Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong

Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong

If you've ever tried to navigate the parking lots at Grand Park in July, you know the vibe. It’s hot. It’s loud. There is a very specific smell of fresh-cut grass and expensive Gatorade in the air. For years, Westfield has been the summer home for the Horseshoe, but things are shifting. People keep asking about the Indianapolis Colts training camp schedule because, honestly, the window to see them in this specific environment is closing.

The team recently confirmed that 2026 will be their final year at the massive Grand Park Sports Campus. After that? They're heading back to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on the northwest side. It makes sense logistically—26 other NFL teams already stay home for camp—but it definitely changes the "summer road trip" feel for fans.

The 2025 Calendar: Marking the Key Dates

Let's look at the immediate future. If you’re planning your trip for the 2025 season, the dates are locked in. The team is basically taking over Westfield from July 23 through August 14.

The kickoff happens on Wednesday, July 23. This is usually the day when everyone is still optimistic, the jerseys are clean, and the rookies look like they might actually be the next Marvin Harrison. Practice starts at 10:00 AM, but the gates for Colts City—that massive 85,000-square-foot fan zone—open at 9:00 AM.

One big change for 2025 is the night practice. It’s happening on July 31 for "Thirsty Thursday." Practice runs from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM. If you’ve ever sat in the bleachers during a 10:00 AM practice in 95-degree Indiana humidity, you’ll understand why a night session with fireworks and a light show is such a massive upgrade.

Don't Just Show Up Without a Ticket

This is the part where people get burned. You cannot just roll up to Grand Park and expect to walk in. Every single person needs a mobile ticket.

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  • Free Practices: Most weekday morning sessions (like July 23, 24, and 25) are free. You still have to "claim" them on the Colts app, though.
  • Primetime Practices: Weekend and night sessions (July 26, 31, and various dates in August) cost $5 for adults.
  • The Big Finale: The joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on August 14 is the "hot ticket." That one is $10 for adults.

Basically, the money from these tickets goes to USA Football to support flag football in Indiana. It’s a good cause, but the real benefit is that it keeps the crowds from becoming a total stampede.

Making Sense of the Theme Days

The Colts love a theme. It’s not just about football; it’s sort of a traveling circus with pads on. If you’re bringing kids, Family Day on Friday, July 25, is the move. They usually give away stuff—like those "Blue" paper glasses—and the atmosphere is a bit more relaxed.

"Back Together Saturday" on July 26 is part of the league-wide NFL initiative. It’s usually the busiest day of the whole camp. If you hate crowds, avoid this day like the plague. If you want to feel the "energy" and see the most fans, this is your day.

Then you have the "Salute to Service" on August 2 and "Give Back Sunday" on August 10. These days feel a bit more grounded. They usually involve veteran recognitions or local charity spotlights. It's a nice reminder that while we're all obsessing over Anthony Richardson’s completion percentage, there’s actual life happening outside the white lines.

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The Logistics of Grand Park

Parking is its own beast. If you pay in advance, it’s $5. If you wait until you're staring at the guy in the neon vest at the gate, it’s $10. Just use the app.

Also, the camp is 100% cashless. Don't be the person trying to hand a crumpled five-dollar bill to the teenager selling hot dogs. It won't work. You need a card or your phone.

What to Bring (And What to Leave)

The NFL "clear bag" policy is in full effect here. If your bag isn't see-through, it's staying in the car.

Pro Tip: Bring one sealed bottle of water (16.9 oz or less). That’s all they allow. Once you're inside, you’re at the mercy of the concessions, though they do have "Cool Zones" to keep people from melting.

The Joint Practice Factor

The most "real" football you’ll see at the Indianapolis Colts training camp schedule happens during joint practices. In 2025, that’s the Packers on August 14.

These sessions are intense. Coaches love them because they get to see their guys against different schemes without the risk of a full-speed preseason game. Fans love them because things usually get a little "chippy." There’s a different level of trash talk when the jerseys are different colors.

The 2026 Sunset and Beyond

Since we know 2026 is the finale for Westfield, expect those crowds to be massive. The city of Westfield and the Colts have had a great run since 2018, but the "logistical and technological demands" the team mentioned are real.

Modern NFL teams want everything—recovery labs, film rooms, specific dietary kitchens—within a thirty-second walk of the practice field. Grand Park is amazing, but it’s a public sports complex, not a bespoke NFL laboratory.

When the move happens in 2027 to the West 56th Street facility, the "open to the public" part will look different. There’s less space for 85,000-square-foot fan zones at the home facility. If you’ve been putting off a trip to camp, the 2025 and 2026 seasons are your last chance to see it in its current "festival" format.

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Actionable Steps for Your Visit

  1. Download the Colts App Now: Don't wait until you're in the parking lot with spotty cell service. Get your tickets and parking passes loaded into your digital wallet.
  2. Check the Weather the Night Before: If practice moves inside to the Grand Park Events Center due to rain, only a tiny number of fans get in. If you aren't one of them, you get a refund, but you also lose the trip.
  3. Target the "Kids-Only" Autographs: If you have children, head straight to the Colts City Info Tent as soon as you arrive. They give out trading cards, and some have stickers that grant "golden ticket" access to post-practice autographs.
  4. Arrive Early for "Thirsty Thursday": The night practice on July 31 is going to be packed. Since it's the first one of its kind at Grand Park, the logistics might be a little bumpy. Give yourself an extra 30 minutes.

The Indianapolis Colts training camp schedule isn't just a list of times; it's a window into how the team is built. Whether you’re there for the $5 beer at a night practice or to see if the defensive line can actually stop the run this year, just make sure you've got your QR codes ready. It saves everyone a headache.