Just north of Indianapolis lies Grand Parks, a 400-acre sports campus with 26 baseball diamonds, 31 multipurpose fields for soccer, lacrosse and football, a basketball and volleyball facility, and a newly added events center with indoor soccer fields, a restaurant and event space.
The 377,000-square-foot Grand Parks Event Center can accommodate 22,000 people overall and has separate office space, a commercial kitchen, main foyer and space for private functions. The two mezzanines overlook the fields and the Nest, which overlooks the center field, can seat 120 guests. The events center is also home to Jonathan Byrd’s Restaurant, a club-level lounge and private boxes with views of the fields.
The Grand Parks Event Center opened with the Westfield Mayor’s Yellow Tie Ball, a fundraiser for Hamilton County Youth Assistance, which offers counseling for youth and families, youth anger management classes, parenting classes, food and clothing assistance, and other services. The event included a VIP reception for 200. All guests were encouraged to wear formal wear, but with athletic shoes to embrace the formality of the event while keeping in step with the venue.
Grand Parks offers more than 10 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails and green space for future development. One project in the works is the Jonathan Byrd’s Hotel, which will feature a mix of traditional and dormitory-style rooms, and is expected to open in 2017. Future plans also include commercial development, including dining, retail and entertainment venues.