INDIANAPOLIS -- The state football finals will remain in Lucas Oil Stadium for at least the next three years, thanks to an influx of funding from an Indianapolis Colts sponsorship.

The team will become the title sponsor of the state football playoffs, ensuring the finals will stay at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association said in March that it might be forced to find a new place to play because of the high cost of renting the stadium.

Last year, the two-day football finals drew 58,000 fans to the new stadium, but the IHSAA paid $100,000 more to use the stadium than it previously paid to use the RCA Dome.

The IHSAA said it would not pay that much again and considered moves to Indiana University, Purdue University or Ball State University.

The team's logo will be added to the state championship trophy. It was not revealed how much money the Colts are paying for the sponsorship.

"I would think it's safe to say that, without this deal, we would not be able to continue to be at Lucas Oil Stadium. So it's certainly covering most of our responsibilities with Lucas," said IHSAA Commissioner Blake Ress.

The move appears to be an olive branch to those angry with the organization for refusing to help offset the operating budget shortfall of the Capital Improvement Board.

The CIB is about $47 million in debt from operating Lucas Oil Stadium, Conseco Fieldhouse, Victory Field and the Indiana Convention Center.

Lawmakers are expected to address the shortfall when Gov. Mitch Daniels calls them into special session to pass an overall state budget.