Eleven Park
Eleven Park is a proposed soccer-specific stadium to be constructed at a currently unknown site in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It would be the home of the Indy Eleven, a USL Championship team currently playing at Lucas Oil Stadium. The stadium would be part of a mixed-use development including a hotel, offices, apartments, and a retail area.[1]
| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States |
|---|---|
| Owner | Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana |
| Operator | Capital Improvement Board of Managers of Marion County, Indiana |
| Type | Soccer-specific stadium |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Field shape | Rectangular |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2022 (planned) |
| Construction cost | $550 million (est.) |
| Tenants | |
| Indy Eleven (USLC) (2022–) (planned) | |
| Website | |
| eleven-park | |
History
The first 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 state senate.[2] 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.[3] In 2017 the Eleven again attempted to receive stadium funding, but did not have a bill launched in favor of it.[4]
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.[5] The stadium would also have the potential to host concerts, women's soccer team, college and high school soccer, football, field hockey, rugby and lacrosse.[6]
In February, the 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.[7] In April the bill passed the house with the MLS requirement removed.[8] The bill would also pass the senate, and was signed by Governor Eric Holcomb in late April.[9]
On January 8, 2021, Indy Eleven tweeted that they planned to announce the location of the new stadium by late March 2021.
References
- "Eleven Park – Secure the Future of Professional Soccer in Indiana". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Indy Eleven soccer stadium proposal shelved". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Lawmakers reject idea of new Indy Eleven stadium, back $20 million renovation to Carroll Stadium". FOX59. March 24, 2015. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Indy Eleven's effort to score MLS franchise takes hit". www.ibj.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Indy Eleven makes pitch to build 'Eleven Park' with stadium, apartments and more". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Soccer stadium likely would find other uses—especially if it's downtown". www.ibj.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "Indy Eleven stadium deal now would require team cash and MLS buy-in up front". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- Spedden, Zach (April 13, 2019). "Indy Eleven Stadium Legislation Clears House, With MLS Requirement Removed". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
- "GOVERNOR ERIC HOLCOMB'S SIGNING OF SENATE ENROLLED ACT 7 MARKS LATEST PROGRESS FOR ELEVEN PARK PROJECT". www.indyeleven.com. Retrieved May 21, 2019.