.com/bluefriday.

**MEIJER BLUE FRIDAY (SEPTEMBER 9)**

Each Friday before a Colts home game, the Colts will join with Meijer to give fans the chance to win tickets and pick up a free Colts reusable grocery tote. Fans can register to win tickets at any Central Indiana Meijer store each Friday before a Colts home game by looking for the Blue cutout at the front of the store and entering the code on the cutout at**www.colts.com/meijer**.In addition, Colts Cheerleaders will be at a different Meijer store the Friday before each home game giving out free Colts reusable grocery totes to mPerks members. For more information and to see a complete schedule of Cheerleader appearances and bag give-a-way locations, visit www.colts.com/bluefriday.

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**THE BIG KICKOFF, *with United Way of Central Indiana *(SEPTEMBER 9)**

In Indianapolis, fall signals the start of both football and philanthropic seasons. To celebrate both, the Colts are once again teaming up with United Way of Central Indiana to host The Big Kickoff event on Friday, September 9, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Monument Circle. At the event, United Way of Central Indiana host a community fair and recognize their outstanding volunteers.

The Big Kickoff will also feature musical entertainment by Dave and Rae, lunch from Abuelo's, opportunities to find out about volunteering at United Way and its agencies,* *limited edition Colts kickoff posters, autographs from Colts Alumni players, a visit from Colts Cheerleaders and Blue, as well as a chance to win Colts tickets.

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**COLTS KICKOFF CONCERT, PRESENTED BY VERIZON (SEPTEMBER 10)**

For the fourth year, the Colts are teaming up with Verizon, Bud Light, Downtown Indy, Inc. and HANK FM to host a free Kickoff Concert on the east block of Georgia Street in Downtown Indianapolis. This year's concert will feature Eli Young Band, along with opening act Clayton Anderson. Free tickets to this year's concert are available at www.colts.com/kickoff. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the gates. Throughout the evening, fans will have the opportunity to enjoy live music, the Bud Light Boardwalk Beer Garden, visits from Colts Cheerleaders and Blue, a performance by the Cheerleaders and food from Kilroy's.

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**AMERICAN FAMILY INSURANCE TOUCHDOWN TOWN (SEPTEMBER 11)**

Free and open to the public, American Family Insurance Touchdown Town is a pre-game fan experience unlike any other. Located along South Street on the north side of Lucas Oil Stadium, Touchdown Town includes $3 drinks specials, food trucks, a giant TV screen, live music, the PLAY 60 Zone for kids and much more. For the team's home opener on September 11, American Family Insurance Touchdown Town will open at 1 p.m. In addition, the first 2,000 fans to enter Touchdown Town on September 11 will receive a special edition koozie featuring the name and signature of Colts QB Andrew Luck.

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