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Eleven Park

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Coordinates: 39°45′44″N 86°10′12″W / 39.76215°N 86.16989°W / 39.76215; -86.16989
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Eleven Park
Conceptual Design of the stadium
Map
Address402 Kentucky Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana
U.S.
Coordinates39°45′44″N 86°10′12″W / 39.76215°N 86.16989°W / 39.76215; -86.16989
OwnerCapital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana
OperatorCapital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana
TypeSoccer-specific stadium
Capacity20,000
Field shapeRectangular
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundMay 31, 2023
Opened2026; 2 years' time (2026) (planned)
Construction cost$1 billion (est.) (total project amt.)
Tenants
Indy Eleven (USLC), future USLS team (2026–) (planned)
Website
elevenpark.com

Eleven Park is a soccer-specific stadium currently in development on the site of the former Diamond Chain Company facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. If completed, it will be the home of Indy Eleven, a professional soccer team that plays in the USL Championship. The stadium would additionally house the team's women's team, who currently play in the USL W League and are anticipated to join the USL Super League at a later date.[1]

The stadium would be part of a mixed-use development including a hotel, offices, apartments, and a retail area, and is expected to be completed by 2026.[2][3] As of May 2024, construction of the stadium is in doubt following the City of Indianapolis' withdrawal of financial support.[4]

History

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Initial plans

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The first legislative proposal for an Indy Eleven stadium was in 2014, before the team had debuted. The plans called for a 18,500-seat stadium at the cost of $87 million. The plan was shelved in the Indiana Senate.[5] In 2015, the proposal was revived, but rejected again in favor of renovating Michael A. Carroll Stadium, the home of the Eleven at the time.[6] In 2017, the Eleven again attempted to receive stadium funding, but did not have a bill launched in favor of it.[7]

In January 2019, the Eleven announced a new stadium plan, with a 20,000-seat stadium being the centerpiece of a $550 million mixed-use development including 600 apartments, more than 100,000 square feet (9,300 m2) of retail space, 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2) of office space, and a 200-room hotel.[8] The stadium would also have the potential to host concerts, a women's soccer team, college and high school soccer, football, field hockey, rugby, and lacrosse.[9]

In February 2019, the State Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill, with a requirement that the Eleven reach an agreement to join Major League Soccer before the stadium could be built.[10] In April, the bill passed the Indiana House of Representatives with the MLS requirement removed.[11] The bill later passed the Indiana Senate, and was signed by Governor Eric Holcomb in late April 2019.[12]

Location and construction

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On June 24, 2022, the club announced that the stadium would be built on the site of the former Diamond Chain Company factory in the southwest quadrant of downtown Indianapolis.[13]

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on May 31, 2023, at the site of the future stadium, with demolition of the existing structures beginning immediately. Indy Eleven officials were joined by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who both spoke at the event.[14]

On November 1, 2023, the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development unanimously approved the creation of a special tax district of the area surrounding the site of the future stadium.[15] The Indianapolis City-County Council unanimously approved the measure on November 20, 2023. The tax area will use a portion of state and local tax revenue to pay for related infrastructure costs.[16] The full cost of the development along the White River is estimated to be over $1 billion and was anticipated to be completed in spring 2025.[17] An article published by the USL Championship on April 12, 2024, updated the completion date to 2026.[18]

On December 22, 2023, representatives for the Keystone Construction Group announced that human remains had been discovered during excavation on the north end of the site.[19] The former Greenlawn Cemetery occupied a large portion of the stadium site in the late 19th century, and decades of development on the site had made it difficult to identify the locations of possible human remains.[20] Keystone Group stated that they are working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to appropriately care for any discovered human remains and pledged that a memorial to those buried in the former cemetery would be included in the development process.[21]

Mayoral MLS bid and stadium doubts

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While construction of the stadium was tied to an application for an MLS team, on April 25, 2024, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced that he had been speaking with MLS commissioner Don Garber about bringing an expansion team in the city.[22] Indy Eleven, as well as stadium developer Keystone Group, were not made aware of this fact or involved the process, which places this club's future in doubt.[23][24][25] Keystone Group issued a statement on the same day accusing the mayoral administration of "preparing to walk away" from the stadium deal, which Hogsett's office later denied, stating that a proposal was made between Keystone and Indy Eleven but not the city.[26] This is despite the fact that Hogsett himself attended the groundbreaking of the site in May 2023, which officials said was not a city endorsement of the project.[27][28]

References

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  1. ^ "Indy Eleven Acquires Top-Tier Women's Professional Franchise as Part of USL Super League". Indy Eleven. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "Eleven Park – Secure the Future of Professional Soccer in Indiana". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  3. ^ nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, NICHOLAS MURRAY- (April 12, 2024). "Why Eleven Park is poised to become the next landmark venue in the USL Championship". USL Championship. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  4. ^ "City moves forward with Mayor's MLS stadium proposal; rejecting Eleven Park". WRTV Indianapolis. May 14, 2024. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Indy Eleven soccer stadium proposal shelved". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  6. ^ "Lawmakers reject idea of new Indy Eleven stadium, back $20 million renovation to Carroll Stadium". FOX59. March 24, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  7. ^ "Indy Eleven's effort to score MLS franchise takes hit". www.ibj.com. April 26, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "Indy Eleven makes pitch to build 'Eleven Park' with stadium, apartments and more". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  9. ^ "Soccer stadium likely would find other uses—especially if it's downtown". www.ibj.com. March 7, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  10. ^ "Indy Eleven stadium deal now would require team cash and MLS buy-in up front". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  11. ^ Spedden, Zach (April 13, 2019). "Indy Eleven Stadium Legislation Clears House, With MLS Requirement Removed". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  12. ^ "Governor Eric Holcomb's singing of Senate Enrolled Act 7 marks latest progress for Eleven Park project". www.indyeleven.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  13. ^ "Indy Eleven Secures Downtown Location for Eleven Park Development". Indy Eleven. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  14. ^ "Indy Eleven and Keystone Group Break Ground on Eleven Park, a Transformational Riverfront Development Anchored by Multi-Purpose Soccer Stadium". Indy Eleven. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "City of Indianapolis creates special tax area for Eleven Park". wthr.com. November 2, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  16. ^ Sheridan, Jill (November 21, 2023). "Downtown on track to pass economic development district measures". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Indy Eleven Secures Downtown Location for Eleven Park Development". www.indyeleven.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  18. ^ nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, NICHOLAS MURRAY- (April 12, 2024). "Why Eleven Park is poised to become the next landmark venue in the USL Championship". USL Championship. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  19. ^ "'Fragments of human remains' discovered at Eleven Park site". wthr.com. December 22, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Hopkins, Claire; Rafford, Emily (January 18, 2024). "Indianapolis found human remains during bridge work by old Greenlawn Cemetery". Mirror Indy. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  21. ^ "'Fragments of human remains' discovered at Eleven Park site". wthr.com. December 22, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  22. ^ Blanchard, Peter (April 25, 2024). "Mayor Hogsett makes his soccer pitch for MLS, upending future of Eleven Park deal". Mirror Indy. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  23. ^ "'We don't want to lose our club' | Local soccer fans worried about future of Indy Eleven". April 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "Developer claims City is backing out of Indy Eleven stadium deal, Hogsett denies allegations". April 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Cardenas, Felipe. "Indianapolis mayor announces MLS bid, former Chelsea exec among backers, sources say". The New York Times.
  26. ^ Burgess, Donnie (April 25, 2024). "Indy Mayor Applies for Major League Soccer Team, Office Says "Never a Deal with Keystone"". WIBC 93.1 FM. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  27. ^ "Developer claims City is backing out of Indy Eleven stadium deal, Hogsett denies allegations". Fox 59. April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  28. ^ "Keystone accuses Hogsett administration of trying to walk away from Eleven Park deal". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
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