Ballpark Prepares for Home Opener Following $16M Project

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The Lafayette Aviators baseball team will open their home season Tuesday at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, following a $16 million rebuild of the 80-year-old ballpark. The team, which is part of the Prospect League, last played at the old stadium in August 2019.

Indianapolis-based engineering firm American Structurepoint oversaw the restoration project.

The ballpark has been open since April as it also serves as the home field for the Lafayette Jefferson High school baseball team.

American Structurepoint says the design took its inspiration from the stadium’s original 1940s-era art deco architecture, keeping with a traditional brick facade and exposed structural steel.

There was also a major shift in the playing field. The company rotated the field 180 degrees, moving home plate to where center field was located in the original stadium. They also lowered the playing field by seven feet.

Loeb offers seating for 2,600 guests and includes an upper level with three enclosed suites and three open-air party decks.

The city envisions using the stadium to host multiple events year-round such as soccer and football games, concerts, and more.