History
The Art Deco ballpark opened in 1931 and hosted the Indians for 65 years under three names, along with Negro league teams such as the Clowns. Its ivy-covered walls reportedly inspired the ivy at Wrigley Field.
The Indians left for a new Victory Field downtown in July 1996. The old park briefly served as a dirt track and as a lot for Cash for Clunkers cars, then a developer kept its shell and built apartments inside, which opened in 2013.
Why it matters: A National Register-listed ballpark that was adapted into housing rather than torn down.
Timeline
- September 5, 1931First game[1]
The Indians lost 4-3 to Louisville in the first game.
- January 21, 1942
A fan contest renamed the park during World War II.
- August 30, 1967
The park was renamed for longtime Indians manager Owen J. Bush.
- July 3, 1996
The Indians played their final game before moving downtown.
- March 15, 2012Partial demolition[1]
Demolition began for the loft conversion.
- July 27, 2013
138 loft apartments opened inside the old stadium.
The site today
| Physical status | Partially demolished[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Stadium Lofts apartments (opened 2013), built inside the preserved stadium shell[1,2] |
| Surviving remnants | The Art Deco exterior, light towers and a concrete diamond in the courtyard survive.[1,2] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Indianapolis Indians | American Association / International League · 1931–1996 |
|---|---|
| Indianapolis Clowns | Negro American League · 1944–1950 · tenant |
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Official name | Owen J. Bush Stadium |
|---|---|
| Other names | Perry Stadium (1931–1942); Victory Field (1942–1967); Owen J. Bush Stadium |
| Location | 1501 W. 16th St., Indianapolis, Indiana[1] |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball, Motorsports |
| Level | Minor League, Negro Leagues |
| Opened | September 5, 1931[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | July 3, 1996[1,2] |
| Demolished | March 15, 2012[1] |
| Physical status | Partially demolished |
| Original capacity | 15,000[1] |
| Final capacity | 12,934[1] |
| Architect | Osborn Engineering[1] |
| Construction cost | $350,000-$500,000 (1931; Wikipedia figures differ)[1] |
| Closure | The Indians moved to a new downtown Victory Field in 1996. |
Documented details
Sources
- Bush Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, architect, capacity, closed, construction cost, coordinates, current land use, demolished, opened, remnants, teams
- Bush Stadium: apartments in a ballpark, Hoosier History Live. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, opened, remnants
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Construction cost: infobox $500,000 vs text $350,000.
- Wikipedia's infobox lists a 2001 closure; this record uses the last Indians game.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.