Loeb Stadium (1940)

Loeb Stadium was a stadium in Columbian Park in Lafayette, Indiana, United States. It was primarily used for baseball and had most recently been the home of the Lafayette Aviators of the Prospect League.

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)
Former namesColumbian Park Recreational Center (1940–1971)
AddressWallace Avenue and Main Street (Columbian Park)
LocationLafayette, Indiana
Coordinates40.412597°N 86.871568°W / 40.412597; -86.871568
Capacity3,500
Construction
Built1940[1]
Opened1940 (1940)
DemolishedSeptember 4, 2019[2]
ArchitectWalter Scholer[1]
BuilderH.G. Christman Co.[1]
Tenants
Lafayette Aviators (PL) 2016–2019
Jefferson High School Bronchos (IHSAA) 1941–2019
Ohio Valley Redcoats (FL) 2005
Lafayette Leopards (GrCL) 1994
Lafayette Red Sox (ML) 1956–1957
Lafayette Chiefs (MOVL) 1955
Website
Official website

Previously, it was the home of Ohio Valley Redcoats of the independent Frontier League, and later the Lafayette Leopards of the now defunct Great Central League.

History

Opened in 1940 as Columbian Park Recreational Center, Loeb Stadium had a capacity of 3,500 people. From 1943 until 1945, the stadium hosted Spring training for Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians when teams were forced to hold their training closer to their home cities due to restrictions in place as a result of the United States' participation in World War II.[3][4] At that time, the stadium was home to a Class A affiliate of the Indians.

It also hosted the minor league Lafayette Red Sox, a founding franchise of the Midwest League in 1956. In 1957, the Red Sox moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and later to Lansing, Michigan, where they are known today as the Lansing Lugnuts.

In amateur baseball, it was home to the Colt League Baseball World Series 48 out of 49 years (1969–1971 and 1973–2017) until the event moved to Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois in 2018.[5][6] The Jefferson High School Bronchos used the stadium for their home games, competing in games sanctioned by the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA).[7] It hosted the IHSAA baseball state finals four times, lastly in 2005.[7][8]

For the 2016 season, the Jamestown Jammers moved to Lafayette and began play in the Prospect League as the Aviators.[9]

Replacement

At the conclusion of the 2019 Prospect League season, the stadium was closed and demolished to make way for a new Loeb Stadium which opened March 31, 2021.[10] The Aviators were supposed to play the 2020 season at Purdue University's Alexander Field;[11] however, their 2020 season was suspended when Purdue closed their athletic facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

The project, at a cost of $20 million,[13] saw the stadium's configuration flipped, placing home plate in what had been center field.[14] The original seating area was removed and made part of Columbian Park surrounding the stadium.[15] New suites and outdoor group seating areas were added.[15] The stadium's grass playing surface was replaced with a synthetic turf to allow the facility to host additional types of events, and the seating capacity was decreased from 3,500 to 2,600.[10][15] Additionally, the playing surface was lowered by seven feet, allowing for improved sightlines from all stadium seats.[15] The project was paid for using economic development income tax (EDIT) rather than property taxes.[15]

References
  1. Kriebel, Bob (June 10, 2016). "Stadium puts Lafayette Red Sox on baseball map". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  2. Thieke, Samantha (September 4, 2019). "Residents reflect as Loeb Stadium is torn down". WLFI News. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  3. "Cleveland Indians Spring Training". Spring Training Online. August Publications. Retrieved February 28, 2020. Lafayette, Ind. (1943–1945)
  4. "Old Lafayette: Spring training in Lafayette". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  5. Carmin, Mike (October 30, 2017). "PONY Baseball pulls Colt World Series out of Lafayette". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  6. "All-Time Champions". coltworldseries.org. Colt World Series. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  7. 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.
  8. "State Finals". ihsaa.org. Indiana High School Athletic Association. 2018. pp. 16–17. Retrieved February 28, 2020. 1970‐71, 1973‐74, 1974‐75, 2004‐05
  9. "A distinct aeronautical theme for 2016: Aviators, Drones and AirHogs". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. January 18, 2016. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  10. "American Structurepoint Celebrates Loeb Stadium Dedication" (Press release). American Structurepoint. April 1, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  11. Baird, Nathan (August 6, 2019). "Lafayette Aviators to play at Purdue's Alexander Field in 2020". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  12. "Aviators Announce Suspension of 2020 Season". Aviators Baseball (Press release). Lafayette Aviators. May 18, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  13. Bangert, Dave (October 1, 2019). "Main Street closes near Columbian Park, will stay that way until Thanksgiving". Journal & Courier. Lafayette, Indiana. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  14. "New Stadium | Lafayette Aviators Baseball Loeb Stadium Lafayette, Indiana 47904". lafayettebaseball.com. Lafayette Aviators. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
  15. "LOEB Stadium". American Structurepoint. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
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