Plus, MOTW Coffee & Pastries opening a fourth location.
6AM City In-house

This’ll be a slam dunk 🏀

The ultimate guide to sports teams in Indianapolis
INDY_Lucas Oil Stadium_aerial view_JAN2023
Did you know: Groundbreaking for the Lucas Oil Stadium took place on Sept. 20, 2005. | Photo by @durhamvisuals
Whether you’re a sports fanatic — or just look good in blue — when it comes to sports, Indy has no shortage of teams to support. Our city is home to some of the most loyal fans in the country. Indy has even been named the No. 10 best city to be a sports fan by Bleacher Report.

In this guide, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Circle City sports, so whether you’re already a devoted Hoosier sports fan or you’re new to the area, we hope it can serve as a valuable resource.

🏈 Colts (NFL) | Est. 1953

The Colts franchise originated from the dissolved Dallas Texans NFL team in 1953 and became known as the Baltimore Colts from 1953-1984. On March 28, 1984, Robert Irsay moved the Colts to Indianapolis, where the team has been ever since.

Where they play: Lucas Oil Stadium
  • It replaced the RCA Dome as the home of the Indianapolis Colts and opened on Aug. 16, 2008.
  • The approximate cost of the stadium was $720 million.
  • Its capacity is 70,000.
Mascot: Blue
  • Blue is an anthropomorphic blue horse who wears a white Colts jersey with a horseshoe on the front.
  • He became the official mascot for the Colts on Sept. 17, 2006.
  • He went skydiving in Greensburg, IN for his first official appearance.
Team colors: Blue and white
Major accomplishments:
  • The franchise has won three NFL championships (1958, 1959, 1968) and two Super Bowls (1971, 2007).
📅 Sneak peek at the team’s upcoming season.

INDY_Aerial view of Victory Field

One of Victory Field’s most popular premium spaces is getting a makeover for 2025.

Photo by @skyviewdigitalmedia

⚾ Indians (MiLB) | Est. 1902

The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team and the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Where they play: Victory Field
  • The field opened on July 11, 1996 and was the catalyst for a revitalization of downtown Indianapolis.
  • The name reflects the US victory in World War II.
  • It cost $20 million to build the stadium ($34.6 million in 2021 dollars).
Mascot: Rowdie
  • Rowdie joined the team in 1993 and is known for being funny and mischievous.
  • Credited for putting the bear in “bear hug.”
Team colors: Red, white, and silver
Major accomplishments:
  • The Indians have won 14 league championships.
  • The team has been American Association champions twelve times.
  • It won the International League championship twice (1963 and 2000).
📅 Sneak peek at the team’s upcoming season.
4 MORE TEAMS EXPLAINED

What is the most popular sport in the US (according to viewership and TV ratings)?

A. Baseball
B. Soccer
C. Basketball
D. Football

See the answer in The Wrap.
SCORE
Bullitt County Tourism

Click here to have your event featured.

Thursday, March 9
  • Indiana Pacers vs. Houston Rockets | Thursday, March 9 | 7 p.m. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | $6-$162 | Can the Pacers come back after their four-point loss to the 76ers Monday?
Friday, March 10
Saturday, March 11
  • Grand Opening | Saturday, March 11 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Kroger, 1217 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel | Free | You could win a free Mix for a Year Passport plus a $50 Kroger eGift card during this grand opening of Kroger’s new food hall concept.
  • Shamrock Half Marathon | Saturday, March 11 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Military Park, 601 W. New York St., Indianapolis | $75 | Take part in this shamrock style inaugural half marathon that showcases White River State Park.
  • Pickled Paddler & West Indy Racquet Club Launch Party | Saturday, March 11 | 3-7 p.m. | West Indy Racquet Club, 4458 Guion Rd., Indianapolis | Free | Pickled Paddler, an Indianapolis-based pickleball apparel brand, is having a pickleball party to celebrate its new partnership with West Indy Racquet Club with snacks, drinks, prizes, and giveaways.
  • Monster Energy Supercross | Saturday, March 11 | 6:30 p.m. | Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis | $12-$115 | Check out the world’s most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing series.
Sunday, March 12
  • Drag Night at The Vogue | Sunday, March 12 | 5 p.m. | The Vogue Theatre, 6259 N. College Ave., Indianapolis | $15-$30 | Join a drag night hosted by Tia Mirage Hall where the participating stars will not only entertain, but showcase the best looks, stunts, and gags.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather
  • 52º | Mostly cloudy | 20% chance of rain
Coming Soon
  • MOTW Coffee & Pastries is getting ready to open a fourth location. The shop said its newest location in downtown Carmel will be one of its “most spacious and beautiful shops.” The opening date hasn’t been announced yet. ☕
  • There’s another new bookstore coming to Indy, but this one will also serve coffee. Dream Palace Books & Coffee (111 E. 16th St.) said it plans to host panel discussions, readings, and book clubs “to nurture this heightened eagerness for a tangible literary culture in Indiana.” Follow them for updates. 📚
Open
  • The Harry & Izzy’s location in the airport has reopened at full capacity after undergoing renovations. The restaurant is offering a full menu for the first time since March 2020 and has added more seating, new menu items, and a St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail station — where bar guests can watch the legendary Shrimp Cocktail be assembled. 🍤
Health
  • Researchers at IU School of Medicine have developed a blood test that can help those with anxiety. The test can help medical professionals objectively determine someone’s risk for developing anxiety, the severity of their current anxiety, and which therapies would likely treat their anxiety the best by using biomarkers. Learn more. 🩸(WRTV)
Outdoors
  • Indiana Dunes National Park hit near-record visitor attendance in 2022. More than 2.8 million people visited the park last year — down from the record 3.17 million in 2021. In January 2022, the park began charging an entrance fee to visit the park, ranging from $15 to $45. 🏖️ (Inside Indiana Business)
Try This
  • Is experiencing the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on your 2023 bucket list? Because it should be. City Editor Anna recently spent an evening at the (stunning) Hilbert Circle Theatre for a performance — read more about her experience (and all the pro tips). 🎼*
Wellness
  • What’s in: red light therapy. What’s out: forms of treatment that are painful and invasive. Red light therapy is non-invasive and painless, and evidence suggests it may be able to ease body aches, heal sun damage, and build collagen. Brb — we’re adding this easy-to-prop light and this facial massager to our Amazon cart. *
Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

Cheers 🍻

Indy named No. 3 beer city in the United States
INDY_Indy Craft Pass_beer_VisitIndy_MAR2023
Indy Craft Pass is the official beer passport of Indianapolis. | Photo by Melissa Neel/Visit Indy
Indy’s got quite the beer scene, and USA Today agrees.

Indianapolis was named the No. 3 best beer city in the US by the media company.

Coming off this news, Visit Indy announced it’s bringing back the Indy Craft Pass — the official beer passport of Indianapolis. The mobile passport is designed to give anyone (whether you’re a local or a visitor) an incentive to get out and explore Indy’s brews.

The passport includes 37 participating locations, ranging from Sun King, Centerpoint, and Triton Brewing to Hotel Tango Distillery, West Fork Whiskey, and Easley Winery.

Indy Craft Pass officially relaunches today (Thursday, March 9) and pass users are invited to celebrate at Sun King Brewing downtown at 6 p.m. Anyone who has signed up for the Indy Craft Pass 2.0 will get a complimentary pint and the opportunity to cast a vote for your favorite can art design for the new “Indy Pale Ale” beer that Sun King will be releasing in May. Register for the event.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Nicole.

Editor’s pick: I’ve only been to an Indy Fuel game maybe once — so I think it’s time for me to hit up Indiana Farmers Coliseum for an evening out. There’s plenty of home games coming up. Heads up parents: kids eat free at the game on Sunday, March 26.

The answer to the Quiz is football.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? $1.1 billion in infrastructure projects.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Anna Bowman, Nicole Hernandez, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Nicole Fancher | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

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