Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
Bob Warn Field
931 N 1st St
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Year Opened: 1978
Capacity: 1,000
A Fine Facility for the Wabash Valley
Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium debuted in 1978 but was renovated and transformed in 2009 into a more luxurious facility. The home stadium for the Indiana State University baseball team has never looked better and with a capacity of 1,000 seats, it is a much larger venue that has also attracted the Terre Haute Rex of the Prospect League during the summer months.
The field gets its name from longtime ISU baseball coach Bob Warn who piloted the program from 1976-2004 and led the Sycamores to their only College World Series appearance in 1986. On campus, Warn is a legend and he now has a stadium with his name and will leave a lasting legacy to future ballplayers.
From the outside, the field looks especially elegant with a beautiful salmon stucco finish. Still, on the inside, it is the familiar aluminum bleacher seating resembling what the ballpark had during its first 30 years of service. Do not get me wrong, Terre Haute has a great baseball tradition that almost vanished during the summer of 1956, and with renovations to the stadium, Indiana State has created a very impressive ballpark for the college and the city to use.
Food & Beverage 2
There is one concession area near the main entrance of the stadium. There are few choices and prices range from moderate to high. For example, the super nachos are $6. The area is behind the seating concourse and one would need to step away from the game for a few moments to get something to eat or drink.
Atmosphere 3
The Sycamores attract a nice crowd to their home games. You do not have your standard friends and family of the players on the field. The local supporters are proud of their new facility and seem to enjoy watching from comfortable views from the grandstand.
Neighborhood 2
The stadium is north of campus and is adjacent to a cemetery. Before renovations, the tombstones were highly visible from behind the outfield walls. The stadium sits on 3rd Street, the main artery of town, where you will find a collection of local proprietors and national restaurant chains.
The stadium is located about three miles north of I-70, where many of these options are located, but downtown Terre Haute is close and has the potential of becoming a burgeoning hot spot in town.
J Gumbo’s is my destination for cheap eats and creative thinking; try the Black and bleu dip with nachos, bumblebee stew, Cajun nachos, Jean Lafitte po’boy, and creole ratatouille. Across the street is the Coffee Grounds, which used to be my old hangout during my first year as an undergrad at college. A good cup of coffee is also expected with conversation.
Fans 3
The Sycamores attract their fair share of the casual and dedicated fan base. Many in attendance are friends and families of the ballplayers. However, they are students of the game and are focused on the diamond. If you are interested in great baseball conversations with a few hundred fans, this is the place to be during the warm or cool spring nights in Indiana.
Access 4
Bob Warn Field is located two and a half miles north of I-70. The best way to get there is to exit onto 3rd Street from the interstate and continue north. You will pass the campus to your right and once you cross over the bridge, the stadium is on your left. The parking is free and close to the entrance of the stadium.
Return on Investment 3
Tickets to games are $10 and are not a bad price to watch college baseball. There are discounts for both students and military service men and women.
Extras 1
Bob Warn Field is a fine facility to watch college baseball in the spring, or collegiate wood baseball during the summer in Terre Haute. It is a much-needed upgrade from the original structure that once stood at the same location.
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