Indiana is host to some of the greatest sporting events and teams in the United States: the Indy 500, the NFL Combine, the Indiana Fever, the Indianapolis Colts and more. For Taylor students, there are a multitude of professional, minor league and semi-pro teams in the surrounding area playing games year-round that students need to know about.
Fort Wayne TinCaps
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Minor League Baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They are the Class A affiliate of the San Diego Padres and play in the Midwest League.
The team was founded in 1993 as the Fort Wayne Wizards but rebranded in 2009 as the TinCaps, a name that pays homage to the city’s connection to Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman), who is said to have worn a tin cap while planting apple trees in the region.
The TinCaps play their home games at Parkview Field, which is located in downtown Fort Wayne. Since its opening in 2009, the stadium has been consistently ranked as one of the best ballparks in Minor League Baseball for its modern amenities, family-friendly atmosphere, and vibrant downtown setting.
The team has become a vital part of Fort Wayne’s community, drawing in large crowds and contributing to the revitalization of the city’s downtown area. Over the years, the TinCaps have seen many talented prospects pass through their ranks, some of whom have gone on to have successful careers in Major League Baseball.
The TinCaps are known for their competitive play and strong fan base, making them a staple in Midwest League baseball.
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates and compete in the International League. The team, founded in 1902, is one of the oldest and most storied minor league franchises in the United States, boasting a rich history that spans over a century.
The Indians play their home games at Victory Field, a state-of-the-art ballpark located in downtown Indianapolis. Opened in 1996, Victory Field is often praised as one of the best minor league stadiums, offering scenic views of the Indianapolis skyline and a top-tier fan experience. The ballpark’s central location and amenities make it a popular destination for local fans and visitors alike.
Throughout their history, the Indians have been affiliated with several Major League Baseball teams, providing a pipeline of talent to the majors. Many notable players have passed through Indianapolis on their way to successful MLB careers. The team enjoys strong community support and regularly draws large crowds, contributing to the vibrant sports culture in Indianapolis. With their deep roots in the city, the Indians are a cherished institution in Indiana's sports landscape.
Indy Fuel
The Indy Fuel are a professional ice hockey team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) and serve as the minor league affiliate for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs. Established in 2014, the Fuel have quickly become a key part of the city’s sports scene, offering fans exciting, fast-paced hockey action.
The team plays its home games at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, located within the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The arena, which has a rich history dating back to the 1930s, was renovated and modernized before the Fuel’s inaugural season, providing fans with a top-tier hockey experience. With a seating capacity of around 6,500, the Coliseum offers an intimate atmosphere where fans can be close to the action.
The Indy Fuel have built a loyal fan base and are known for their competitive play in the ECHL. They have been instrumental in growing the sport of hockey in Indianapolis, a city traditionally more known for basketball and football. The team is also active in the community, engaging in charitable initiatives and youth hockey programs, further solidifying their place in the fabric of the city's sports culture.
Indianapolis Alleycats
The Indianapolis AlleyCats are a professional ultimate frisbee team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They compete in the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL), which is the premier professional league for the sport. Established in 2012 as one of the league’s founding teams, the AlleyCats have been a cornerstone of ultimate frisbee in the Midwest.
The team plays its home games at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, a suburb of Indianapolis, though they have played at several venues throughout the city over the years. The AlleyCats have a dedicated and growing fan base, known for their high-energy play and competitive spirit.
They have consistently been one of the top teams in the AUDL, making multiple playoff appearances and contending in their division.
Ultimate Frisbee is known for its fast-paced, athletic style of play, with a strong emphasis on sportsmanship and integrity, values that the AlleyCats embody both on and off the field. The team has been instrumental in growing the sport in Indianapolis, promoting local youth and adult leagues, and hosting clinics to engage with the community.
Their presence has helped elevate ultimate frisbee's profile in a city with a deep love for sports.
Indy Eleven
The Indy Eleven are a professional soccer team that competes in the highest level of the United Soccer League (USL), the USL Championship, which is the second tier of professional soccer in America. Known as ‘The Boys in Blue,’ the Eleven just celebrated their tenth anniversary.
The Eleven play at the IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, the home of the IU Indy Jaguars collegiate teams. There is a possibility the team will move locations in 2026 to a proposed new site, Eleven Park, but with less-than-ideal funding raised for the stadium, the soccer team may remain.
During their inception, The Eleven played in the North American Soccer League, making the championship game in 2016, before moving to the USL in 2018. This season, the Eleven currently sit in fourth place, hoping to improve on their first-round playoff exit last season.
The Eleven also have a women’s team under the same name that competes in the second tier of USL Women’s Soccer, the W League, that were league champions in 2023.
Fishers Freight
The Fishers Freight will be the latest team to join the Indoor Football League (IFL) in 2025, housed right outside of Indianapolis. They will be the sixteenth active franchise in the IFL, currently the United States’ most successful arena (or indoor) football league.
The Freight will play in the all-new Fisher Event Center, currently being built, which will also become the home of the ECHL’s Indy Fuel. The ownership team in charge of the Fuel has been working over the past three seasons to bring indoor football to Indiana and looks to connect with the local community of Indy’s suburbs, taking the name of a smaller community in Indiana, instead of Indianapolis.
Dixie Wooten, a two-time IFL Coach of the year with the Iowa Barnstormers, will be the head coach of the Freight as they start play in March 2025. The team is currently going through a process of open tryouts and signing players to prepare for their inaugural season.
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a professional hockey team based in Fort Wayne, IN and play in the ECHL, the third tier of hockey in America. Founded in 1952, The Komets are one of the oldest hockey teams in North America. Only the Original Six teams of the NHL and the Hershey Bears have stayed in the same city longer than Fort Wayne.
The Komets have a storied history, playing in the International Hockey League (IHL) for 50 years, before moving to the United Hockey League in 1999, the Central Hockey League (CHL) in 2010 and finally the ECHL in 2012. The Komets play in Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, right in the heart of Fort Wayne.
Despite hopping leagues many times and a near franchise-ending departure to Albany in 1990, the Komets have stayed loyal and successful in Fort Wayne. The Komets’ legacy is one of success, winning 12 regular-season championships in their history, seven Turner Cups in the UHL and their first ECHL Kelly Cup in 2021.
Indiana Mad Ants
The G-League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, the Mad Ants were founded in 2007, when the G-League was known as the D-League. Originally founded in Fort Wayne, the Mad Ants began play after the Fort Wayne Fury folded in 2001.
Over the years, the Mad Ants have been the affiliate of multiple NBA teams like the Pistons, Bobcats and Bucks, but have always stuck with their state-native Pacers. The team name is a tribute to an American Revolutionary soldier named Anthony Wayne, nicknamed, ‘Mad Anthony.’
The Mad Ants last won a championship in 2014 and moved to Indianapolis and Gainbridge Fieldhouse (also the home of the Pacers and Indiana Fever) in 2023. As they became the sole affiliate of the Pacers, their team colors also changed from their initial maroon and gold to navy and blue, much like the Pacers.
The Mad Ants are an exciting opportunity for fans to see NBA hopefuls find their way to the big leagues. The Mad Ants will play their next season in Noblesville, IN at the Noblesville Event Center while keeping the ‘Indiana’ moniker.
