Retro Indy: Deer Creek, now Ruoff, turns 35. See its first lineup (and those ticket prices!)

Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star

Updated June 19, 2024 at 7:00 AM·5 min read

In the spring of 1989, the pavilion of Deer Creek Music Center was just a patch of concrete with six weeks left until its opening performance — Anderson native and gospel star Sandi Patti.

The administrative offices and artist dressing rooms were unfinished. The lawn was muddied. Six lanes of road to manage traffic were still just plans, yet to be paved. The then-200-acre venue in Noblesville would eventually include plenty of artist perks, including a private garden off the exclusive dining room, a backstage basketball goal. There was even a rumor the high-ceiling storage room was going to be converted into a racquetball court or Nautilus room with a jacuzzi.

"We're not worried," Sunshine Promotions Vice President Steve Sybesma was quoted as saying in the April 9, 1989, edition of the Indianapolis Star about plans to open the following month.

A picture of the Deer Creek Music Center around the time it first opened, in May 1989.

And, in retrospect, he needn't have been.

On May 21, the morning after Patti's opening performance at the venue, The Indianapolis Star reported the Hoosier singer drew a crowd of 7,000.

Sunshine promotion owner Dave Lucas, (right) showing Sandi Patti (left) and Anderson Mayor Mark Lawler the plans for Deer Creek Music Center, in this 1989 photo.

"Indianapolis can finally shrug off its second-rate status as a concert location," staff writer Jill Warren mused, "now that Deer Creek Music Center has opened."

While much has changed in the 35 years since that opening performance — including Deer Creek's name, but don't tell some fans — the venue's ability to attract a crowd and national headliners has remained strong.

How Ruoff Music Center ticket prices, summer schedule have changed

This year Ruoff's summer concert schedule includes the likes of Hozier and Noah Kahan, both born after doors to the venue opened, as well as now-nostalgic favorites like James Taylor, Creed, Santana, Dave Matthews Band and Pearl Jam. In its first season, Deer Creek hosted the likes of Patti, Eddie Money, Diana Ross, Frank Sinatra and Perry Como.

Fun fact: The Doobie Brothers are the only act to appear on both season schedules, 1989 and 2024.

See the 2024 schedule: Here are all the acts coming to Ruoff Music Center this summer

One thing that's definitely different is ticket prices. Noah Kahan's tour was recently named one of the 10 most expensive tickets listed on last-minute ticket site and app, Gametime, with a median price of $462. In 1989, the Star described the $50 ticket for Sinatra as "exorbitant."

"The production costs involved with presenting an artist of his caliber justify the ticket price," Dave Lucas, Sybesma's partner at Sunshine, said in 1989. "In other cities, he's commanding as much as $100 a ticket."

Lucas explained that the artist's booking agency set the base price.

While the venue has had many names over its 35 years — Deer Creek, Verizon Wireless, Klipsch and now Ruoff Music Center — one thing's for sure: the crowds keep coming.

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Ruoff Music Center: What's in a name?

As we said, the die-hards will tell you it's always going to be Deer Creek to them. But here are all the names (read: the companies that purchased naming rights) held by the amphitheater now known as Ruoff:

Deer Creek Music Center: 1989-2001
Verizon Wireless Music Center: 2001-11
Klipsch Music Center: 2011-17
Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center: 2017-19
Ruoff Music Center: 2019-present

More: Will it always be Deer Creek? The history of the Noblesville amphitheater's name

Deer Creek Music Center 1989 schedule

Here's a look back at the acts that performed at the venue (and their ticket prices!).

May 20: Sandi Patti ($15.50 and $14.50 pavilion/$9.50 lawn)
May 23: Co-headline show, Henry Lee Summer and Eddie Money ($16.50 pavilion/$13.50 lawn)
May 27: Engelbert Humperdinck ($18.50 pavilion/$15.50 lawn)
June 2: Bob Hope ($25 pavilion/$17.50 lawn)
June 3: George Strait ($16.50 pavilion/$15.50 lawn)
June 10: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra with Keith Brion as John Phillips Sousa ($15 pavilion, $11 lawn)
June 14: Steve Miller ($16.50 pavilion/$12.50 lawn)
June 16: Stephen Stills and America ($17.50 pavilion/$13.50 lawn)
June 18: Rod Stewart ($18.50 pavilion/$16.50 lawn)
June 23: The Temptations and the O'Jays ($16 pavilion/$12 lawn)
June 24: Sonfest One featuring DeGarmo & Key, Pat Hurley, Steve Camp, Kim Hill, Steven Curtis Chapman, D.C. Talk, Jeoffrey Benward, David Mullen and Ray Boltz ($14.50 pavilion/$12.50 lawn)
June 25: Doobie Brothers ($18.50 pavilion/$16.50 lawn)
June 28: Dick Clark's 35th Anniversary, featuring the Spinners, the Association, the Guess Who and the Drifters ($16.50 pavilion/$12.50 lawn)
July 1: Frank Sinatra ($50 pavilion/$35 lawn)
July 14: ISO with Marvin Hamlisch ($19 pavilion/$15 lawn)
July 16: Amy Grant ($16.50 pavilion/$14.50 lawn)
July 21: Perry Como ($25 pavilion/$17.50 lawn)
July 23: Randy Travis with Gene Watson ($17.50 pavilion, $15 lawn)
July 28: ISO with guests Doc Severinson and Erich Kunzel ($17 pavilion/$13 lawn)
Aug. 1: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme ($20 pavilion/$12.50 lawn)
Aug. 6: Little Feat ($17.50 pavilion/$15.50 lawn)
Aug. 23: Diana Ross ($22.50 pavilion/$17.50 lawn)
Aug. 27: Anne Murray ($18.50 pavilion, $15 lawn)