Scheumann Stadium has anchored the east side of Ball State University’s Muncie, Indiana campus since September 16, 1967, serving as the home field for Ball State Cardinals football. Officially named the John B. and June M. Scheumann Stadium after the alumni and benefactors who helped fund a 2005 renovation, the venue replaced an earlier on-campus stadium and has grown from its original seating into a modern Mid-American Conference facility.
The stadium’s bowl has changed shape and capacity several times over nearly six decades, most notably with a 2007 renovation that enclosed the north end zone with lawn seating to create a horseshoe layout. That project added new lighting, a brick facade, an expanded press box, and luxury suites, giving the Cardinals a facility built to match the program’s ambitions on the field.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Ball State Cardinals football (NCAA, Mid-American Conference)
- Location: Muncie, Indiana
- Opened: September 16, 1967
- Capacity: 22,500 (since 2007)
- Playing Surface: Synthetic turf (Sprinturf installed 2015; field resurfaced again in 2025)
- Record Attendance: 23,861 (November 25, 2008)
From Ball State Stadium to Scheumann Stadium
The venue opened in 1967 simply as Ball State Stadium with seating for 16,319. Capacity grew to 21,581 in 1998, and in 2005 the stadium was renamed in honor of John B. and June M. Scheumann following their support of the university. A $13 million renovation completed in 2007 pushed capacity to its current 22,500 and gave the stadium its enclosed, horseshoe-shaped look, complete with a new video board added in 2013.
The playing surface has changed several times with the stadium’s evolution, moving from natural grass to AstroTurf in the late 1990s, back to grass, and then to FieldTurf as part of the 2007 renovation. Ball State replaced that field with a Sprinturf synthetic surface in 2015, and the stadium received another new turf installation in 2025 as part of a broader round of athletic facility upgrades across the university.
A Record-Setting 2008 Season
Scheumann Stadium’s biggest crowds came during Ball State’s historic 12-0 regular season in 2008. A school-record 10,546 students packed the stands for a nationally televised win over Navy, and the stadium’s all-time attendance mark of 23,861 was set when the Cardinals closed out their perfect regular season with a win over Western Michigan that November.
Ball State alumnus David Letterman famously joked on his television show about having the stadium named after him instead, a storyline that became local lore once the Scheumann family’s name was chosen in 2005.
Explore more: Explore more college football stadiums.
Team-color face paint in a twist-up stick — no brushes, no mess in the car.
Sized to the NFL's 12x6x12 clear-bag rule. Fits snacks, a jacket and a rally towel.
A see-through purse that looks like a purse. Works for most stadium, arena and concert bag policies.
Scheumann Stadium FAQs
Who plays at Scheumann Stadium?
Scheumann Stadium is the home field of the Ball State Cardinals football team, a member of the Mid-American Conference.
What is the capacity of Scheumann Stadium?
The stadium currently seats 22,500, a figure reached after a 2007 renovation enclosed the north end zone.
Why is it called Scheumann Stadium?
It was renamed in 2005 in honor of Ball State alumni and benefactors John B. and June M. Scheumann, replacing its original name, Ball State Stadium.
Get More from Scheumann Stadium
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Scheumann Stadium, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Temathews1 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.