Bob Warn Field - Indiana State Sycamores

Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3

Bob Warn Field

931 N 1st St

Terre Haute, IN 47807

Indiana State Sycamores website

Bob Warn Field website

Year Opened: 1978

Capacity: 1,000

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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 3

There is one concession stand that offers two windows for service at the entrance to the ballpark. There are no other points of sale elsewhere at the stadium. The concession stand accepts cash and credit cards.

The food options include hot dogs, chili cheese dogs, brats, hamburgers, pretzels, and nachos. pretzels. The snack options include popcorn, chips, candy, and ice cream. The beer options are Bush Light, Bud Light, Mich Ultra, Stella, Goose Island IPA, and Terre Haute Brewery's Cream Ale. Nütrl vodka-based hard seltzers are also an option, along with Pepsi products.

Atmosphere 3

The ballpark is set up with a main grandstand, a right field bleacher section, and a VIP section behind the right field wall. It is a nice setup for Division I baseball with chair-back seating, a merchandise table, concession stands, and protective netting. The stadium also features a video board and walls decorated with past team accomplishments.

A few highlights include an appearance by the school's mascot, Sycamore Sam, greeting fans in the main plaza. There are also chances for fans to win free custard or chicken nuggets if a pitcher strikes out a batter or if the team scores more than 10 runs. There is also plenty of music played in between innings and very few on-field promotions, if any.

The atmosphere is percolating with excitement, but it never goes overboard. There is plenty of food and beverages passed around, and the action is focused on the players on the field. There was no student section, chants, or freebies tossed out to the crowd. The only chants are heard from the dugouts by the home and visitors.

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 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 Indiana State baseball program has produced several winning seasons this decade, even reaching the Super Regionals a few years ago. Fans come out to the ballpark to support a winning club and are treated to a team that hits, brings home the runner, and comes through in the clutch.

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

Ticket prices start at $6 for children and seniors in the bleachers. The adult price for a bleacher ticket is $9. The cost of a ticket behind the backstop in the chair-back seats is $12. The parking is free for games, merchandise is reasonably priced, with throwback t-shirts selling for $12. The concession prices are at the higher price. There are three price points for beer, with a Bud Light costing $9, a Stella selling for $10, and THBC Cream Ale fetching $12. A hot dog was $4.50.

Extras 2

Bob Warn Field features a beautiful stucco finish. The Blackwell Bullpen is a nice addition behind the right field wall. The 24-by-64-foot deck offers two tiers of countertops that provide 125 additional seats.