Indiana has plenty of strengths as a sports capital of America, but can we say the people are the most loyal in the world?
Yes, we can. The variety of sports in Indiana means that residents have no shortage of games to follow and teams to cheer for. Not only that, but Indiana is home to some of the friendliest and most loyal fans in not just the country, but in the entire world. Don’t believe us? Check out the many ways Indiana supports its sports fans and how Indiana residents give back in return.
Baseball
Gary, Fort Worth, and of course Indianapolis are all home to popular baseball teams. Indiana’s baseball scene may not be as strong as their football or basketball scenes, but you’d have a hard time telling that from the way its fans get riled up at games.
Spend some time in the stands at a Railcats or Indians game and you’ll find some of the best baseball fans this side of the Midwest. College sports have their own following as well, with the Indiana Hoosiers regularly selling out games at home simply due to how proud their fans are. Indiana baseball has massive prominence in Indianapolis and beyond.
Racing
Indiana is most well-known in the sports world for the Indianapolis 500, and rightly so. The Indy 500 is one of, if not the most famous Indy car race in the world, so much so that the sport was named after the city in which it first took place. So it’s no wonder people flock from far and wide to witness it every year. Even when the Indy 500 isn’t taking place, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to fantastic races and events year-round.
Between NASCAR races, celebrations of diversity in racing, and fun times for the whole family, the IMS has no shortage of fun activities for residents and visitors. The community of racing fans that call Indianapolis home are loyal and enthusiastic for the sport. There are always Indianapolis houses for sale, and residents are always looking to expand their community. The IMS is central to the city, and always has new events taking place, so Indianapolis residents constantly have new things to look forward to. Racing truly unites the people of the city and state.
Basketball
You can’t talk about Indiana without mentioning its rich history with basketball. While not technically created there, Indiana is known as the birthplace of basketball, with even the sport’s creator James Naismith saying, “Basketball really had its origin in Indiana, which remains the center of the sport,” after a particularly rousing high school state finals game in 1925. Even today, that sentiment is carried with the people of the state, particularly with Indianapolis.
The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever in the NBA and WNBA respectively are some of Basketball’s most beloved teams in recent memory. College basketball is where the people are most enthusiastic, however. Fans of the NCAA need no reminder that their teams are the best, between the Big Ten Conference regularly featuring Indiana teams, to the movie Hoosiers, showing off one of their greatest victories, the people of Indiana have every reason to love their teams.
Hockey
Like baseball, ice hockey is an often-overlooked but no less important aspect of Indiana’s culture. Evansville, Fort Wayne, and Indianapolis have strong hockey leagues with massively impressive crowds.
Not only that, but college ice hockey has its fair share of supporters as well, with Indiana University’s ice hockey team being a central force for sports culture in Indiana. Indiana’s robust ice hockey culture is a strong defining factor for the people of the state, with Purdue, Indianapolis, Bloomington, and many more with huge crowds regularly at games. It’s no wonder that ice hockey would be a major element of Indiana’s sports culture.
Football
The football scene in Indianapolis is controlled by the Indianapolis Colts and their massive following both inside and outside the state. The rivalry between the Colts and the Baltimore Ravens is a major defining factor for the pride residents have in their team, and it shows whenever the two cities come to blows in an NFL game.
Collegiate football fills in the gaps when the Colts aren’t in control, with Notre Dame, Butler, Purdue, and, of course, Indianapolis holding major spots in the collegiate rankings. There are plenty of reasons for Indiana football fans to be proud of their state, and proud they are.