USL Championship soccer club Indy Eleven has unveiled the first renderings for Eleven Park, a new $1bn (£832m/€936m) neighbourhood development project that will be anchored by a 20,000-seat multi-purpose stadium.
The stadium has been designed by Populous, with Browning Day serving as the architect of record. The project is expected to break ground in May, with completion scheduled for 2025.
Indy Eleven is working with local construction, development, management, and investments company Keystone Group on the project. The first renderings have been released after the club acquired over 20 acres of land in downtown Indianapolis in June last year.
Diamond Chain, a former company on the property, has now ceased production at the facility and will vacate the premises by the end of April, paving the way for groundbreaking to begin.
The new 20,000-seat stadium will be the permanent home of Indy Eleven, with the wider development to include over 600 apartments, 205,000 square feet of office space, over 197,000 square feet for retail space and restaurants, a hotel, public plazas with green space, and public parking garages.
The stadium will include space for 2,400 supporters in a steep safe-standing section on the north end of the venue. Premium seat options will include party suites and a terrace club, while a 700-capacity taproom will also feature.
An indoor 4,000-seat music and entertainment venue will also form part of the plans. Other features will include an outdoor stage for free concerts, a kids play zone, outdoor activities, water features, a dog park, and public art.
AECOM Hunt will serve as the construction manager for the stadium. The company was founded in Indianapolis and constructed Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, as well as other major venues including SoFi Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Ersal Ozdemir, chairman and founder of Keystone Group and Indy Eleven, said: “The vision of this transformational development into a live, work, and play village is becoming reality. Eleven Park will not only change the skyline of Indianapolis, but will add over a thousand jobs, have a huge economic impact, create quality of life benefits and attract talent and opportunities to our city and state.
“We’ve been investing in downtown for over 20 years and believe it is important now more than ever. Our goal for Eleven Park is to continue the city’s tradition of using sports as a business driver for Indiana by increasing Indianapolis’ profile as a global city and showcasing the world’s most popular sport.”
Phil Kolbo, a principal at Populous, added: “A world-class stadium is designed as a true destination, a reflection of its community, and a catalyst for growth in the area. This is our mission with the new stadium for Indy Eleven. The stadium will anchor Eleven Park, providing a home for Indy Eleven that creates new and tailored experiences for Indianapolis fans in a venue designed with the innovation and aspirations of a great global soccer venue.”
Indy Eleven currently calls the 12,100-seat IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium home, having played at Lucas Oil Stadium from 2018 to 2020.
