INDIANAPOLIS (November 28, 2005) – Governor Mitch Daniels and Colts President Bill Polian today gave Hoosiers their first look at the new Colts license plate and announced a unique online auction to reserve plates with special numbers.

The plate features the white Colts helmet with blue horseshoe. The Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority also will offer an online auction beginning tomorrow (Nov. 29) for the right to obtain more than 400 plates featuring the numbers 1 to 100 with these alpha prefixes: GO, TD, IC and OF. Additionally, specific player numbers with prefixes QB, WR, RB, LB, TE, DB and DE will be auctioned.

“It’s more for fun than money, but buying a Colts plate will allow fans to be a part of building the stadium that kept the Colts here while showing their support for the best team in the NFL,” said Daniels. “Here was another chance to take advantage of an idea that has been very successful in other states. We’ve added the new twist of auctioning some of the numbers.”

"The governor and his resourceful team have developed a program that will not only generate revenue for the construction project, but will also help build our fan base. It's a great win-win deal," said Polian.

Regular Colts plates (non-auction) will begin with plate numbers 101. They will be available to Hoosier motorists beginning January 3, 2006, at Bureau of Motor Vehicle branches and through the BMV’s website, www.bmv.IN.gov. Hoosiers can purchase a specialty plate for a fee of $35. The BMV maintains $15 and the remaining $20 will go toward the cost of the stadium construction. Proceeds from the auction are separate from the annual license plate sales and will be provided to the Building Authority. Sales of the plates are expected to generate several hundred thousand dollars annually.

The governor suggested this idea during the 2004 campaign as a way to generate additional state revenue. It found a natural home in the stadium project during the 2005 legislative session.

“These plates are the perfect holiday gift for the Colts’ fan and will provide additional revenue to build the new stadium,” said John Klipsch, executive director of the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority.

The minimum bid to reserve a plate through the auction will be $25. Upon making payment, the winning bidder will receive an authorization form to purchase the plate from the BMV on January 3. Auction plates can be renewed annually through 2009 by paying the standard BMV fee.

Hoosiers interested in bidding for one of these special plates should visit www.bmv.IN.gov beginning Tuesday (Nov. 29) at 8 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The auction will close December 16 at 5 p.m.

In addition to the auction, the Building Authority is providing 10 plates to the Indianapolis Colts so the team can hold a free drawing for the fans. Winners will receive a free plate authorization for a Colts’ team plate (TM) featuring numbers 1-5, 18, 32, 87, 88, and 93. The team will release details about the drawing in the coming weeks. Registration will take place through www.colts.com.

A digital image of the new plate may be found at: www.in.gov/serv/presscal?PF=gov2&Clist=196&Elist=84915.

Indianapolis Colts License Plate Auction

Plates Available for Auction:

GO 1-100
TD 1-100
IC 1-100
OF 1-100

QB 4 (Jim Harbaugh)
QB 12 (Jim Sorgi)
QB 18 (Peyton Manning)
QB 19 (Johnny Unitas)

WR 80 (Bill Brooks)
WR 81 (Raymond Berry)
WR 83 (Brandon Stokley)
WR 87 (Reggie Wayne)
WR 88 (Marvin Harrison)

RB 24 (Lenny Moore)
RB 29 (Eric Dickerson)
RB 32 (Edgerrin James)
RB 33 (Dominic Rhodes)
RB 23 (James Mungro)

LB 50 (David Thornton)
LB 58 (Gary Brackett)
LB 59 (Cato June)
LB 94 (Rob Morris)

TE 44 (Dallas Clark)
TE 47 (Ben Utecht)
TE 81 (Bryan Fletcher)

DB 20 (Mike Doss)
DB 21 (Bob Sanders)
DB 25 (Nick Harper)
DB 28 (Marlin Jackson)
DB 42 (Jason David)

DE 93 (Dwight Freeney)
DE 98 (Robert Mathis)
DE 89 (Gino Marchetti)

Go Plates 101 + are available to the general public for purchase from the BMV beginning January 3, 2004.

TM plates 1-5, 18, 32, 87, 88, and 93 will be given away to fans by the Indianapolis Colts through the Colts website -