<p>The site for the location of a new soccer stadium in Indianapolis has hit an unexpected twist. According to construction company Keystone Group, workers for the venue unearthed 87 instances of human remains spread over the six-acre site where the stadium is meant to go. The stadium will be the new home of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/usl-championship-tv-schedule/">USL Championship</a> side Indy Eleven, but this adds to the drama regarding the future of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">Major League Soccer</a> in the Midwest. </p>



<p>The Diamond Chain site will be the new $1.5 billion home of the Indy Eleven. However, the Mayor of Indianapolis revealed his intent to draw an MLS team to Indianapolis instead by building a soccer stadium on a different site. Mayor Joe Hogsett went so far as to say there will be only one soccer-specific stadium in Indianapolis. In other words, he will work to ensure the project for Indy Eleven falls through. </p>



<p>Discovering the burial sites on the location for the USL side’s future stadium has presented him with an opportunity. Riding the support of historians and preservationists, Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis offered to buy the land off of Keystone Group, the company working to develop the stadium. This fulfills his wish of developing a stadium at a different location. At the same time, it damages the intent to develop a USL Championship side’s future in the area.</p>



<h2>Future of Indianapolis soccer stadium keeps battle alive</h2>



<p>Hogsett <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/indy-elevens-future-questionable-as-city-pursues-mls-franchise/">cited the enormous cost</a> of the $1.5 billion project that Keystone put forward. Keystone Group hoped to have a combination of a privately and publicly funded stadium, but the city was only willing to put forth around $250 million. Blocking the funding of the arena was, per Hogsett, a way to benefit the taxpayer.</p>



<p>“We were willing to put $250 million into a new stadium, but, for reasons that only Keystone could explain, they came back and asked for additional incentives. At some point, the taxpayers have to be protected, and that’s what I decided to do.”</p>



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<p>Keystone Group did not have the full backing of Hogsett and the Indianapolis City Government. Yet, it continues with the construction of <a href="https://www.indyeleven.com/news/2023/02/17/eleven-park-designs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eleven Park</a>. The group maintained that it would not have any financial impact on the citizens of Indianapolis due to increased investor support. However, the prospect of a Major League Soccer franchise interested Hogsett more than the USL. </p>



<p>Reports indicate Hogsett wants a stadium on the east side of Indianapolis. Keystone Group’s location is just outside downtown Indianapolis to the west. The City of Indianapolis wants to purchase the Diamond Chain Co. land for fair market value. After that, it will be on the path to constructing its venue in a different spot.</p>



<h2>No signs of stopping at Eleven Park</h2>



<p>For now, though, Keystone is moving forward with the development of Eleven Park. Construction has already been going on for over a year.</p>



<p>“As we move forward with this transformational riverfront development it has always been our steadfast commitment to correct past mishandlings by previous ownership, with dignified and respectful reinterment and memorialization,” said Jennifer Pavlik, Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President, Keystone Group.</p>



<p>For now, the focus is on dealing with the human remains. They date back to the 1800s. Therefore, historians will be working to discover more information about them. That puts a stall on the development of Eleven Park. Consequently, Hogsett has more time to work on ending the Keystone Group’s project. He can also try to advance with his own publicly owned stadium.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: Keystone Group</em></p>



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Indianapolis soccer stadium site unearths 87 human remains

A new development in the Indianapolis soccer stadium saga has put more strain on the future of the USL Championship side's future.

<p>Without the Indy Eleven, Indianapolis is pursuing a Major League Soccer franchise. The news casts doubt on the city’s second professional soccer club’s long-term viability.</p>



<p>The city is taking a huge risk to lure <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">MLS</a>, but an undisclosed investor group supports the idea. The <a href="https://www.ibj.com/articles/hogsett-says-city-to-pursue-major-league-soccer-franchise" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Indianapolis Business Journal</a> says this group would pay the projected $500 million expansion fee.</p>



<p>Doing so means the city will not pursue a deal with Keystone Development Group and the Indy Eleven. The 20,000-seat soccer stadium is part of Eleven Park, a mixed-use complex along the White River that Keystone is developing for $1.5 billion. Construction has already begun.</p>



<h2>Indianapolis Mayor presses forward with Major League Soccer aspiration</h2>



<p>Keystone has been hard at work developing an 18-acre complex on the western edge of downtown Indianapolis. A multi-use stadium with 20,000 seats was supposed to be the complex’s focal point; it would have been home to the Indy Eleven USL Championship soccer club.</p>



<p>Earlier versions of this story said that Eleven Park will include 600+ residences, a concert hall, shops, offices, parks, and a public parking garage. Victory Field and Lucas Oil Stadium, two of the city’s most prominent athletic facilities, were to be located in the complex.</p>



<p>But on Wednesday, the city submitted a resolution to the Metropolitan Development Commission. That’s in order to establish a soccer stadium in the planned professional sports development area on the downtown southeast side.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240426_WST_503740_Indy-11-1200x670_00f674bc.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-503789" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Indy-11-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Indy-11-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Indy-11-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Indy-11.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<p>Next to the downtown transit hub and running parallel to the planned Blue Line of the city’s bus rapid transit system, the stadium would be on the southern side of Washington Street. </p>



<p>According to Hogsett, he spoke with the Major League Soccer commissioner about the possibility of relocating a club to Indianapolis. The name of the ownership group that was in discussions with the city is not available to the public.</p>



<p>“Today, we enter our pursuit of the world’s game. Our city knows how to navigate the business of sports. Every great achievement in our city’s history has begun where opportunity was met with action,” he said.</p>



<h2>What did Keystone say?</h2>



<p>The Indianapolis mayor, Joe Hogsett, is reportedly withdrawing from what the Keystone Group described as “years of good-faith negotiations,” they said in a press statement.</p>



<p>“Unfortunately, after recent bipartisan approvals from the City-County Council, Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration is preparing to walk away from the state and city leaders who entrusted him with this project and the neighborhoods who are depending on the progress Eleven Park represents,” the release read.</p>



<p>Keystone reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing a “long-neglected” area of Indianapolis with a “transformational project” and a “vibrant community space” in the statement.</p>



<p>Also, the organization insisted that no additional taxes would be levied on Indianapolis citizens due to the developer-guaranteed partnership. That’s even though the project’s budget had doubled from $500 million to $1 billion.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>

Indy Eleven's future questionable as city pursues MLS franchise

Without the Indy Eleven, Indianapolis is pursuing a Major League Soccer franchise. It doubt on the club's long-term viability.

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Indianapolis soccer stadium site unearths 87 human remains

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Indy Eleven's future questionable as city pursues MLS franchise