UPDATE: Hogsett says city to pursue Major League Soccer franchise
The city is foregoing its relationship with the Indy Eleven to work with an undisclosed ownership group to develop a stadium at one of two potential sites.
The city is foregoing its relationship with the Indy Eleven to work with an undisclosed ownership group to develop a stadium at one of two potential sites.
City officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Keystone’s statement. But the Mayor’s Office announced that at 5:30 p.m., Hogsett would make a “significant announcement about the future of sports in Indianapolis.”
The council also approved tens of millions of dollars in bonds to support the redevelopment of Old City Hall, a demolition of the former Jail I building and renovation of portions of the City-County Building. Also passed Monday was a plan to create a study commission on the use of artificial intelligence.
Lowry, 38, became the fourth non-interim coach for the Indy Eleven in November 2021 and compiled a regular-season record of 25-28-15 over two seasons.
The city’s findings dash the hopes of a historical preservation group that the old law would require a full excavation of the city’s first public cemetery site before work could begin on a bridge over the White River and a proposed Indy Eleven soccer stadium.
As approved by the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee, the district would collect various taxes to cover a portion of the cost for the stadium at the proposed Eleven Park development. The City-County Council now must weigh in.
The Metropolitan Development Commission’s approval, which came by a 8-0 vote, sends the proposal to the City-County Council, where it will be introduced Nov. 13.
The taxing district, known as a professional sports development area, or PSDA, would allow for the collection of various taxes to cover a portion of the cost for the 20,000-seat stadium.
The Indy Eleven on Monday announced plans to further grow the club’s involvement in youth soccer across the state with entry into top-tier academy programs starting this summer.
Eight markets have been approved for the inaugural season, while Indianapolis is among a group of five markets approved for subsequent seasons, pending completion of a stadium.
The developer plans to put a 20,000-seat soccer stadium for the Indy Eleven right along the White River, which is on the western edge of the former Diamond Chain manufacturing site.
Ersal Ozdemir—the real estate developer who brought professional soccer to Indianapolis—has married his two passions in a proposed $1 billion mixed-use project planned for the Diamond Chain manufacturing site downtown.
Of course, there are the usual concerns about environmental impacts that come with any industrial site. But this particular spot—now earmarked for the Indy Eleven’s 20,000-seat stadium—was also the city’s first burial ground.
Experts are optimistic that the property’s redevelopment will spur growth in housing and entertainment, but the industrial site’s environmental and historical factors must be considered in the aggressive timeline set for Eleven Park.
The redevelopment of what is now an 18-acre manufacturing site downtown is expected to include apartments, a hotel, an office building and retail space—in addition to a 20,000-seat stadium. Keystone Corp. CEO Ersal Ozdemir said the project’s cost will likely top $1 billion.
Mark Lowry becomes the fourth head coach in Eleven team history. The 36-year-old native of Birmingham, England, has coached El Paso Locomotive FC in United Soccer League Championship play for the past three seasons.
The “pre-professional,” or developmental league, called the USL W League, is expected to have at least 30 teams when it begins play in May 2022. At least 17 teams have already committed to the league.
The Indy Eleven on Wednesday announced the team was parting ways with head coach Martin Rennie eight games into his fourth season with the soccer squad. The team said it had “mutually agreed to end his tenure,” effective immediately.
Teams are trying to earn indirect revenue from mobile sports betting, carving out areas in their facilities that cater to fans who want to follow their bets while taking in a game downtown.
The agreement provides for a sleeve logo on the Indy Eleven’s 2021 jerseys, along with sponsorship of the 30-minute postgame TV show following every home game broadcast.