Loeb Stadium
{{Short description|Stadium in Lafayette, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox venue
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| logo_image = Loeb Stadium.png
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| image = Loeb Stadium 2021.jpg
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| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=13|type=point}}
| pushpin_map = USA Indiana#USA
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| address = Wallace Avenue and Main Street (Columbian Park)
| location = Lafayette, Indiana
| coordinates = {{Coord|40|24|42|N|86|52|18|W|display=inline,title}}
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| opened = {{Start date|2021|03|31}}{{cite press release |title=American Structurepoint Celebrates Loeb Stadium Dedication |url=https://www.structurepoint.com/company/news/american-structurepoint-celebrates-loeb-stadium-dedication |publisher=American Structurepoint |access-date=April 29, 2021 |language=en |date=April 1, 2021}}
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| scoreboard = 24 feet tall, 43 feet wide, 1 million pixel video board{{cite news |last1=Szalavari |first1=Balint |title=Construction on new Loeb Stadium video board set to begin |url=https://www.wlfi.com/content/news/Construction-on-new-Loeb-Stadium-video-board-set-to-begin-571448391.html |access-date=April 29, 2021 |work=WLFI News |date=June 23, 2020 |language=en}}
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| architect = American Structurepoint
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| general_contractor = Kettelhut Construction
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| tenants = Lafayette Aviators (PL) 2021–present
Jefferson High School Bronchos (IHSAA) 2021-present
Black Cat FC (UPSL) 2021
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| website = {{Official website|https://www.lafayette.in.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Loeb-Stadium-8}}
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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.{{cite web |title=Stadium |url=https://lafayettebaseball.com/team/stadium/ |website=Aviators Baseball |publisher=Lafayette Aviators |access-date=April 29, 2021}} It was the home for Black Cat FC in the United Premier Soccer League during their 2021 season.{{cite web |title=Black Cat FC |url=https://premier.upsl.com/teams/black-cat-fc |website=premier.upsl.com |publisher=UPSL Premier Division |access-date=October 10, 2021 |date=2021}} 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.{{cite press release |title=Aviators Selected to Lease New Loeb Stadium |url=https://lafayettebaseball.com/2020/08/24/aviators-selected-to-lease-new-loeb-stadium/ |website=Aviators Baseball |publisher=Lafayette Aviators |access-date=April 29, 2021 |date=August 24, 2020}}{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Sam |title=With Loeb Stadium demolition nearing, Lafayette Jeff baseball looks to add final memories |url=https://www.jconline.com/story/sports/2019/04/04/loeb-stadium-demolition-nearing-jeff-looks-add-final-memories/3346639002/ |access-date=February 28, 2020 |work=Journal & Courier |date=April 4, 2019 |location=Lafayette, Indiana |language=en}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Bangert |first1=Dave |title=Main Street closes near Columbian Park, will stay that way until Thanksgiving |url=https://www.jconline.com/story/news/2019/10/01/main-street-closing-near-columbian-park-starting-tuesday-through-thanksgiving/3827989002/ |access-date=April 29, 2021 |work=Journal & Courier |location=Lafayette, Indiana |date=October 1, 2019}}
Construction
The $20 million project was paid for using economic development income tax (EDIT) rather than property taxes.{{cite web |url=https://spark.adobe.com/page/YhmaCxTDNtCXW/ |title=LOEB Stadium |publisher=American Structurepoint |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182400/https://www.lafayettebaseball.com/fanzone/New-Stadium}} The old stadium's configuration was flipped, placing home plate in what had been center field.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lafayettebaseball.com/fanzone/New-Stadium |title=New Stadium {{!}} Lafayette Aviators Baseball Loeb Stadium Lafayette, Indiana 47904 |website=lafayettebaseball.com |publisher=Lafayette Aviators |access-date=April 29, 2021 |archive-date=June 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613182400/https://www.lafayettebaseball.com/fanzone/New-Stadium}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Arland |first1=JD |title=Cape Catfish ground Aviators, win Prospect League Championship at Loeb Stadium |url=https://www.wlfi.com/content/news/Cape-Catfish-ground-Aviators-win-Prospect-League-Championship-at-Loeb-Stadium-575090571.html |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=WLFI News |date=August 13, 2021 |language=en}} The first soccer game at Loeb Stadium on August 18, 2021 between the women's teams of Jefferson High School and Central Catholic.{{cite news |last1=Shackelford |first1=Brianna |title=Central Catholic Knights defeat Lafayette Jeff in first-ever game at Loeb Stadium |url=https://www.wlfi.com/content/news/Central-Catholic-Knights-defeat-Lafayette-Jeff-in-first-ever-game-at-Loeb-Stadium-575126871.html |access-date=October 10, 2021 |work=WLFI News |date=August 18, 2021 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Lafayette, Indiana
Category:Baseball venues in Indiana
Category:High school baseball venues in the United States
Category:2021 establishments in Indiana
Category:Sports venues completed in 2021
Category:Soccer venues in Indiana
{{Prospect League Ballparks}}
{{Indiana-baseball-venue-stub}}