Indianapolis Indians to celebrate 30 Years of Victory Field

For three decades, Victory Field has been much more than home to the 124-year-old Indianapolis Indians Triple-A professional baseball team and Indy’s Original Home Team. It is one of the nation's premier minor league baseball stadiums, a catalyst for downtown Indianapolis' revitalization, a gathering place for millions of fans and one of Indianapolis’ most recognizable landmarks.

On Saturday, the Indianapolis Indians will recognize Victory Field’s 30th anniversary with a special celebration as part of the team’s six-game homestand against the Toledo Mud Hens.

The evening will celebrate three decades of community connections and unforgettable baseball memories with pre-game activities that include:

• Special recognition of Jim Morris (1943-2024) and Dr. Gene Sease (1931-2024), the lead private fundraisers and champions for the construction of Victory Field, by Indianapolis Indians Chairman of the Board Bruce Schumacher and President & CEO Randy Lewandowski.
• First pitches of the game thrown out by the Morris and Sease families, along with the announcement of “play ball.”
• Presentation of a City of Indianapolis mayoral proclamation to Bruce Schumacher and Randy Lewandowski.

The gates will open Saturday at 6 p.m. with First Pitch to follow at 7:05 p.m. In addition to the game, there will be:

• Replica Victory Field giveaway for the first 2,500 fans.
• Free live concert with My Yellow Rickshaw from 6 to 6:50 p.m.
• Fireworks following the game – the largest post-game fireworks spectacular of the season!

Bringing Families Together for 30 Years

Since opening in 1996 (main photo), Victory Field has welcomed millions of fans while earning national recognition as one of the finest ballparks in Minor League Baseball by publications like Sports Illustrated and Baseball America, and one of Indianapolis’ longest-standing sports venues – outlasting both Market Square Arena and the RCA Dome by five years.

“Victory Field represents so much more than baseball,” said Bruce Schumacher, Chairman of the Board of the Indianapolis Indians. “For 30 years, it has brought families together, supported the economy and visibility of downtown Indy, welcomed visitors from across the U.S., and demonstrated what can happen when a community shares a bold vision. Every game, every partnership, every event and every fan who walks through our gates has helped write the story of this remarkable place."

The Ballpark That Helped Shape a City

The southwest corner of downtown Indianapolis looked dramatically different than it does today. What was largely underutilized property became the cornerstone of future investment in White River State Park and the southwest corridor of downtown Indianapolis – with Victory Field as the anchor when it opened in 1996.

Victory Field demonstrates that strategic public and private investment can reshape a city. Over the following decades, downtown Indianapolis continued to evolve with the arrival of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, NCAA national headquarters, Lucas Oil Stadium, the JW Marriott, White River State Park attractions and, most recently, the One Health Innovation District.

Today, Victory Field welcomes 75 home games each season while serving as a year-round destination for concerts, festivals, corporate events, fundraisers, youth sports and private events. The stadium is one of Indianapolis' most flexible outdoor event venues while generating hundreds of thousands of annual visits that support downtown conventions, restaurants, hotels and businesses.

“Victory Field has proven that great sports venues and public spaces create great cities,” said Randy Lewandowski, President & CEO of the Indianapolis Indians. “Our mission of affordable and memorable family fun also extends beyond baseball. Victory Field has become Downtown Indy’s largest outdoor community gathering space, a civic asset where every guest leaves feeling they experienced one of the very best places in Indianapolis.”

Bringing Victory Field to Downtown Indianapolis with Vision, Leadership and Partnership

The Capital Improvement Board partnered with the Indianapolis Indians to secure the land and provide critical public investment while an innovative 50-50 cost-sharing partnership between public and private sectors enabled the Indianapolis Indians to continually maintain and improve Victory Field – preserving one of downtown's most treasured assets. Victory Field would not exist without that unique and collaborative public-private partnership of civic, business and baseball leaders, including:

• Pat Early, whose leadership and commitment to the Indianapolis Indians as president of the Capital Improvement Board helped guide the organization through one of the most transformational periods in franchise history.
• Barney Levengood, whose visionary leadership as Executive Director of the Capital Improvement Board helped champion the design and construction process to make Victory Field a reality.
• Former Mayor Stephen Goldsmith and Former Governor Evan Bayh, whose administrations led a bi-partisan effort to bring Victory Field to downtown Indianapolis’ White River State Park.

Three Decades of Continuous Investment

One of the most remarkable aspects of Victory Field is not simply its longevity, but the Indianapolis Indians’ emphasis on ensuring it is well-maintained. Over the past three decades, the Indianapolis Indians have continually reinvested in the stadium, modernizing amenities while carefully preserving the architectural character and sightlines that are the ballpark’s signature features.

Premium hospitality spaces have been added, technology has improved and fan amenities have expanded – reflecting a long-standing commitment to ensuring every Victory Field guest has a first-class experience, whether attending their first game or their hundredth. That commitment has helped make the Indianapolis Indians one of Minor League Baseball's attendance leaders and positioned Victory Field as one of the sport's premier destinations.

In addition to being a first-class sports venue, Victory Field has evolved into one of downtown Indianapolis' premier gathering places. Families picnic on the lawn before games. Businesses host employees and clients. National conventions offer unique experiences. Nonprofits raise critical funding. High school athletes compete for state championships. Victory Field’s recognition as a state-of-the-art community venue creates one-of-a-kind experiences that extend well beyond baseball season.

Celebrating the Past, Focused on the Future

As Victory Field celebrates its 30th anniversary, the Indianapolis Indians view the milestone not as a finish line, but as the beginning of another chapter. The franchise remains committed to investing in the ballpark, enhancing the fan experience and strengthening its partnership with downtown Indianapolis and the broader community.

“Our responsibility is to preserve what previous generations built while ensuring Victory Field continues to serve future generations,” Lewandowski said. “The partnerships that made this ballpark possible remain one of Indianapolis' greatest strengths. We look forward to continuing to work alongside our civic, business and community partners to invest in and champion a vibrant and welcoming downtown Indianapolis for decades to come.”

For tickets, visit the Indianapolis Indians website.

About the Indianapolis Indians 

The Indianapolis Indians are the professional Triple-A baseball club affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. In continuous operation since 1902, the organization believes in creating affordable and memorable experiences for fans so they can grow closer together with family, friends, and the community through the game of baseball.

The Indians play their home games at Victory Field, a 13,750-seat ballpark located in downtown Indianapolis and White River State Park. The venue opened in 1996 and has received numerous national accolades as one of the best minor league ballparks in the United States.

The team has led Minor League Baseball in combined total attendance over the past 15 seasons.

In 2018, the organization was recognized as Ballpark Digest Team of the Year. It was also named a 2019 Best Places to Work by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

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