Mayor Joe Hogsett’s new downtown soccer stadium is already on uneven ground.
A tax district that would help pay for the stadium passed out of the city’s Metropolitan Development Commission on May 1 over the wishes of Indy Eleven fans who packed the commission meeting wearing shirts that read “BUILD ELEVEN PARK.”
Despite the commission’s 7-1 vote, City-County Councilor Kristin Jones said afterward she believes the 24-member council is behind her in opposing the tax district moving forward. Jones said she instead supports Indianapolis-based Keystone Group’s Eleven Park ongoing project at the former Diamond Chain site on the west side of downtown. The council already had approved a taxing district for that $1.5 billion development.
Hogsett, though, cast Keystone’s project into doubt last week when he announced he was pursuing the new tax district in hopes of luring a Major League Soccer club to a different location near the downtown heliport.
Jones, a Democrat, represents the area covered by both potential soccer stadium locations, and she said the city should honor the commitment to Keystone and Eleven Park.
“My community, these fans, they want this,” Jones said. “This is not a political issue.”
Typically, the councilor who represents the district where a proposal is based would become the sponsor. Jones, however, said she won’t sponsor the new deal, which would include about 120 parcels of land east of downtown.
Hogsett, for his part, seems undeterred. When asked later May 1 by Mirror Indy how he planned to persuade council members to vote in favor of the alternative site, Hogsett said his plan provides the best shot at landing an MLS franchise.
“Based on my one-on-one, hour-and-a-half-long meeting with the (MLS) commissioner himself, there were no promises made or guarantees given, but I think that we are uniquely well-positioned to be successful in our effort to bring Major League Soccer to Indianapolis,” Hogsett said.
When asked about the Eleven Park project, Hogsett was skeptical of its chances for success.
“We had been in lengthy negotiations with Keystone Group, and at the end of the day, we made the judgment that based on the numbers … we didn’t think it was responsible to go forward with the stadium putting the taxpayers at risk for more than was originally anticipated,” he said.
While some on the council might be second-guessing the Democratic mayor, he’s found support in other corners.
U.S. Sen. Todd Young, a Republican, posted a photo on social media April 30 with MLS Commissioner Don Garber, in which he expressed excitement at the possibility of the city landing a team.
“Great meeting with @SenToddYoung today while in DC,” Garber replied.
Gov. Eric Holcomb, another Republican, told reporters April 26 that he’s “anticipating good things” to come from Hogsett’s pursuit.
What’s next?
According to a timeline provided by the Department of Metropolitan Development, the taxing district map will go to the council May 13. From there, the proposal would be sent to the Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee, which would hold a public hearing May 20.
After that, the proposal would go back to the council for a vote and then return to the Metropolitan Development Commission for final approval.
According to the state law, the city needs local approvals by June 30. The resolution would then go to the State Budget Committee, which is a group of bipartisan lawmakers and state officials. The committee has 60 days to make a recommendation to the State Budget Agency, which is the governor’s fiscal policy adviser.
Mirror Indy reporter Peter Blanchard contributed to this article. Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers economics. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick.
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