Victory Field to surpass 12 million fans

INDIANAPOLIS -- Continuing with the celebration in 2016 of Victory Field's 20th season, the Indianapolis Indians are excited to announce the 12 millionth fan will visit the ballpark on Friday, May 20 when the Tribe hosts the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders at 7:15 p.m. 

The milestone continues to cement Indianapolis' place within Minor League Baseball as one of the hotbeds for tradition and fan loyalty. Among 160 minor league teams, only one has had higher attendance than Victory Field since the ballpark opened on July 11, 1996 (Buffalo Bisons). 

"Victory Field's opening 20 years ago was a dream come true, and I believe that two decades later we can say with conviction that it has been a total winning accomplishment for all interested parties - the State of Indiana, City of Indianapolis, hundreds of players who have enjoyed competing in our premier facility, legions of baseball fans and Indians shareholders," said Max Schumacher, Indianapolis Indians President and Chairman of the Board. This year marks his 47th season with the organization.

Prior to Victory Field, the Indians played at Bush Stadium (1931-1996), located on the near West side of Indianapolis on 16th Street. The move downtown ushered in a new era of prosperity for the organization perhaps best illustrated by the jump in attendance. Indians attendance during its 65 years at Bush Stadium totaled 13.1 million. In less than a third of the time, Victory Field is approaching that figure. 

The Indians set franchise records for single-season attendance in 2014 and again in 2015 which included 662,536 fans last year.

"It's no wonder that fans love going to Indians games. Situated in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, we are undeniably home to one of the best ballparks in the country," said Mayor Joe Hogsett. "I speak for thousands of Central Indiana residents when I say there is no better place to enjoy our national pastime and I am excited to join the Indians in celebrating this milestone." 

"As one of the best minor league ballparks in the country, Victory Field is an incredible asset to the 27.4 million visitors that travel to Indy annually," said President & CEO of Visit Indy, Leonard Hoops. "And of those 12 million baseball fans, I'm quite certain many of them are visitors to the city looking for an affordable and enriching family friendly experience. A night cheering on the Indianapolis Indians always provides just that."

Media are invited to Victory Field on Friday, May 20 to capture this moment in Tribe history. A crowd in excess of 10,000 is forecasted.

Other family-oriented activities at Victory Field on Friday include: 

•   Friday Fireworks where the downtown Indianapolis skyline serves as a backdrop and the sky above the ballpark shimmers with a magnificent show immediately following the game.
•   Boy Scout Campout where several hundred scouts take over the outfield for a once-in-a lifetime overnight experience.

About the Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are the professional Triple-A baseball club affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The organization's mission is to provide Indians baseball at Victory Field as affordable and memorable family fun. The Indians play their home games at Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis, a 14,200-seat ballpark opened in 1996 that has received numerous national accolades as one of the best minor league ballparks in the United States. In 2015, the Indians set a Victory Field attendance record by welcoming 662,536 fans, and two seasons earlier led all of Minor League Baseball in overall attendance on their way to being presented with Baseball America's 2013 Triple-A Bob Freitas Award for the best overall operations. The Indians' front office was named one of The Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce in 2014 and 2015. The team has been in continuous operation since 1902. Click here for an in-depth overview of the 2015 Victory Field Experience.