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Beyond the 90’s Brent Mullenix reported this week and shared his thoughts on the fact that the Eleven Park proposal for Indy Eleven was dead in the water after a city-county council vote approved a new stadium site for a potential MLS franchise in Indianapolis on June 3. You can read that below.

This was a possibility known by all parties involved in the situation, but the fact that is has come to be and how it has come to be leaves a grave threat to the future of Indy Eleven. In our previous two interviews with Brickyard Battalion (BYB; the Indy Eleven Supporters Group) President David Ziemba, there was always hope that the USL club ownership the city/mayor, and the MLS ownership could come together and agree to a compromise. During our discussions in this article, that hope is still laid out by Ziemba until the end, an end where Mayor Joe Hogsett has played a power move to get his way and bring his MLS vision forward. Because the events of the last few weeks are very confusing and interconnected, Beyond the 90 was in constant contact with Mr. Ziemba to get clarifications on what led to June 3’s Indy Eleven “doomsday” vote. Our discussions were not in our usual interview-style question and answer, rather laid out as a back-and-forth discussion over time.

Our first question to Mr. Ziemba came on May 14, where many publications were announcing the death of the Eleven Park plan, most notably ESPN FC. So, we asked him for clarification, and this was his response:

“So, Eleven Park isn’t officially dead yet. Today, the legislative vehicle (stadium plan) that was proposed by the MDC was officially introduced into the City-County Council by the Council President.

There’s nothing surprising about that as it was the next step in the legislative process. What IS unexpected was that we thought it would be referred to the Metro Economic Development Committee. But? The law states that anything considered by a council committee must have a 10 day notice. That deadline for the MEDC was last Thursday. So? They missed it.

It was referred to the Rules Committee. President Osili is the chair of that committee. The committee hearing is the 28th.

This resolution still has a lot of work to do in order to get the necessary 13 votes on June 3rd. And? The later committee hearing date also gives everyone more time to make their voices heard to their city county council.

We’re keeping a close eye on things. I can say that progress is being made. I’m continuously speaking with President Osili, Vice President Brown, Leader Lewis, Councilor Jones and all non-governmental stakeholders. I still believe, however, that an ultimate resolution would best be served by everyone getting in a room and laying everything out on the table with one another. And, that may happen soon. Conversations I had with folks over the weekend were really positive. And I think we’re close to everyone coming together for a plan forward. But, the extra time doesn’t hurt.”

With that update, Beyond the 90 agreed to reconnect with Mr. Ziemba after the Rules Committee meeting on night of May 28. However, that morning, it was revealed to us that on May 22, the Mayor’s office with the city of Indianapolis had made an official offer to buy the Eleven Park site from Indy Eleven’s ownership. When we asked Mr. Ziemba about this offer, presuming that means the new site failed, he responded:

“Still kind of up in the air, to be honest (on the new site). This is an idea (city buying the Eleven Park site) that's been floating around for a few weeks. It's an avenue ... not a large one ... but an avenue to keep discussions going. Touched base with all parties on Thursday after Mr. Parker's letter was released. Dan Parker is Mayor Hogsett’s chief of staff. Played through high school and then intermural at UVA.”

Mr. Parker’s letter, written directly to Indy Eleven majority owner Ersal Ozdemir, has been copied below:

Dear Mr. Ozdemir,

I am writing regarding the former Diamond Chain site on the southwest corner of Downtown.

While it was known at the time of the Eleven Park proposal that the Diamond Chain site was once the location of several cemeteries, after more than a year of historical research conducted in partnership with the community, including the the establishment of the Community Advisory Group dedicated to advising the City and Keystone about Greenlawn Cemetery, we now have a greater understanding of the site. The City now believes as many as 650 remains are still located on just one acre of the site, and anticipated cost for proper treatment of remains on that one acre has grown to an anticipated budget of $12 million.

As we have learned more about the site, the city has sought to take an active role in an effort to right the wrongs committed more than a century ago when the resting place of Indianapolis’ first residents were erased from the map and paved over. Knowing what we know now, any proposed future development ought to follow a painstaking and inclusive community conversation on the different perspectives about how to respect the history of the site and the individuals still laid to rest there.

Any future development plans entertained by the city on this site should follow these community conversations, a call we are hearing from community groups and councilors alike. The City well recognizes your investment on this important and historic site and proposes an additional way forward - an offer that we hope can fairly compensate Keystone for its efforts.

In 2023, the City provided Keystone $2 million under a pre-developed agreement and related arrangement for the one-acre portion of the site needed for the Henry Street bridge. The City proposes to purchase the remaining portion of the site from Keystone at fair market value - defined for a city by law as not more than the average of two appraisals of the property, subject to all legal approvals, including the City-County Council.

We stand ready to discuss the above with you, including the mechanics of a land purchase.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Parker

Chief Deputy Mayor/Chief of Staff

Some context must be given to best understand this interview. As discussed in previous interviews, Keystone is the construction company that Indy Eleven’s Ersal Ozdemir owns. He hired his company to build Eleven Park. However, the land the development sits on was home to a Confederate Army gravesite that also housed the remains of the majority of African-Americans who lived in Indianapolis at that time. An article from local publication IndyStar suggested that up to 20,000 bodies could be on that site, with some having already been removed by Keystone (in a responsible and respectful manner). In our second interview, Mr. Ziemba stated that “in order to find and relocate these bodies, that’s going to be a lot of money”. According to Mr. Parker’s letter, it is a lot of money, totaling to $12 million. Note that the estimated cost was for only one acre of the site, where 650 bodies are estimated to lay after the city’s studies. The site itself is made up of 20 acres. Assuming every acre has the same amount of bodies, that adds an extra cost to the development of $240 million.

This large estimated cost gives answers to questions we asked Mr. Ziemba in our second interview, as around that time, Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said the city initially pulled out of the Eleven Park deal due to lack of financing on their end. With this $240 million cost unaccounted for before the development, we now know what the mayor was referring to.

Now, after Mr. Ziemba shared the letter with us, we replied by asking, “So now there’s either the map with two stadium locations as an option (the map the mayor is proposing to allow a new soccer stadium, but can’t legally get rid of Eleven Park, therefore two options), which goes through the Rules Committee today, or the city buys Eleven Park, correct?”

Mr. Ziemba’s response: “Right. So, here’s how this works:

1) Tonight, the Rules Committee will hear public comment on the Mayor's new proposed site location.

2) If passed out of committee, it will go to the full City-County Council on June 3. Then, the full Council will vote to either approve or reject.

3) There's a little known rule that allows a failed committee voted resolution to still be brought to the full Council. However, it's never been used before. The rule states that regardless of committee vote, the Council can bring a resolution to the full council for a vote.

4) If the new map passes the Council, then the Mayor has two options. He has publicly stated that he *will not* turn in the Eleven Park map to the State Board of Accounts. If this happens, then the tax money from the State would go away for Eleven Park. While we don't know for sure whether that would kill Eleven Park, it would be incredibly difficult to move forward.

5) Additionally, if the new map passes the full council, it would essentially get the City out of the middle of this and let the new investor group and the current IXI & Eleven Park location owner attempt to work this out between the two of them and then let the Mayor know which one he should turn in - knowing that the Mayor *won't* turn in Eleven Park map.”

With the sense of doom for Eleven Park lurking from this message, we brought up the question: “What if they ask to turn in the Eleven Park map?”

Ziemba’s response stated, “I don’t have an answer for that question. However, I’ve been in touch with the new investor group’s representatives and they’re not willing to discuss that option at this point. What’s I can tell you is that they’re very concerned about building on the location due to the unknowns and known regarding the cemetery. I think it would be fair to say they would *prefer* not to have to deal with those challenges. But? We’ll see how the votes shake out before discussing further.”

After the reply, we at BT90 felt that this new stadium site was a near-guarantee if it were to reach the Council. But, Mr. Ziemba warned us that it had its own challenges.

“It has its challenges too. There are two pieces of land inside the new map that continue to refuse to “sell” to the city. One is a historic building currently owned by a close friend of Mr. Ozdemir. The second is Heliport that is used for a variety of news/hospital/law enforcement agencies. So, it’s not guaranteed either. It just comes with less emotional and historical issues.”

Couldn’t a third site solve all of these issues? Well, Mr. Ziemba “can’t think of another location with available land in what we would consider ‘downtown area’. Regardless if there was (that I can’t think of), tonight is the last chance for a committee hearing before the June 3 Council meeting. The June 3 Council meeting is the last meeting before the June 30 deadline (for the mayor to turn in a stadium map). So? This is kind of it.”

This was kind of it, and it still is kind of it. Afte the June 3 council meeting, Mr. Ziemba shared with Beyond the 90 the detailed events of both the June 3 meeting and the May 28 Rules Committee meeting.

“Last Tuesday, May 28 - the Rules & Public Policy Committee of the City-County Council met.  The official question and answer period between the Mayor's office/staff and the Committee was about 2 hours long.  The room was full of employees of the club, Keystone Construction and BYB members.  

By the time of the meeting, both the City of Indianapolis as well as Keystone Construction had released their individual plans to respectfully handle, catalogue, remove, and reinter those still resting at the Eleven Park location collectively known as "Greenlawn Cemetery."  The city's proposal was to buy the Eleven Park location site from Keystone Construction, turn the location into an archeological site, and, after that work plus reinterment was complete, turn the area back into a park.  This is something the BYB had floated to the City-County Council early on in this process based on what other cities who have dealt with this issue respectfully had done.  This would also allow the club to engage with the new investors and the City into joining into one larger bid for the new location site and an MLS bid as Indy Eleven.  Keystone construction also issued their own plan, one in which the stadium would still - eventually - be built as has been the plan.  Again, the BYB endorses neither of the ideas, but do recognize that both plans handle any remains on the site of Eleven Park respectfully.

The Council members grilled the Mayor’s staff for about two hours straight.  The BYB expected there to be more concrete answers with details about who these new investors were, that they met the financial requirements of SB7 (the enacted law providing for state funds for a stadium), what are the stated odds that an MLS franchise would be granted to Indianapolis, and more.  Unfortunately, from the BYB's perspective, there were no answers to these questions.  This was incredibly frustrating to the leadership.  The only definitive answer we did get from the Mayor's office was that if the council did not pass the new location site onto the full council, the Mayor would not, under any circumstances, pass along Eleven Park (PSDA1) to the State Legislature.  This effectively would kill any chance that Eleven Park could move forward under current enacted legislation.  The Mayor's position essentially put the Council in a position of between nothing and the potential of a stadium and maybe MLS ... if it all works out.  They also stated that no one would get answers unless they passed the new location.

I testified on behalf of the BYB.  I expressed our frustration.  The way I view it is quite the same as the Mayor's office, but flipped.  We have a known entity in Indy Eleven.  We have a known ownership group.  We have a known location.  And, more importantly, the Mayor's office is asking the council to choose to leave all that behind for a bunch of question marks.  Our fear, especially because of the world of soccer investment, this may include individuals from outside of our country that may not match the values we want our club to represent and without any evidence to the contrary, this is still a possibility.

Many council members, in announcing and reasoning their vote, expressed that they would do everything in their power to make sure that whatever team and league continues to play in Indianapolis, it would be Indy Eleven.  We were, obviously, pleased that our message was loud, clear, understood, and adopted by a majority of the council members.

You can find the full meeting video here:  https://indianapolis.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3

Later that week, we were able to provide an op-ed to the state's largest newspaper and were included at the top of their home page as a must read.  You can read it here: https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/2024/05/31/indianapolis-pro-soccer-history-is-at-stake-in-mls-indy-eleven-fight/73912149007/

On Monday, the proposal for the new stadium site (AKA PSDA2) was proposed to the full council.  Again, many members shared their thoughts with the majority those who voiced their reasoning including in that, that they would be nearly requiring that any team moving forward being Indy Eleven and promising to do everything in their power to get that done with however this shakes out.  Again, this was pleasing to hear.  However, we now feel that one of the three options we discussed at the beginning of this is now gone.  The two options that remain, in our view, is that Indy Eleven somehow merges with the new investor group and the brand is adopted/bought/accepted into one larger MLS bid.  The other option, which is equally as possible but incredibly scary, is that the new investors and the club cannot come to an agreement, the MLS investors become real, they move forward without Indy Eleven, and this puts the BYB in an incredibly difficult position of having to make a decision we absolutely don't want to have to be involved in.

This, again, would most likely require a general meeting of the membership and we would invite stakeholders to come and present themselves very much like what we all viewed in S1:E1 of Welcome to Wrexham (note: which was discussed in our last interview with Mr. Ziemba).”

Where does this large update leave us? Well, it leaves us with the two options mentioned by Mr. Ziemba, those being the Indy Eleven brand is either accepted into the MLS bid, followed with the support of the BYB, or the club is abandoned for a brand new MLS franchise, most likely not followed with the support of the BYB, which would be a major loss. If a new MLS club forms, it would hinder Indy Eleven like how the San Diego Loyal, St. Louis FC, or Austin Bold were hindered by MLS clubs. It would also mean that the club would not have a soccer-specific stadium for either MLS or the USL Championship, which requires one by 2026.

And, while club owner Ersal Ozdemir has a friend that privately owns a property on the Heliport site, the city gave approval to use the rest of the publicly-owned site. Mr. Ziemba told us that while there are conflicting reports, the majority census is that the public land available is just big enough for a soccer stadium. However, it would only fit with the removal of “right of ways” (ex: streets), which would cause even larger issues for the city. So, it would be best if the city can gain the private land, but Mr. Ozdemir’s friend won’t sell. Mr. Chuck Surack, Indy Eleven’s new billionaire minority owner who was publicly committed to building Eleven Park, bought a 10-story building directly east of the Heliport in 2022 in an attempt to stop redevelopment of that area, an attempt being remade for a new soccer stadium. It is unknown if this land needs to be sold to the city, but it would make sense for the club to bring Surack into their ownership group if he owned a crucial piece of land involved in the stadium negotiations. So, instead of two options mentioned above, there’s really three.

1: Indy Eleven and the MLS investors merge/carry on the branding of the club, bring the team to the MLS.

2: Mayor Joe Hogsett, the city of Indianapolis, and the MLS investors create a soccer club without Indy Eleven for MLS, but not without major logistical problems (this option also comes with the fact that MLS expansion isn’t guaranteed and the city’s offer could be rejected by the league).

3: The MLS investors cannot get Mr. Ozdemir’s friend (and possibly Mr. Surack) to sell their private land, and the city decide that the building of a soccer stadium would be too much to handle. Indy Eleven doesn’t survive in the USL, and an MLS team never sees the light of day. Indianapolis is left without professional soccer.

In all of these examples, Indy Eleven cannot live on in the USL Championship. For the club to live on, it’s MLS or bust. And, after months of buildup paired with recent events, their soccer specific stadium, Eleven Park, has seemingly met its end.

Will Indy Eleven suffer the same fate?

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