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Making Olympic Dreams a Reality
Counsilman-Hunsaker shares what it took to install two Olympic-sized pools in Lucas Oil Stadium, and what happened to the pools nine days later
For aquatic planning and design firm Counsilman-Hunsaker, preparing to host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials was very nearly an Olympic feat. The event itself lasted nine days and required the installation of two Olympic-sized swimming pools in Indianapolis, Indiana’s Lucas Oil Stadium. For many months leading up to the June event, preparations took place that made the event a resounding—and lasting—success.
Counsilman-Hunsaker, the firm charged with overseeing the installation and take-down, has been involved in U.S. Olympic Team events for years. They built their first temporary pool for U.S. Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2004.
The 2024 Trials broke all attendance records, hosting more than 22,000 fans. This turnout could largely be attributed to the unusual event venue, Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts football team.
Overcoming challenges
Hosting a swimming event in a football stadium posed a variety of unique challenges. These ranged from the installation of the two pools (one for warm-ups and one for competition) on a turf-covered substrate, to building spectator decking and private lounge areas for athletes and coaches in a space built for nationally televised events.
“Fortunately, we came to the project right when the stadium was putting down new turf,” said Kevin Post, chairman and CEO of Counsilman-Hunsaker. “So, the concrete slab was exposed and ready for prep.”
The slab, however, was not perfectly level; shims had to be used to level it. No drilling was permitted to mount the pool walls, so Unistrut mounts were used instead.
Working off installation templates that Myrtha Pools had drawn up months before aided in the work, accounting for the drainage system already in place at the stadium.
The 2024 Trials broke all attendance records, hosting more than 22,000 fans, due in large part to the unusual event venue, Lucas Oil Stadium.
“The actual placement of the competition pool was a huge consideration,” said Maddie Monroe, Counsilman-Hunsaker’s project director. “Placing the pool in the center of the football field would open the event to upwards of 60,000 spectators, but the size of the pool in comparison to the stadium would not be ideal for viewing.”
So, the team chose to install it in the endzone, where fans could encircle the pool just 30-50 feet from the action.
“We added 40,000 square feet of decking around the main pool, so people and media could get up close,” Monroe added. “This was then closed off by a massive curtain that masked a second warm-up pool and lounge area for the swimmers and assorted swim teams.”
The lounge area, which Monroe likened to a “minitown,” featured food areas, hangout zones, massage chairs, secure changing areas, a video gaming room, and mental health services, providing privacy and comfort for athletes, coaches, and hospitality personnel.
Filling the two pools also presented other challenges.
“We were able to run hoses from fire hydrants outside, through the stadium entrances, and onto the field where we poured upwards of 860,000 gallons of water into the pools,” said Post, who serves on the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance Board of Directors.
Existing heat exchangers in the facility were used to keep the pool heated to within 0.3 degrees of the set point.
All of this was completed with the cooperation of inspectors from the State of Indiana, ensuring that associated permitting variances were fully satisfied. “They were incredibly cooperative and easy to work with,” Post added.
Supporting the future of swimming
By June 15, the stadium was ready to present. The nine-day event scored more than $100 million in local revenues, supporting the community, the Indiana Sports Corp, and USA Swimming.
“The total cost to install was around $1 million,” said Post, who added that much of the work associated with the project was performed “in kind,” to support locally owned Spear Corporation who oversaw mechanical operations.
Preparations for 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials required the installation of two Olympic-sized pools, the construction of 40,000 square feet of decking, and more than 860,000 gallons of water.
Counsilman-Hunsaker’s work wasn’t complete once the event ended, however. The firm’s next challenge was to remove the swimming pools and take the first steps to returning the football stadium to its original state. “The pools were removed and reinstalled in new homes, where young swimmers could learn the sport knowing they were actually swimming in the same pools USA’s swim team competed in during the 2024 Olympic Trials,” said Monroe, who was a standout NCAA swimmer during her years at the University of Arkansas.
The main competition pool was rehomed in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and the warm-up pool in the Cayman Islands, where they are now permanently installed as, Post put it, “gifts that keep on giving.”
Looking ahead, Monroe said, “I would love for the NCAA or USA National Championship meets to be marketed as larger events, like the Trials. Can you imagine the fan base? Like the College World Series. People coming in from all over to watch the best swimmers compete.”
How many pools could USA Swimming “rehome” if that vision played out is anyone’s guess. But you have to admit, it would be fun to see.
