Proposal lays groundwork for potential Major League Soccer team and stadium

A proposal to create a new professional sports development area was introduced at the Indianapolis City-County Council’s meeting Monday night.

This is the city's second effort to set up a special taxing district for the development of a soccer stadium. The proposal is sponsored by council President Vop Osili.

The new site is being targeted as Major League Soccer considers a move to Indianapolis. Mayor Joe Hogsett made that surprise announcement last month.

In a statement Hogsett said he was grateful for Monday's proposal.

“Indianapolis takes the next step in the process by which we can secure a Major League Soccer expansion club for our community,” Hogsett said.

The new development area would see the stadium built near the downtown heliport and transit center.

The other professional sports development area is a riverfront site that has already been leveled for a new Indy Eleven stadium and Eleven Park development. That site has also been the focus of historians, who say enough has not been done to remove remains from the city’s first cemetery that was once located on the riverfront.

Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir has reportedly been working to secure additional funding for Eleven Park. Indy Eleven is a United Soccer League team, a tier below Major League Soccer. It has been Ozdemir’s goal to have Indy Eleven become an MLS team.

The new proposal now moves to a meeting of the Ruies and Public Policy Committee, where it may face opposition from councilors who continue to support Indy Eleven.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org.