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, and for the Jefferson High School Bronchos baseball team.[6] It was the home for Black Cat FC in the United Premier Soccer League during their 2021 season.[7] Opened in 2021, Loeb Stadium has a capacity of 2,600 people.[1]
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  Loeb Stadium Location within Indiana  Loeb Stadium Loeb Stadium (the United States) | |
| Address | Wallace Avenue and Main Street (Columbian Park) |
|---|---|
| Location | Lafayette, Indiana |
| Coordinates | 40°24′42″N 86°52′18″W / 40.41167°N 86.87167°W |
| Capacity | 2,600[1] |
| Scoreboard | 24 feet tall, 43 feet wide, 1 million pixel video board[2] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | August 27, 2019[3] |
| Opened | March 31, 2021[1] |
| Construction cost | $20 million[4] |
| Architect | American Structurepoint[5] |
| General contractor | Kettelhut Construction[3] |
| Tenants | |
| Lafayette Aviators (PL) 2021–present Jefferson High School Bronchos (IHSAA) 2021-present Black Cat FC (UPSL) 2021 | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Previous stadium
editThe 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
editThe $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
editLoeb 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
edit- ^ a b c d e "American Structurepoint Celebrates Loeb Stadium Dedication" (Press release). American Structurepoint. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Szalavari, Balint (June 23, 2020). "Construction on new Loeb Stadium video board set to begin". WLFI News. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b "American Structurepoint Salutes Groundbreaking of New Loeb Stadium" (Press release). American Structurepoint. August 28, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c d "LOEB Stadium". American Structurepoint. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Stadium". Aviators Baseball. Lafayette Aviators. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Black Cat FC". premier.upsl.com. UPSL Premier Division. 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ "Aviators Selected to Lease New Loeb Stadium". Aviators Baseball (Press release). Lafayette Aviators. August 24, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Arland, JD (August 13, 2021). "Cape Catfish ground Aviators, win Prospect League Championship at Loeb Stadium". WLFI News. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
- ^ Shackelford, Brianna (August 18, 2021). "Central Catholic Knights defeat Lafayette Jeff in first-ever game at Loeb Stadium". WLFI News. Retrieved October 10, 2021.