Deer Creek forever: Real Indiana residents still call these places by their original names

Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022. We are republishing it for the 35th anniversary of Deer Creek...Er, we mean Ruoff Music Center.

Old habits die hard.

Maybe you're shocked when someone dares to call that concert venue in Noblesville "Ruoff," or perhaps you've rolled your eyes when someone calls that majestic Mass Ave theater "Old National Centre."

The names of several city landmarks have changed over the years, but some, not so successfully.

Signs can be altered, and companies can spend millions on naming rights. But there are some old names Hoosiers just cannot seem to let go of. Call it defiance, forgetfulness, or just plain tradition — these names are here to stay.

For subscribers: Meet me on Small Street: Carmel is changing the names of streets in Old Town. Here's why.

The Murat

Constructed in 1909 with Egyptian styling and distinctive minarets, the building originally served as the headquarters for the Murat Shriners.

After decades of being known as the “Murat Centre," the historic building got a new name in 2010 – but that change didn’t come without a fight.

When Live Nation, the building’s tenant, tried to sell the naming rights to Old National Bank, the Murat Temple Association went to court arguing Live Nation didn't have the authority to do that. The lawsuit was dismissed and so, the name “Old National Centre” stuck.

Luckily, for those resistant to change, the individual performance rooms kept their titles, including the Egyptian Room and the Murat Theatre.

Bank One Tower

The tallest building in Indianapolis went through several years of development before it finally rose to downtown prominence.

It opened in 1990 as the Bank One Tower, with building blocks coming from near and far. There was concrete from Carmel, aluminum from Texas and marble from Italy.

In 2004, JPMorgan Chase acquired Bank One, and the downtown landmark then became the Chase Tower.

In 2016, when San-Francisco–based Salesforce was expanding its Indianapolis presence, it brought with it hundreds of technology jobs – and a new name to the old Chase tower. Each set of the “Salesforce” letters weighs about 4,450 pounds, IndyStar previously reported.

Inside look: Inside Pacers' new digs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Self-serve beer, flight deck, posh seats

Conseco Fieldhouse

The Pacers’ home arena was originally known as the Conseco Fieldhouse, after Pacers Sports & Entertainment signed a contract with Carmel-based insurer Conseco.

After Conseco changed its name to CNO Financial Group in 2010, the fieldhouse followed suit and became the Bankers Life Fieldhouse (named after a CNO subsidiary).

When CNO’s contract ended in 2019, other companies didn’t pounce to put their names on the arena. Bankers Life remained the name until finally, this September, the Indianapolis-based company Gainbridge came on board.

Gainbridge is an online financial services platform and also the presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500.

Ruoff Music Center

Last, but not least, the name that seems hardest to let go.

The Noblesville amphitheater has had several changes, but Hoosiers hold it near and dear to their hearts with one name – and one name only – Deer Creek.

Gospel singer Sandi Patti inaugurated the Hamilton County venue in May 1989, bringing power, conviction and “heartfelt singing” that “left fans awestruck,” the Indianapolis Star reported.

The venue has hosted artists of all sorts of sounds and talents over the years, including the Grateful Dead, Aerosmith, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Gwen Stefani and Keith Urban. But as the artists came and went, so did its names.

In 2000, Verizon Wireless purchased the naming rights and the amphitheater added a lawn that increased capacity by 24,000.

In 2011, Klipsch Audio bought the naming rights and so the “Klipsch Music Center” name held on till 2017, when Ruoff Home Mortgage came onto the scene. The Fort-Wayne based mortgage company attached its name to the venue, and just one year later, Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center was crowned the top-selling concert amphitheater in the world.

In 2019, the venue quietly dropped a few words, becoming the easier-to-say Ruoff Music Center as we know it today.

"Blink and it will be something different," one person wrote after that change. "Will always be 'Deer Creek' no matter what that sign says.”

IndyStar reporter Dana Hunsinger Benbow and IndyStar Archives contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis landmarks still known by legacy names