INDIANAPOLIS — On Monday, May 13, the City-County Council will introduce a resolution on making a bid to bring a Major League Soccer expansion team to Indianapolis. It will then go to the City-County Council’s Metropolitan Economic Development Committee to consider the proposal.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city is no longer working with the developer of Eleven Park to build a soccer stadium for the Indy Eleven at a site on the southwest corner of downtown.
(NOTE: The above video is from a previous report on the Eleven Park developer reacting to the city's attempt at an MLS expansion team bid.)
On Monday, Indy Eleven and developer Keystone Group fired back with a release making 11 points on why their project should move forward:
- The state legislation authorizing a soccer-specific stadium in Indianapolis was written for and championed by Indy Eleven after five years of work.
- Eleven Park already contains an MLS-eligible soccer stadium that has been under design for more than a year and broke ground on May 31, 2023.
- Eleven Park is more than just a stadium – it will transform a neighborhood.
- Eleven Park will be funded by an expanded ownership and investment group with access to billions in capital.
- Eleven Park will be built by a design and construction team filled with Indiana companies.
- Eleven Park won’t require taxpayers to pay one penny to acquire land for the stadium or private development.
- Eleven Park won’t require taxpayer money from the city budget and will pay for itself.
- Eleven Park has already been voted on by the City-County Council and enjoyed broad, bipartisan support.
- Eleven Park is supported by those who represent and live near the project site.
- Eleven Park is ready to be built right now, and Indianapolis doesn’t have to wait for MLS executives to see investment in our city.
- Eleven Park will be the home of the Indy Eleven.
“It’s been overwhelming to see such an outpouring of support over the last few weeks for Indy Eleven and our development partnership’s efforts to bring an MLS-eligible stadium to Indianapolis for the men and women of our city’s professional soccer team,” said Ersal Ozdemir, owner and founder of Keystone Group and Indy Eleven. “We remain hopeful that Mayor Joe Hogsett will rejoin the work we are doing with neighborhood leaders and our partners on the City-County Council to keep the promises we’ve made to residents of the near westside.”
Renderings of Eleven Park
RELATED: Mayor says negotiations on Eleven Park soccer stadium 'terminated' while his new proposal advances
The city filed a resolution with the Metropolitan Development Commission to create a professional sports development area (PSDA) at 355 E. Pearl St. in downtown Indianapolis. That location is just east of Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The new plan will go before the City-County Council on May 13. The city has to be ready to file its plan to the state by the end of June, before going back to the MDC for final approval before June 30, 2024.
The city says the ownership group will ultimately select which site is sent to the state. The city will not reveal the name of the ownership group at this time.
To bring an MLS team to Indianapolis, the city must have a soccer-specific stadium that is promoted and financed by the city and a competent ownership group to pay the MLS expansion fee. Last May, the city of San Diego reportedly paid a $500 million expansion fee to get a team.
Still, there is no guarantee that even if the city meets those requirements that an expansion team will come to Indianapolis.