Colts tailgate tour a success at IU Health Arnett Hospital

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Indianapolis Colts are building excitement for another great season with the 2012 Tailgate Tour. Tuesday afternoon the tour stopped at IU Health Arnett Hospital for fans and employees.

“Not just the fan base but the employee base has been very thankful that we have been able to bring a group of this magnitude again to the Lafayette community. A lot of times people perceive the Colts of being a downtown entity. We would like to get away from that and through this partnership we have been able to do that. It's been exciting for the fans and also the employee base,” said Corporate Partnerships & Events Manager at IU Health Darryl Morton.

The 2012 Tailgate Tour marks the ninth year in a row the Indianapolis Colts have hosted a summer traveling marketing campaign featuring players and cheerleaders.

“It's been a blast, you get to meet a lot of people. It's funny because sometimes you see the same people at multiple tailgate tours and it just shows that you have some die hard fans out there and everyone gets so excited,” said Tackle Anthony Castonzo.

The Tailgate Tour which is sponsored by American Family Insurance, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and the Indiana Soybean Alliance will make nine stops over a two month time span.

Colts Tailgate Tour elements include autographs from Colts players and cheerleaders.  Fans may register to win Colts tickets, test their skills on the Quarterback Challenge, pick up free Colts giveaways, sign up for one of the Official Colts Fan Clubs, and experience the Colts In Motion, the team’s traveling museum.