A night at the Ballpark

It is 6:46 p.m. Shadows stretch across the field as the grounds crew wets down the field in preparation for the July 20 game between the Indianapolis Indians and the Durham Bulls. The grass-covered seats behind the outfield play host to picnicking families and fans prepared to take in the closest professional baseball team to Bloomington. \nThe Indians, the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, play at Victory Field, a location that offers a picturesque view of downtown Indianapolis.\nIndians’ Vice President and General Manager Cal Burleson said the stadium’s proximity to downtown Indianapolis is a helpful plus for the team.\n“I think it’s a tremendous plus for us to be located in such a dynamic downtown,” Burleson said. “I think it’s a definite plus, and there’s a lot of activity in Indianapolis that brings people downtown, and I think we share in the attendance with other attractions.”\nBurleson said the Indians try to market themselves as a place for family entertainment.\n“We put our emphasis on providing Indians’ baseball as affordable and memorable family fun,” Burleson said. “We do a lot to try and present a wonderful entertainment experience to the fans that come to Victory Field.”\nBurleson pointed to low ticket prices and the success of the Indians – they have made the playoffs the past two years and currently stand second in the International League’s West Division – as reasons people come to see the team. \nHe said he believes one of the main attractions of Indians’ games is Victory Field itself. He said every seat in the stadium has a good view of the action and recent additions and renovations to amenities such as concessions have made it a great place to watch games.\n“We put a lot of money into the ballpark,” Burleson said. “Last year, we celebrated the 10-year anniversary of Victory Field, and what we probably heard most often was that people couldn’t believe the ballpark was 10 years-old.”\nElkhorn, Wisc., native Jeff Beardsley said he tours minor league ballparks with friends during the summer. He said Victory Field is one of the better parks he’s seen. \n“(The stadium is) very nice,” Beardsley said. “It’s clean, and it’s wide open.”\nKeith Shockley of Lebanon, Ind., offered similar comments about the park and said he believed it to be one of the best among minor league stadiums.\n“I’ve been here several times before,” Shockley said. “I haven’t been to any (others), but I’ll bet you it’s one of the better ones.”\nBurleson also pointed out that fans are allowed to bring their own food and beverages to the game, excluding alcohol and anything in glass containers. \nHe said he believes the popularity of professional sports in Indianapolis helps raise awareness about the Indians as an attraction. \n“There is such an emphasis on professional sports as an attraction in the downtown area,” Burleson said. “I think it helps to elevate everyone in terms of their profile when a lot (of) attention is paid to sports.”\nHe also noted that, while the Indians might not offer the glamour of a major league franchise, fans often get to see future major leaguers at Victory Field.\n“It’s certainly part of the opportunity that AAA baseball provides,” Burleson said. “Virtually the entire Pittsburgh Pirates rotation pitched here. ... I think people do get the chance to see the major league players of the future performing at the AAA level.”\nShockley, who said his favorite player growing up was Ted Williams, said the only major difference between AAA and the majors is the talent level. He said that difference doesn’t bother him.\n“I don’t think there’s a whole lot (of difference); they just have better players up there,” Shockley said. “I just enjoy baseball.”\nBeardsley said he enjoys minor-league baseball because of the players’ attitudes. \n“It’s guys still playing because they love the game, because they want to make it,” Beardsley said. \nThe Indians offer giveaway promotions and special presentations and displays throughout the summer, such as setting off fireworks after every Friday night game. \nOn Saturday, Victory Field will host the Counting Crows, Live and Collective Soul as part of the Rock N Roll Triple Play Tour, which is hitting 23 minor league ballparks across the country this summer. \nBurleson said the Indians’ theme of “baseball up close” represents a focus on trying to get fans involved as more than mere one-time spectators. \n“That means close to the actions, close to friends and family and close to one of the most dynamic downtowns in the country,” Burleson said, “So I think you’ll always see us with that kind of a theme that really emphasizes how close we are in the downtown community.”\nAnd as it happened, the Indians won that July 20 game on a walk-off home run by Adam Boeve, much to the delight of more than 13,000 people who packed Victory Field on a Friday night to enjoy a game.\n–Sports editor John Wustrow contributed to this report.