The Indianapolis Indians are in the midst of their 124th season in franchise history as Indy’s Original Home Team, and on Saturday, July 11, the organization will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Victory Field. The first 2,500 fans through the gates will receive a Victory Field stadium replica giveaway, there will be a pregame concert featuring My Yellow Rickshaw, pregame recognition of the families of civic leaders Jim Morris and Dr. Gene Sease – both of whom led fundraising efforts to build Victory Field – and the biggest fireworks show of the 2026 season after the game.
Tickets can be purchased here.
The Indians’ Ballparks Before Victory Field
The Indians played their first of three seasons at East Washington Park in 1902, nine years before the inaugural Indianapolis 500. They won the American Association pennant with a 95-44 record in their first season for the first of 14 championships in franchise history.
The Tribe moved to West Washington Park, where the Indianapolis Zoo is located, in 1905. Indianapolis won another American Association pennant in 1908 with a 92-61 record and tacked on two more American Association pennants and Little World Series championships (American Association winner vs. International League winner) in 1917 and 1928 over Toronto and Rochester. The Indians remained at West Washington Park through most of the 1931 season until Perry Stadium opened at 1501 West 16th Street on Sept. 5, 1931.
Perry Stadium was renamed to Victory Field in January 1942 during World War II and held that name until it became Bush Stadium in August 1967. It was named Bush Stadium in honor of Owen J. “Donie” Bush, who was a player, manager, president, and owner of the Indians at various points of his career.
Championships and Hall of Fame players were part of the ballpark’s foundation, much like the ivy that grew on the outfield walls and inspired Wrigley Field to do the same. The Indians won American Association and Junior World Series titles (American Association winner vs. International League winner) in 1949 and 1956, an International League championship in 1963, American Association postseason titles again in 1982, 1986–89, and 1994, and a pair of Triple-A Classic championships (American Association winner vs. International League winner) in 1988 and 1989. Future Hall of Famers Gabby Hartnett (1942), Al López (1948), Harmon Killebrew (1958), Bob Uecker (1960), Minnie Miñoso (1964), Randy Johnson (1988–89), and Larry Walker (1989) were joined by notable players like Ted Beard (1947–51, 1956–63), Herb Score (1952, 1954, 1962–63), Rocky Colavito (1954–55), Roger Maris (1956), Dave Concepción (1969), George Foster (1973), Ken Griffey (1973–74), Eric Davis (1983), Razor Shines (1984–89, 1991–93), and Andrés Galarraga (1985) during the stadium’s 66-year tenure.
The golden era of Indians baseball was undoubtedly the ‘80s, when championships were the norm and security protocols were much more relaxed. How relaxed? Fans would rush the field after the final out was recorded to celebrate with the team.
But as each season came and went, trophy hoisted or not, the inevitable was happening at Bush Stadium – it was aging. Its foundation was cracking, it didn’t meet ADA guidelines, and maintenance bills were adding up. Major League Baseball had also established facility standards for minor league ballparks across the country, and Bush Stadium didn’t meet many of them. To comply, a $16 million renovation would have been required, so Indians President and General Manager Max Schumacher pursued a new stadium in Downtown Indianapolis for $18 million with the support of then-Indianapolis mayor Steve Goldsmith and Indiana governor Evan Bayh.
The Indians played their final game at Bush Stadium on July 3, 1996.
At 30 Years Old, Victory Field Has Outlasted Iconic Indy Venues
Market Square Arena opened in September 1974 and was demolished in 2001.
It was home of the Indiana Pacers for 25 seasons and the Indiana Racers of the World Hockey Association for 4.5 seasons before the team folded during the 1978–79 campaign. It’s where Wayne Gretzky got his start.
It hosted the 1980 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
It welcomed touring artists like Frank Sinatra, Kiss, Metallica, and Elvis Presley to the stage for the final time before he passed away in August 1977.
It’s where Michael Jordan came out of retirement with the Chicago Bulls in March 1995.
It’s where Reggie Miller played the first 12 of 18 illustrious seasons with the Pacers and led them to the Eastern Conference Finals four times across the arena’s final six seasons.
It hosted its final public event in October 1999 – a Pacers exhibition game – before giving way to Conseco Fieldhouse (today known as Gainbridge Fieldhouse) for good.
A little less than 10 years after Market Square Arena’s opening, the Hoosier Dome (known as the RCA Dome from 1994–2008) opened in May 1984, just two months after the Colts’ arrival from Baltimore. It was imploded in December 2008.
The Colts played there for 24 seasons. It’s where Peyton Manning went from first overall draft pick to surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, becoming an Indianapolis sports co-star with Reggie along the way. It’s where he orchestrated the game-winning drive in the final two minutes of the 2007 AFC Championship Game against rival New England and Tom Brady en route to a Super Bowl championship over Chicago.
Pre-Manning, it’s where the 1990 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Championship Game was played between Bedford North Lawrence and top-ranked and undefeated Concord in front of a national high school record crowd of 41,046. Mr. Basketball Damon Bailey scored the final 11 points for BNL in the 63-60 upset.
It welcomed stars like Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Guns N’ Roses, and Elton John to the stage.
Victory Field opened to the public on July 11, 1996. It’s still going strong.
The Indians won an International League title in 2000 on home soil as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They then flew to Las Vegas, where they won the Triple-A World Series 3 games to 1 over the Albert Pujols-led Memphis Redbirds.
The next summer on Victory Field’s five-year anniversary, it was home to the Triple-A All-Star Game. Future Cincinnati Reds slugger Adam Dunn put on a show for spectators during batting practice and peppered West Street well beyond the stadium’s right-field wall. He hit two home runs during the game and won International League MVP honors.
In 2005, less than six months removed from the bloody sock and the Boston Red Sox snapping their curse with a 2004 World Series title, Curt Schilling pitched on rehab with the Pawtucket Red Sox and was outdueled by Zach Duke in the Indians’ first home game as the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Since then, Indianapolis has served as the final minor league stop for Pirates prospects on their way to Pittsburgh. Andrew McCutchen (2007–09) won National League MVP in 2013. Gerrit Cole (2012–14, 2016) claimed the American League Cy Young in 2023. Paul Skenes (2024) was National League Rookie of the Year in the same season he started with Indianapolis and won the National League Cy Young in 2025. The latest star to sport the Indians uniform, Konnor Griffin (2026), played in just five games as a 19-year-old with Indianapolis before ascending to Pittsburgh.
Like Market Square Arena and the RCA Dome, Victory Field has hosted dozens of events beyond the team that most often calls it home. Unlike the others, however, it is primarily an outdoor venue.
The IHSAA Baseball State Finals have been played there every June except in 2005.
In 2012, it was the site of The Dan Patrick Show for the week leading up to Super Bowl XLVI between the Patriots and Giants. It hosted the DirecTV Celebrity Beach Bowl, a concert with pop stars like The Fray and Katy Perry, and was the postgame party location for the Patriots.
In 2021 when the entire NCAA Men’s March Madness Tournament was played in Indianapolis, participating teams escaped their nearby hotel rooms to get fresh air on the field.
Now in 2026, Victory Field is showing no signs of slowing down.
Why You Should Be at Victory Field on July 11
Pregame giveaway and concert, check and check. Baseball being played in front of you with a hot dog in one hand and a cold one in the other, sign us up. Fireworks after the game, boom.
If you can get out to Victory Field on July 11, think about how much the ballpark and city skyline has changed over the last 30 years. Think about the team’s recent brand refresh and embracing the new era of Indians baseball. Think about how Indians games are the most affordable, family friendly experience in central Indiana. Then sit back and cheers with a fan next to you…
To the next 30 years.