USL club Indy Eleven has asked lawmakers to fund a $150M, 22,000-seat soccer stadium, but the "proposal could be a long shot," according to Chris Sikich of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR. Indy Eleven Owner Ersal Ozdemir, who is also President & CEO of Keystone Construction and Keystone Realty Group, is proposing a $400M development called Eleven Park, which would include "restaurants, shops, offices, apartments and a parking structure." Ozdemir is considering "three locations in the city" for the development, and the legislation he proposed would allow the Capital Improvement Board to "collect taxes from that development to fund the soccer stadium." That bill "won't receive a hearing," but Indiana Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Ryan Mishler "did leave open a window." Mishler allowed Ozdemir to "pitch his project Thursday as a tag on to Senate Bill 7, which would create a funding mechanism to keep the Pacers in town." The committee will vote on Senate Bill 7 on Feb. 21. Ozdemir "hopes to use the new stadium to lure" an MLS team to Indianapolis. He said, "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. ... We simply cannot continue this positive momentum without a world-class facility." Ozdemir has been "pushing for years for state help to build a stadium," but lawmakers have "balked at providing public subsidies." Indy Eleven currently play home matches at Lucas Oil Stadium, with an average attendance of 12,000 last season (INDYSTAR.com, 2/14).
