Like every NFL team, the Indianapolis Colts suffered the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic last season.
Not only did a handful of players exercise their right to opt out, but the Colts only allowed a maximum of 10,000 fans inside Lucas Oil Stadium by the end of the campaign. While that was more than some teams could say, it didn’t give Indy a distinct home-field advantage.
The pandemic also threw a wrench into the Colts’ training camp plans, as they were forced to remain at the team facility due to the league’s health and safety protocols as opposed to hosting camp at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana.
In a truly encouraging sign Lucas Oil Stadium will be returning to full capacity in 2021, the Colts announced on Friday that they’ll return to their old stomping grounds this offseason.
Things have been trending in this direction for a while now, but the fact Indianapolis already confirmed its return to Grand Park for camp is huge news.
The Colts will be returning to Westfield for training camp. https://t.co/POHkWVPZQk
— TheColtsWire (@TheColtsWire) June 27, 2021
The Colts’ training camp update bodes well for their 2021 fan attendance.
Though it hasn’t been confirmed just yet, the Colts returning to Westfield for training camp indicates fans will be back in attendance. That might not seem like a big deal, but part of the reason camp is located away from the facility is so fans can witness the action firsthand.
It’s also significant given where the NFL was at this stage last offseason. Not only were fans forbidden from attending, but training camp was a shell of its former self for players. However, with vaccinations being administered across the league, though some teams are lagging further behind than others (one of which is the Colts), we’re inching closer to normalcy.
In normal circumstances, the Colts would host over 50,000 fans at training camp. It’s currently unclear whether proof of vaccination will be required for attendees (you have to think it will be), but Indianapolis announced on its website that the full schedule and protocol guidelines will be revealed in the coming days, so stay tuned.
All we know at this juncture is that the Colts will have a joint practice with the Panthers. The sessions will take place in the days leading up to the preseason matchup between the two teams on Aug. 15, which will be the only preseason fixture at Lucas Oil Stadium.
There’s still a long way to go — and we’ll know more about the outlook regarding Lucas Oil’s chances of returning to full capacity in 2021 a little bit further down the road — but if camp returning to Grand Park isn’t a reason to get excited, we’re not sure what is.
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