Irsay says he'll keep Colts in Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS -- Jim Irsay said Thursday he wanted to keep the Colts in Indianapolis even if it takes years, not months, to work out a deal with the city.\nThe Colts owner talked with reporters for the first time in more than 10 months Thursday, answering questions after he watched the team practice.\nIrsay acknowledged negotiations with city officials had slowed but suggested that was more the result of timing than an impasse. The Colts are preparing for Sunday's season-opener at Cleveland and a city's mayoral election will be held in November.\n"This is something that's going to be a journey that takes a few years," Irsay said. "I don't think anything should be read into that (pace). I'm very optimistic about our future here."\nA telephone message seeking comment was left at the office of Mayor Bart Peterson's spokesman. Peterson, a Democrat, is running for re-election against Republican Greg Jordan, the Marion County treasurer, and is heavily favored to win a second term.\nPeterson has repeatedly said he did not want to be known as the mayor who lost the Colts. Jordan said during a recent debate that he would oppose any additional subsidies to keep the Colts in the city.\nIrsay has kept a low profile since November, when he admitted having a past dependency to prescription pain killers.\nOn Thursday, Irsay discussed a variety of issues ranging from his Super Bowl hopes to new contracts for quarterback Peyton Manning and team president Bill Polian.\nBut the biggest topic was the team's future. There has been speculation the team might pursue a move to Los Angeles if a new Indianapolis deal cannot be reached.\nThe team's current RCA Dome lease runs through the 2013 season but has a conditional escape clause that could take effect after the 2006 season if the Colts are not at the league's median revenue.\nIrsay seemed more concerned with improving the team's ticket base.\n"I think the thing we've always been concerned about, and it's not a directly financial aspect, but the pulse of the franchise is the season-ticket base," he said. "That's a key indicator."\nThe Colts, which moved to Indianapolis from Baltimore in 1984, drew small crowds to each of their two home preseason games, including an all-time low Aug. 15 against Seattle. When no-shows were counted, the attendance was 26,741.\nLast week's crowd was only slightly better -- 29,079 -- against Cincinnati.\nEven when paid attendance, instead of actual attendance is counted, the Colts still sold about 4,000 fewer tickets to their preseason games than the Bengals, who have not had a winning season since 1990.\nThe Colts have sold out 32 straight regular-season home games but tickets still remain for their home opener Sept. 14 against division rival Tennessee.\nIrsay said he believed part of the problem was increased competition within the city _ and the size of the city. Indianapolis is the 10th-smallest television market in the 32-team NFL.\n"When we got here, there weren't suites at the Indianapolis 500, not what there are now," he said. "There was no Brickyard, there was no new stadium for the Pacers, there was no WNBA, there was no Arena Football League.\n"This place is the size of Columbus, Ohio. ... We're trying to do our part."\nIrsay said he was working on new contracts with both Manning, a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, and Polian, the architect of the Colts revival.\nHe said he hoped to have a new deal with Polian completed within a month.\nManning's contract expires at the end of the season and Irsay said he would prefer to work something out rather than having to use the franchise designation to keep him in Indianapolis.\nEither way, he said Manning would remain with the Colts.\n"I think with the benchmarks that are out there, like Donovan McNabb, and the TV contract being stable, it's just a matter of us sitting down and getting it done," Irsay said. "It's something Peyton wants to get done. He wants to win more than anyone."\nMcNabb signed a 12-year, $115 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles last fall and included a $20.5 million signing bonus. It was the largest contract in NFL history.