INDIANAPOLIS — The city is now one step closer to bringing Major League Soccer to Indianapolis after the Metropolitan Development Commission gave final approval of a special tax district.
The vote was the last hurdle before the proposal could be sent to the state budget committee by July 1. The district would help fund a downtown stadium at the Heliport site, east of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Back in April, the mayor’s office introduced the idea of adding an additional Professional Sports Development Area (PSDA) to help fund a downtown stadium. The Metropolitan Development Commission was the first to vote on this proposal in May, and on Wednesday, they were the last — voting six to one.
The mayor’s office believes this is the best way for Indy to be granted an MLS expansion club based on conversations with the league in April.
“There’s tremendous interest. We believe this is the first step in making that a reality,” Chief Deputy Mayor Dan Parker said. “Most of the cities that Indianapolis competes with have Major League Soccer, and we do not. We need to stay competitive to attract the talent for the companies and businesses that do business here in the city of Indianapolis.”
As for the Eleven Park property, the Keystone Group says it remains shovel-ready. However, this vote officially ends the development’s PSDA that was approved last year. That's because the city can only send one to the state.
District Councilor Kristin Jones also spoke at Wednesday’s meeting. Jones said she still has a lot of questions about this new stadium plan.
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“I don’t know what’s going on, and I’m the district councilor. No one is calling me. No one is talking to me. No one is talking to Indy Eleven, which is a premier soccer league in the city. I’m asking you for help with this vote,” Jones said.
The state budget committee also made it clear that in their review process, they want to know who is paying for the MLS club. Expansion fees can cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Well-known soccer executive Tom Glick is reportedly leading the conversations around an ownership group in Indianapolis.
Mayor Joe Hogsett and MLS made it clear they want that group to have local ties.
Hogsett sent the following statement to 13News:
“When I flew to New York City to meet with Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber in April, he made clear the City’s role in securing an expansion club was creating the financing framework for a soccer-specific stadium on an appropriate site. Today, I was proud to see the Metropolitan Development Commission vote overwhelmingly to confirm a stadium development district at the Downtown Heliport, marking the final step in the local legislative process ahead of the July 1 deadline outlined by state law. We look forward to having conversations with members of the State Budget Committee later this summer as we continue the effort to secure a Major League Soccer expansion club for Indianapolis and solidify our status as the greatest sports host city in the world.”
On Wednesday, Hogsett was asked if the Simon family, specifically Herb Simon, would be involved. Hogsett could not deny or confirm the possibility but said the Simons would be a “wonderful addition.”
The city has made it clear they are not involved in recruiting an ownership group.
The state budget committee is scheduled to meet later this summer. If the resolution is approved, the city hopes the future ownership group will submit an MLS application by the end of the year.
Right now, several other cities are also competing for an expansion club, including Detroit and Tampa.