 | |
 | |
| Location | 402 Kentucky Avenue, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46225 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°45′44″N 86°10′12″W / 39.76215°N 86.16989°W |
| 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 | |
| Broke ground | May 31, 2023 |
| Opened | 2025 (planned) |
| Construction cost | $1 billion (est.) (total project amt.) |
| Tenants | |
| Indy Eleven (USLC, USLW) (2025–) (planned) | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Eleven Park is a soccer-specific stadium currently under construction on the site of the former Diamond Chain Company facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It will be the home of Indy Eleven, a professional soccer team that plays in the USL Championship. The stadium will 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 will be part of a mixed-use development including a hotel, offices, apartments and a retail area, and is expected to be complete for the start of the 2025 USL Championship season.[2]
History
Initial Plans
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.[3] 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.[4] In 2017 the Eleven again attempted to receive stadium funding, but did not have a bill launched in favor of it.[5]
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.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8] In April the bill passed the Indiana House of Representatives with the MLS requirement removed.[9] The bill would also pass the Indiana Senate, and was signed by Governor Eric Holcomb in late April 2019.[10]
Location and Construction
On January 8, 2021, Indy Eleven tweeted that they planned to announce the location of the new stadium by late March 2021.
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.[11]
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on May 31,2023 at the site of the future stadium, with demolition of the then present structures beginning immediately. Indy Eleven officials were joined by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who both spoke at the event.[12]
On November 1, 2023, the Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development unanimously approved a measure to create a special tax area in the downtown location surrounding the site of the future stadium.[13] 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.[14] The full price for the development along the White River is estimated to cost over $1 billion. The project is anticipated to be completed in spring 2025.[15]
References
- ↑ "Indy Eleven Acquires Top-Tier Women's Professional Franchise as Part of USL Super League". Indy Eleven. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Indy Eleven Secures Downtown Location for Eleven Park Development". Indy Eleven. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "City of Indianapolis creates special tax area for Eleven Park". wthr.com. November 2, 2023. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ↑ Sheridan, Jill (November 21, 2023). "Downtown on track to pass economic development district measures". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
- ↑ "Indy Eleven Secures Downtown Location for Eleven Park Development". www.indyeleven.com. Retrieved June 24, 2022.