By Mark Ambrogi
Indianapolis Diesels have found the perfect home, at least that’s what Coach Aaron Hogg believes.
The team will play its home games at the newly opened Jonathan Byrd’s Fieldhouse in Westfield.
“I think things are going to be a lot better with attendance with a much better venue,” Hogg said. “It’s awesome we have a place we can call home, and we look forward to being here for a long time.”
The Diesels, part of the Premier Basketball League, a minor professional league, will open their home season against the Kentucky Mavericks at 7 p.m. on Jan. 24. The Diesels open the season on Jan. 15 at Danville (Ill.) Riverhawks. They will play 12 home games and 12 away games.
“It’s very well-funded, and it’s very competitive,” Hogg said of the league.
Hogg said the league has lot of players that he expects will play in the NBA.
“Most of our guys go to Europe and play when they are done with us,” said Hogg, a former Diesels player.
There should be room for 1,200 to 1,500 fans at home games, Hogg said. The Diesels, who started as the Indiana Diesels in Columbus, played at Manuel High School in Indianapolis last season.
“My body kind of broke down, so I got into the coaching,” said Hogg, a physical education teacher at an Indianapolis Public Schools middle school.
Hogg played at Warren Central High School under Scott Heady, now the Carmel High School coach, and at Wichita State. His former Warren Central teammate Jermaine Dearman, a 1999 Indiana All-Star who played at Southern Illinois, is on the team. So is Indiana Pacers forward C.J. Miles’ brother Cameron, who played at University of San Diego.
Byrd’s Fieldhouse, which had its grand opening Jan. 5, is 88,000 square feet and houses eight basketball courts.
Tickets will be $10 for Diesels games.
