Big changes are coming for Indianapolis Colts fans in 2027 - especially those who’ve made it a summer tradition to catch training camp up close at Grand Park. The team has announced it will be relocating camp to its headquarters at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, closing the chapter on what’s been a fan-friendly setup in Westfield.
Let’s be clear: this move marks a major shift in how Colts fans will experience the preseason. For years, Grand Park offered an open, accessible environment where families could bring kids, meet players, and watch practices without the price tag or formality of a game-day ticket. That accessibility helped build community around the team - and created memories for thousands of fans.
But starting in 2027, those wide-open fields and autograph lines will give way to the more closed-off confines of the Colts’ practice facility at 7001 W. 56th Street in Indianapolis. It’s a move that, while not unprecedented in the NFL, is still hitting home for a fanbase that’s grown used to a different kind of summer experience.
The Colts haven’t detailed exactly how fan access will work at the new location, but it’s hard to imagine the same level of openness. The Farm Bureau Football Center isn’t built for large crowds, and it certainly doesn’t offer the same kind of public-facing amenities that Grand Park does. While the team has said fans will still be able to attend in some capacity, it’s likely that access will be more limited - and more exclusive.
Naturally, fans are voicing their frustration. On social media, many have shared stories of bringing their kids to camp - getting autographs, snapping photos, and seeing their football heroes up close.
That kind of grassroots connection to the team matters, especially in a league where the line between players and fans can often feel distant. Losing that direct access stings.
There’s been plenty of speculation about why the move is happening. Some fans have pointed to cost-cutting, suggesting that the Irsay family - specifically Carlie Irsay-Gordon and her sisters - are looking to streamline operations.
Others have gone further, wondering if this is a step toward a potential sale of the team. But there’s no indication from ownership that a sale is on the table, and the idea that the Colts are strapped for cash doesn’t exactly hold water in today’s NFL economy.
What’s more likely is that the team is following a trend that’s already well underway across the league. A number of NFL franchises have shifted training camp to their own facilities in recent years.
It’s more convenient for the team, more controlled, and often more cost-effective. In that sense, the Colts aren’t doing anything revolutionary - they’re just joining the crowd.
Still, it’s a notable break from tradition. For over 40 years, the Colts have held training camp away from their main headquarters, creating a kind of pilgrimage for fans every summer. That’s what many are mourning - not just the location change, but the feeling that something special is being lost.
In the end, the football will go on. Training camp will still happen.
Rookies will still report, veterans will still grind, and roster battles will still unfold. But for fans who’ve made Grand Park part of their summer routine, 2027 will feel different.
And that difference - the shift from open fields to closed gates - is about more than just geography. It’s about what it means to be part of a team’s journey, and how much access fans get to that story.