‘We want Major League Soccer’: Hogsett talks MLS announcement

INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Joe Hogsett announced Thursday, to the surprise of many, plans to bring a Major League Soccer team to Indianapolis.

The announcement generated several questions. Didn’t Indy already have plans for a soccer stadium for the Indy Eleven? Why the sudden change in direction?

During an appearance on FOX59 Morning News on Friday, Hogsett said he’s had his eye on attracting an MLS franchise for years.

“The idea of soccer in Indianapolis has been 10 years in the making,” Hogsett said. “We’re glad that we have the opportunity to actually encourage a Major League Soccer team to come to Indianapolis.”

Hogsett said the city has had a “spate” of positive sports news of late, with the arrival of Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark, the return of the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Playoffs and now the possibility of an MLS team.

Multiple sites are under consideration, the mayor said, including a development on East Pearl Street downtown. Major League Soccer would have input as well.

“We’re going to give Major League Soccer their opportunity to weigh in on where they would like [the stadium to be located],” he said. “We’re asking them to come here, rather than the other way around.”

Hogsett reacted to criticism from Keystone Group, owner of the Indy Eleven of the USL Championship League. The mayor said attracting an MLS team has always been the goal.

“We want Major League Soccer to be in Indianapolis, Indiana,” he said. “I think we’re a major league city. We’ve got the Colts. We’ve got the Pacers. And now it’s time that we move to Major League Soccer, and that’s exactly what we’re focused on.”

Hogsett was at the groundbreaking on the Eleven Park project, which included a stadium and complex for the Eleven. Construction is already underway.

“I think Major League Soccer is a step forward in the right direction. I’m not altogether sure, pursuant to the announcement that was made earlier, that it would bring Major League Soccer to Indianapolis.”

Keystone called the change a “shocking reversal” of Hogsett’s public support for Eleven Park. The mayor counts Indy Eleven’s owner as a friend and hopes he’ll help shape the future of soccer in Indianapolis.

“I will tell you [Keystone and Indy Eleven owner] Ersal Ozdemir is a very good friend of mine. And we’ve worked together very closely. We may have some differences as to what this looks like at the end of the day, but we would encourage Ersal to be as engaged as he can possibly be in bringing Major League Soccer to Indianapolis.”

Hogsett went to New York for a “candid conversation” with MLS Commissioner Don Garber. He left believing the Circle City was on the cusp of landing a new pro franchise.

“He was very encouraging,” Hogsett said. “And I think it’s entirely possible that we could bring Major League Soccer, to go along with the Pacers, to go along with the Colts—to have another major league franchise for the city of Indianapolis—and that’s too important to pass up.”

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