Downtown Indianapolis is getting a major new country hotspot, as Blake Shelton’s Ole Red is officially headed to the Fieldhouse District. The country star and his partners announced Wednesday that a new Ole Red restaurant and live music venue will rise on Meridian Street next to Morris Bicentennial Plaza beside Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The multi-level project is planned at roughly 37,000 square feet and is set to feature a main dining room, an indoor bar, two performance stages and a covered rooftop bar, with a target opening in late 2027.
Big New Stage Beside Gainbridge Fieldhouse
As reported by Sports Business Journal, the Ole Red buildout is expected to cover about 37,000 square feet as part of the broader Fieldhouse District development. Shelton, who turned up in person for the announcement, said the city’s mix of sports and country fans kept him thinking up “reasons to hang around a little longer,” according to the coverage. Developers project the venue will host a rotating lineup of country acts alongside elevated food and cocktail programming.
The Deal Behind the Downtown Landing
Pacers Sports & Entertainment’s development arm, Boxcar Development, brokered the agreement with Opry Entertainment Group. Opry will handle programming and marketing in concert with the Pacers’ Fieldhouse Media Network, per Indianapolis Business Journal. The move is part of PS&E owner Herb Simon’s larger push to build out the downtown entertainment district with more hospitality and music options. That strategy already includes other nearby projects designed to keep people circulating through the area year-round, not just on game nights.
What Ole Red Is Bringing To Town
Ole Red bills itself as a Southern kitchen and music hub, with the company describing its menus as scratch-made Southern dishes paired with cocktails inspired by Shelton, according to its website. The chain currently operates locations in Tishomingo, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Orlando and Las Vegas, plus a site inside Nashville International Airport. Indianapolis would add another pin to that map. Ole Red venues are known for booking a blend of established country stars and rising talent, with food and drinks built to keep crowds hanging around between sets.
Who Lined Up For The Big Reveal
Local leaders turned out in force for the unveiling. WTHR reports that U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Mayor Joe Hogsett and Pacers executive Mel Raines were among those on hand for the announcement. City and team officials pitched the project as a way to keep visitors in the Fieldhouse District after games and events, and to stretch downtown’s hospitality hours further into the night on weekends. Organizers did not share a detailed hiring plan but said more information would come as the project moves forward.
Timeline And What Happens Next
Developers are targeting a late 2027 opening and say permitting and design work will move ahead in the coming months, with construction to follow, per Sports Business Journal. In the bigger picture, Ole Red is expected to help anchor evening programming across the Fieldhouse District and plug into a broader marketing push by the team and its partners. Officials say more details on bookings, staffing and menu plans will roll out as the build progresses.
Shelton’s decision to bring Ole Red to Indianapolis gives downtown a high-profile venue that marries restaurant service with live country music in one large footprint, a clear play for both tourists and local fans. Keep an eye out for construction permits, design renderings and job postings as the project moves from announcement to reality.
