Loeb Stadium

Loeb Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Columbian Park in Lafayette, Indiana, United States. It is the home field for the Lafayette Aviators, a collegiate summer baseball team in the Prospect League; for the Jefferson High School Bronchos baseball team;[6] and for Black Cat FC in the United Premier Soccer League.[7] Opened in 2021, Loeb Stadium has a capacity of 2,600 people.[1]

Loeb Stadium
Loeb Stadium is located in Indiana
Loeb Stadium
Loeb Stadium
Location within Indiana
Loeb Stadium is located in the United States
Loeb Stadium
Loeb Stadium
Loeb Stadium (the United States)
AddressWallace Avenue and Main Street (Columbian Park)
LocationLafayette, Indiana
Coordinates40°24′42″N 86°52′18″W
Capacity2,600[1]
Scoreboard24 feet tall, 43 feet wide, 1 million pixel video board[2]
Construction
Broke groundAugust 27, 2019[3]
OpenedMarch 31, 2021 (2021-03-31)[1]
Construction cost$20 million[4]
ArchitectAmerican Structurepoint[5]
General contractorKettelhut Construction[3]
Tenants
Lafayette Aviators (PL) 2021–present
Jefferson High School Bronchos (IHSAA) 2021-present
Black Cat FC (UPSL) 2021-present
Website
Official website

Previous stadium

The previous Loeb Stadium, standing at the same location from 1940 to 2019, was also home to the Aviators and the Bronchos.[8][9] At the conclusion of the 2019 Prospect League season, the old stadium was closed and demolished to make way for construction of the current stadium.[4]

Construction

The $20 million project was paid for using economic development income tax (EDIT) rather than property taxes.[5] The old stadium's configuration was flipped, placing home plate in what had been center field.[4][10] The previous seating area was removed and made part of Columbian Park. New suites and outdoor group seating areas were added. The stadium's grass playing surface was replaced with a synthetic turf, allowing for additional types of events, and the playing surface was lowered by seven feet, allowing for improved sightlines from all stadium seats.[5] The seating capacity was decreased from 3,500 to 2,600.[1][5]

History

Loeb Stadium opened on March 31, 2021 with its first event being a men's baseball game between Jefferson High School and Central Catholic.[1] In the stadium's first year, the Aviators played for the league championship at home, losing to the Cape Catfish on August 12, 2021.[11] The first soccer game at Loeb Stadium on August 18, 2021 between the women's teams of Jefferson High School and Central Catholic.[12]

References
  1. "American Structurepoint Celebrates Loeb Stadium Dedication" (Press release). American Structurepoint. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  2. Szalavari, Balint (June 23, 2020). "Construction on new Loeb Stadium video board set to begin". WLFI News. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  3. "American Structurepoint Salutes Groundbreaking of New Loeb Stadium" (Press release). American Structurepoint. August 28, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  4. Bangert, Dave (October 1, 2019). "Main Street closes near Columbian Park, will stay that way until Thanksgiving". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  5. "LOEB Stadium". American Structurepoint. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  6. "Stadium". Aviators Baseball. Lafayette Aviators. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  7. "Black Cat FC". premier.upsl.com. UPSL Premier Division. 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  8. "Aviators Selected to Lease New Loeb Stadium". Aviators Baseball (Press release). Lafayette Aviators. August 24, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  9. King, Sam (April 4, 2019). "With Loeb Stadium demolition nearing, Lafayette Jeff baseball looks to add final memories". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  10. "New Stadium | Lafayette Aviators Baseball Loeb Stadium Lafayette, Indiana 47904". lafayettebaseball.com. Lafayette Aviators. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  11. Arland, JD (August 13, 2021). "Cape Catfish ground Aviators, win Prospect League Championship at Loeb Stadium". WLFI News. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  12. Shackelford, Brianna (August 18, 2021). "Central Catholic Knights defeat Lafayette Jeff in first-ever game at Loeb Stadium". WLFI News. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
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