Indy Eleven Stadium Bill Passes In House, Future In Senate Uncertain

INDIANAPOLIS – The House approved a bill Wednesday to help fund a stadium for the Indy Eleven soccer team, but the leader of the Senate said the legislation will not be a priority for that chamber.

"I think it's a little difficult to talk about helping getting a soccer stadium built when we're talking about more funding for our schools,” said Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne. “So it would really depend on if our priorities will be able to be funded.”

But Long did not rule out that the legislation could move through the Senate.

The bill – approved 73-21 by the Republican-controlled House – would capture tax revenue generated at the stadium and a hotel to be built by Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir to pay off bonds for a proposed $82 million, 18,500-seat stadium in downtown Indianapolis.

That money would otherwise have gone to state or local governments.

As amended on Tuesday, the bill also requires the team owner to guarantee half of the stadium’s debt.

“I see this as an economic development bill,” said its author, Rep. Todd Huston, R-Fishers.

He urged the lawmakers from across the state to approve the bill, even though it focuses largely on Central Indiana.

“Our state is stronger by a stronger Indianapolis,” Huston said. “We’re all the beneficiaries of a strong downtown.”