Soccer Stadium Proposal Hits Statehouse
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe owner of the Indy Eleven soccer team has made his case to members of the House Ways and Means Committee for a state-financed, $87 million stadium. Ersal Ozdemir says season ticket demand has been higher than he expected, and limited capacity at IUPUI's Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium has forced the team to cut off sales. He says sports and entertainment events at an 18,500-seat stadium could generate millions of dollars in income. The committee did not vote on the issue yesterday, but may take it up again next week.
The Indy Eleven has not played a regular season soccer game yet. The team will begin its first season in April.
The team will play in the North American Soccer League, which is just below the top tier league in the country.
It is trying to gain state lawmaker approval for financing through Professional Sports Development Area. It would leverage $5 million produced by the district for a stadium, which would be owned by the Capital Improvement Board. in Indianapolis.
Indy Eleven stresses the plan does not include any tax increases to fund the project.
The owner plans to pay 10 percent of ticket revenues form events at the potential new stadium to cover construction costs.
The team also says the estimated $87 million cost is less than similar venues that have been built over the past decade in Canada and the U.S.Source: Indy Eleven, Inside INdiana Business