Stadium project in Muncie

If such a project comes to fruition, then BSU shouldn't need to consider adding lights or additional amenities to its existing facility.


The proper facility for generating revenue would have lights, entertainment venues, etc. to generate income, and all of these features do not need to be available at The Ball Diamond. Lights might be the exclusion. Lights allow flexibility in scheduling to handle rain delays and to schedule games later in the day so that folks that work can attend games.

With the condition of the Muncie economy, I do not see a regular minor league franchise, or even an independent minor league franchise being interested in coming to town. Best bet would be a college summer league team. They have a short season, not one that would generate the type of revenue to offset new construction. College summer teams are financially structured to augment income to an existing facility, like Warn Field in Terre Haute, Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, Municipal Stadium in Kokomo, or McBride Stadium in Richmond. 

Loeb is being renovated, and will be new construction ($16 million). They have the Aviators (college summer league), and the Colt World Series (youth league), but I'm not sure if that is enough revenue to be profitable. I'm sure the City of Lafayette will absorb a lot of the costs of the new stadium. The Colt World Series brings hotel and restaurant business to town. Time will tell whether that project is a success.

Kokomo has had good attendance for the Jackrabbit games. Their project was a renovation of an existing park ($9 million). They will probably show better ROI than Lafayette.

For Muncie, I think it would be more cost effective if Muncie and Ball State were to join forces and build something the university could use, that could be combined with other purposes like college summer league, or a large youth tournament (usually need additional ball fields). You need to generate revenue from advertising, concessions (particularly beer and wine) and events, not just the game.

Ball State truly needs to consider charging admission for baseball and softball games. People are truly willing to pay $5 to see HS baseball (they prove it every day of the Spring HS season). They will pay $5-$7 to see quality D1 baseball.

We have a college summer league team in Wilmington and my wife and I go several times during the summer. The Braves asked the city to build a stadium for their singe A team and the city turned it down as too much up-front money for the long term benefit. I'm assuming Wilmington area population and projected growth would be substantially larger than Muncie.

Yep. I remember when the Evansville Triplets were a AAA affiliate of the Twins/Brewers/Tigers. They are now the Nashville Sounds.

Evansville has similar demographics to South Bend, Appleton, Davenport, Peoria... and could support a Single A franchise easily.

BTW. Nashville will probably be switching affiliation from the A's to possibly the Rangers.

Woodmar. I remember that place.

I've been to Oil City Stadium, but I grew up going to Woodmar Shopping Center in Hammond.

I used to play at Block Stadium, Roberts Field and the old stadium that was at Whiting Park. When you play in The Calumet Region, you can tell when the wind shifts because you'll smell a different factory.