Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium - Terre Haute Rex

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00

Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium

931 N 1st St

Terre Haute, IN 47807

Terre Haute Rex website

Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium website

Year Opened: 1978

Capacity: 2,000

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The Rex are Kings of the Wabash Vlaley

Professional baseball has a long history in Terre Haute, dating back to 1884; from 1901-1956, the city would regularly field minor league teams in the Three-Eye League, a Class B Loop that was considered one of the finest in the nation. However, midway through the 1956 season, the Terre Haute Huts closed up shop, and a little over a decade later, its ballpark was altered as a football-only facility.

For many, it appeared that summer-time baseball would never return, but early this century, many began wondering if some form of baseball could return to the city. Soon, a feasibility study was conducted from a Sports and Recreation class at Indiana State University in 2005, and talk of baseball began percolating again in the Wabash Valley.

Around the same time, discussions of renovating the ISU baseball field also developed and within four years saw the new and improved Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium debut for the 2009 season. The stadium was originally built in 1978 and called Sycamore Field. Warn coached the baseball team from 1976-2006, leading them to six conference championships and an appearance in the 1986 College World Series.

The Rex were originally founded by the ISU Foundation in 2010 and sold to six local business people in 2013, who all had ties to the university. Today, it is owned by Wabash Valley Baseball LLC. The name Rex is an homage to Rex Coffee, which was first produced in town by Clabber Girl in 1905. The unique name is a nod to past team nicknames that include the Tots, Huts, Stags, Terry-iers, and Awkwards.

The Rex have won five division titles and have added two Prospect League titles in 2015 and 2018.

Food & Beverage 3

There is one concession area near the main entrance of the stadium. There is not an abundance of choices and prices are from moderate to high. The area is behind the seating concourse and away from the seating bowl. The options include hot dogs, brats, burgers, chicken sandwiches, nachos, and pretzels. They are all offered in a combo form that includes a drink and a bag of chips.

Pepsi produces are sold by the bottles and beer is available by draft or can. Can options include Bud and Bud Light, Michelob Utra, and Bush Light. Hard alcoholic seltzers and Cutwater varietie sare also at the concession stand.

Atmosphere 3

From the outside, the field looks especially elegant with a beautiful salmon stucco finish, but on the inside, it is the familiar aluminum bleacher seating resembling what the ballpark had during its first 30 years of service.

Fans enter the stadium behind the right field foul line. This is where you will find the box office, concession stand, restrooms, and merchandise tent. The right field bleachers and grandstand are separated by the visiting team's dugouts. There are no bleacher seating on the left field line, but there is access for fans to watch the game along the fence.

The stadium is expanded to 2,000 for Rex games and the club does its best to provide a minor league-style atmosphere for the fans who attend each game. It is a step back to a simpler type of wood bat ball and does not feature too many annoyances that might strike a chord with traditionalists. The Rex play on a FieldTurf infield and natural grass outfield. 

The Rex attracts a nice crowd to their home games. There is a merchandise tent that offers quite few different styles of clothing from caps to shirts to sweaters with the Rex logo. A kid's bounce house is behind the area, along with a few stools and tables overlooking the right field line.

Neighborhood 3

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 does sit 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.

The Candles Holocaust Museum and Education Center was created in 1995 by Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes. The impressive museum features holograms of her memories and stories that visitors can view as if she is still with them. The cost is only $8 a person for adults and is well worth your time when in town.

The Terre Haute Children’s Museum is also worth a visit with the little ones that costs $9 for admission. The Clabber Girl Museum is located in the historic Hulman Building and highlights the company’s history in town, admission is complimentary.

The Sycamore Winery is not too far from the ballpark and is set on beautiful grounds where visitors can enjoy both wine and beer that is brewed on-site. The best options are nearby downtown. M Moggers is an old reliable establishment that offers typical pub food and drinks, across the street is the Terre Haute Brewing Company.

A tad bit down the road is J Gumbo’s - my destination for cheap eats and creative thinking; try the Black and bleu dip with nachos, bumblebee stew, Cajun nachos, Jean Lafitte po’boy, creole ratatouille. Gerhardt’s is a little further north of downtown, but worth the drive for homemade German cuisine. Rick’s Smokehouse is another option for smoked ribs and pulled pork.

Terre Haute is nearby other Prospect League clubs in Danville and Lafayette, Danville Stadium and Loeb Stadium are two other Prospect League facilities that offer a great vibe during the summer months. Another ballpark, Victory Field, is located a little bit over an hour in downtown Indianapolis and is one the best in the minor leagues.

Fans 3

The Rex attracts their fair share of the casual and dedicated fan base. Many come out to enjoy the winning baseball by the club and many others find it a great way to entertain the kids or socialize with friends during the summer months. The ballpark is never fully packed but they are impressive in numbers at times that bring a livelihood to the place.

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 Rex games are as low as $8 for adults and $5 for youths. The price of a backstop grandstand seat is $10, reserved seats are $12, and scout seats up against the field are $15. The price to park your car is free and concession items are reasonable. There is a charge to park on the paved lot outside the entrance, but there is free parking on the asphalt lot across the street. Food prices consist of $3 regular hot dogs to $8 can domestic beers.

Extras 2

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.

Bob Warn Field earns a second point for offering team programs for $3 that include raffle numbers inside for prizes throughout the game.

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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com