Colts Bringing Training Camp to Grand Park
Colts GM Chris Ballard (photo courtesy WTHR-TV)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indianapolis Colts and the city of Westfield are partnering to bring the team’s summer training camp to the Hamilton County city. The Colts will hold training camp at the Grand Park Sports Campus for the next 10 years, beginning in 2018.
The announcement follows the team’s most recent training camp, which was held at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis and was closed to the public. The upcoming training camps at Grand Park will be free and open to fans once again.
At a news conference Wednesday, Colts General Manager Chris Ballard said bringing the fan experience back to training camp was an integral part of selecting a location.
"When I first came on board in January, we had some tentative plans of where we wanted to be for training camp and unfortunately, we had to end up keeping it at home for this year and that’s not something that any of us wanted to do," said Ballard. "I said it’s got to be a win-win. It’s got to be a place where we can prepare and be at a world-class facility where we can get ready to win a Super Bowl and get our team ready to play, but also I want our fans to be able to see it. I want them to be able to see and touch our players in a way that other fans can’t in other cities."
The Colts say next year’s training camp will also include Play 60, an expanded 72,000-square-foot Colts City, and an enhanced fan experience.
Westfield Mayor Andy Cook says the partnership will bring the city of Westfield and Grant Park "to the next level."
"When Grand Park opened three years ago it was meant to be the gem of youth sports," said Cook. "This partnership to be the official home of the Indianapolis Colts training camp goes well beyond youth sports. To have an NFL team committed to Grand Park for a decade proves that our facility is not only a premiere venue for youth sports, but also for professional athletes."
Ballard said another added benefit of having training camp at Grand Park is the ability to move indoors in the event of inclement weather. He said that would allow the team to continue to work and the fans could still get a chance to watch the team practice.
Colts General Manager Chris Ballard says having a true fan experience was vital in choosing a location.
Todd Burtron, chief of staff for Westfield Mayor Andy Cook, says Grand Park is primed to create a fan experience.