NWI Oilmen Evicted from Oil City Stadium

Picture by Eric Has, Stadium Journey

The Northwest Indiana Oilmen of the summer collegiate Northern League have been evicted from their home ballpark in Whiting, Indiana. The team received a letter from the City of Whiting notifying them that they are no longer permitted to use Oil City Stadium.

The decision was made on January 12 of this year. The Oilmen have called the ballpark in downtown Whiting home since being founded in 2011. The 1,100-seat stadium was built for $8.5 million on land donated by the Standard Oil Refinery.

“I was surprised to find out that we weren’t playing at the stadium this year,” said team president Don Popravak. “I told the city that my crew of 30 staff members would take care of it except for the utilities.”

Popravak offered to lease the stadium for $40,000-$60,000 a year, but the city rejected the offer. A couple of days before Christmas, Whiting Mayor Steve Spebar told him that the Oilmen were done at the stadium and that the city was considering proposals from other leagues.

“We will have an expansion franchise in the Crestwood Collegiate League that will play at the stadium,” said Spebar, who was concerned about the number of teams in the league. “We have been approached by other entities the past two years, but have put it off in hopes of seeing growth in the Northern League.”

The city and Calumet College of St. Joseph funded the installation of a new FieldTurf during the off-season. The project totaled over $1.4 million, which will be used by the college, high school, and other events. The mayor hopes the new turf will expand the stadium usage and attract other tournaments throughout the year. He also sees it as an opportunity to attract visitors from other communities to business in Whiting.

The Northern League consisted of the Griffith Generals, Indiana Panthers, Southside Vikings, Minutemen, and the Elkhart County Miracle. The Oilmen have captured 5 league championships, have attracted 100,000 fans, and sent 40 players to organized baseball, according to the press release. They have also built a loyal fanbase at what both men have said is the "jewel of baseball stadiums in the area."

The eviction of the Oilmen hinders their 2026 season, which is set to start in less than four months. There is no word on where the ball club will play, and Popravak said that he is “scrambling to find a place for his team for the summer”. 

However, he remains optimistic about the future of his club, even pointing out that Jesse Cole was booted from the ballpark in Gastonia before founding the Savannah Bananas the next year.

“We have a strong brand and will continue to impact the region. We will remain committed to building a thriving, economically vibrant community. The excursion from Oil City Stadium will not deter us; it will only strengthen our resolve.”

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