Stadium Bill Stalls in Conference Committee
Published on April 29, 2015 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - A bill to help finance a stadium that would have served as a permanent home for all Indy Eleven Professional Soccer home games on the campus of IUPUI did not clear a conference committee of Indiana Senators and Representatives today.
House Bill 1273, which received strong bipartisan support from the Indiana House by a vote of 74-21, would have enabled the construction of a new $82 million multipurpose stadium in downtown Indianapolis for Indy Eleven and potentially more than 30 other sports and entertainment events annually.
The Senate-amended version, which passed by a vote of 46-3, would have allocated $20 million from the State of Indiana to help finance the stadium.
A conference committee report was circulated earlier this week that recommended increasing the State's investment to $25 million, but conferees from the Senate and House were unable to come to terms before the end of the 2015 session.
"While we are disappointed in the final outcome from the Indiana General Assembly, we are encouraged by the widespread support that was gained in both houses," said Peter Wilt, president and general manager of Indy Eleven. "Nevertheless, we will endeavor to return and build upon the support generated at the Statehouse and that of our loyal fan base. We look forward to continuing Indy Eleven's successful second season with our partners at Indiana University on the campus of IUPUI."
The cost of the project would have been financed through user fees captured at the stadium and, if necessary, a new downtown Indianapolis hotel and other properties to be located within the Illinois Building to be developed by the owner of Indy Eleven for the purpose of reinforcing stadium finances.
The conference committee was chaired by Indiana State Representative Todd Huston (Fishers - District 37), who originally filed the bill, and who was joined by Conferees Rep. Greg Porter (Indianapolis - District 96), Sen. Jean Breaux (Indianapolis - District 34) and Sen. Pete Miller (Brownsburg - District 24).
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