The Hoosier state is a mecca for meeting planners wanting to host banquets, team-building events, tournaments or receptions at local sports venues. From college football stadiums and basketball arenas to minor league baseball fields and community sports centers, Indiana’s sports venues offer opportunities for attendees to watch games, take tours or get up out of their seats for some friendly competition.
Four Winds Field
South Bend
Home of the South Bend Cubs, Four Winds Field was originally built in 1987. At the time, the owner had the foresight to build it with load-bearing columns for future renovations. He knew that “to grow, we have to be a 365-day facility,” said Chris Hagstrom-Jones, assistant general manager, marketing and media for the facility.
At the end of 2024, the field added a second level with suites and premium areas that can be used for events. “It’s more than just baseball,” he said. “It’s about a family fun experience. That is where we carved our niche, just being a hospitality-focused facility.”
The stadium has 12 indoor suites and two large group terraces on either side of the baseline. The 11/11 Club is an event ballroom for up to 250 guests with an outdoor patio that overlooks the playing field. It has full A/V capabilities and a dedicated stadium entrance. The rooftop bar can host groups of 50 to 300 and offers amazing views of the field and downtown skyline.
The 1st Source Bank Performance Center is a 17,000-square-foot hitting facility with an outdoor deck. It has a bar and batting cages that groups of up to 300 can rent out for a team-building activity.
When the Cubs aren’t playing, groups can use the field for softball, baseball and kickball tournaments, garden parties or picnics. The facility can host groups of up to 500.
Ford Center Evansville
Evansville
Located in the heart of Evansville, Ford Center Evansville is an 11,000-seat arena that can accommodate a variety of events, from sports competitions and concerts to conventions and expos. It offers 290,000 square feet of space, including over 20,000 square feet of adaptable space on the arena floor.
The arena serves as home of the NCAA Division I University of Evansville men’s and women’s basketball teams and the SPHL Evansville Thunderbolts professional hockey team. Groups that want to host conventions on the arena floor have access to a full arena curtaining system to adjust the size of the space to fit their needs. The floor can hold 72 exhibit booths. The arena also has 16 20-person suites, one 40-person suite, two eight-person mini-suites and two 10-person mini-suites that can be used for events.
The arena is connected to the Old National Events Plaza and the DoubleTree by Hilton Evansville via skywalk. The 95,000-square-foot convention center features a 36,000-square-foot column-free exhibit hall, which is perfect for an indoor sporting event or large welcome festivities. It also offers a 13,500-square-foot ballroom, 12,000 square feet of additional meeting space and a 2,500-seat theater. The atrium, Grand Tier and Terrace Lounges can all be rented out for meetings or recreational events.
Mishawaka Fieldhouse
Mishawaka
Mishawaka Fieldhouse is a 220,000-square-foot sports facility that opened in 2024. It features 10 basketball courts, including one championship court with a seating capacity of 1,000, and 19 hardwood volleyball courts, including one championship court with seating for 1,200. The facility’s 70-yard indoor turf field can host soccer, flag football, lacrosse, baseball, softball and ultimate Frisbee events. The expansive fieldhouse also has 12 indoor pickleball courts, five indoor batting cages and a conference room for 40 people.
The facility hosts many types of sports tournaments, but corporations like to meet there and host team-building activities.
“Our space is very flexible,” said Nick Kleva, vice president of events marketing and strategy at Mishawaka Fieldhouse. “As long as it makes sense and doesn’t damage the floors, we are open to all different ideas.”
Groups can host a Pickleball 101 class or a pickup basketball game. The fieldhouse spaces are large enough to host expos or speaking engagements. The championship court with fixed seats is large enough for a stage and additional chairs; with that setup, it can fit a couple thousand attendees. Groups can also use the batting cages or organize a volleyball or soccer game challenge.
The facility is in north central Indiana, about 10 minutes from the Notre Dame campus. There are over 5,000 hotel rooms in the county within a five-minute drive of the fieldhouse as well as nearby shopping districts and restaurants.
Wabash Valley Family Sports Center
Terre Haute
Set among the rolling hills of the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, the 250-acre Wabash Valley Family Sports Center is just minutes from Interstate 70 and Terre Haute’s hotels, restaurants and entertainment districts.
The property was once a former coal mine and landfill that was transformed into a sports and recreation facility that also serves as an event venue. The facility is in the midst of more than $2.3 million in improvements to both its indoor and outdoor facilities. The renovation is scheduled for completion this fall. The updated sports center building will feature a community room that can host up to 100 guests with Wi-Fi, a full kitchen, modern restrooms and a dedicated conference room for smaller executive meetings. Two adjoining full-size basketball/volleyball courts offer additional event space that can accommodate up to 500 attendees.
“The outdoor experience is what truly sets the complex apart,” said Karen Dyer, executive director of the Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau. The cross-country course can host up to 5,000 attendees for receptions, festivals, retreats and corporate gatherings. Meeting planners can use both paved and grassy areas for tents, tables and seating while guests enjoy walking trails, gathering spaces around a firepit, scenic overlooks and frequent wildlife sightings.
There are two outdoor restroom facilities and a new concession building that can provide food. Groups can also bring in food trucks or outside catering for their events.
wabashvalleyfamilysportscenter.com
Ross-Ade Stadium and Mackey Arena
West Lafayette
Home of the Purdue University Boilermakers football team, Ross-Ade Stadium has a storied history in West Lafayette. The stadium was dedicated in 1924 with an inaugural football game against intrastate rival Indiana University. Its original seating capacity was 13,500, but today, the stadium can seat 61,441 fans in the stands.
Meeting groups can host events in two clubs at the stadium. The Shively Club, which is on the third floor of Ross-Ade Pavilion, is the stadium’s largest event space. It can accommodate 300 guests for a banquet or 2,000 for a standing reception. Groups booking only half of the club can host 500 for a reception and 200 for a seated meal. Cutting the number of reception attendees down to 250 gives groups more room to mingle, said Shelby Smit, group sales manager for the facility.
The Buchanan Club is on the fifth floor of Ross-Ade Pavilion. It can seat 200 comfortably. The high-end club is home to the stadium’s exclusive John Purdue Club seats and the famed “Bowl Wall.” Both club rooms have scenic views of the stadium and the jumbotron.
Mackey Arena, which is home to Purdue Basketball, has three event venues for meetings, receptions and special events: Spurgeon Club, J. Nine Club and John Wooden Club. The bi-level Spurgeon Club features two built-in bars, a fireplace and an elegant staircase between the two levels. The club can host 200 guests for a reception, while the J. Nine Club can hold 150, and the John Wooden Club can accommodate 80.
