Loeb Stadium Explained

Logo Image:Loeb Stadium.png
Pushpin Map:USA Indiana#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Address:Wallace Avenue and Main Street (Columbian Park)
Location:Lafayette, Indiana
Broke Ground:August 27, 2019[1]
Opened:[2]
Scoreboard:24 feet tall, 43 feet wide, 1 million pixel video board[3]
Cost:$20 million
Architect:American Structurepoint
General Contractor:Kettelhut Construction
Capacity:2,600
Tenants:Lafayette Aviators (PL) 2021–present
Jefferson High School Bronchos (IHSAA) 2021-present
Black Cat FC (UPSL) 2021

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.[4] It was the home for Black Cat FC in the United Premier Soccer League during their 2021 season.[5] Opened in 2021, Loeb Stadium has a capacity of 2,600 people.

Previous stadium

The previous Loeb Stadium, standing at the same location from 1940 to 2019, was also home to the Aviators and the Bronchos.[6] [7] 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.[8]

Construction

The $20 million project was paid for using economic development income tax (EDIT) rather than property taxes.[9] The old stadium's configuration was flipped, placing home plate in what had been center field.[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. The seating capacity was decreased from 3,500 to 2,600.

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. 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]

Notes and References

  1. American Structurepoint Salutes Groundbreaking of New Loeb Stadium . American Structurepoint . April 29, 2021 . en . August 28, 2019.
  2. American Structurepoint Celebrates Loeb Stadium Dedication . American Structurepoint . April 29, 2021 . en . April 1, 2021.
  3. News: Szalavari . Balint . Construction on new Loeb Stadium video board set to begin . April 29, 2021 . . June 23, 2020 . en.
  4. Web site: Stadium . Aviators Baseball . Lafayette Aviators . April 29, 2021.
  5. Web site: Black Cat FC . premier.upsl.com . UPSL Premier Division . October 10, 2021 . 2021.
  6. Aviators Selected to Lease New Loeb Stadium . Aviators Baseball . Lafayette Aviators . April 29, 2021 . August 24, 2020.
  7. News: King . Sam . With Loeb Stadium demolition nearing, Lafayette Jeff baseball looks to add final memories . February 28, 2020 . . April 4, 2019 . Lafayette, Indiana . en.
  8. News: Bangert . Dave . Main Street closes near Columbian Park, will stay that way until Thanksgiving . April 29, 2021 . . Lafayette, Indiana . October 1, 2019.
  9. Web site: LOEB Stadium . American Structurepoint . April 29, 2021 . June 13, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182400/https://www.lafayettebaseball.com/fanzone/New-Stadium.
  10. Web site: New Stadium Lafayette Aviators Baseball Loeb Stadium Lafayette, Indiana 47904 . lafayettebaseball.com . Lafayette Aviators . April 29, 2021 . June 13, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182400/https://www.lafayettebaseball.com/fanzone/New-Stadium.
  11. News: Arland . JD . Cape Catfish ground Aviators, win Prospect League Championship at Loeb Stadium . October 10, 2021 . WLFI News . August 13, 2021 . en.
  12. News: Shackelford . Brianna . Central Catholic Knights defeat Lafayette Jeff in first-ever game at Loeb Stadium . October 10, 2021 . WLFI News . August 18, 2021 . en.