Despite MLS doubts, Indy Eleven focuses to springboard off 2019 — 'our best year to date'

Kevin Johnston | Special for IndyStar

Show Caption Hide Caption A peek at what the proposed $550 million Eleven Park could look like Apartments and offices and retail space to pedestrian plaza and stadium, this is what the proposed $550 million development project could include.

A single minute was all that separated Indy Eleven from hosting the USL Championship final in 2019. Indy clung to a 1-0 lead against rival LouCity FC into the final minute of stoppage time, but conceded at the death before falling 3-1 in extra time.

Although the season has wrapped up, there’s still plenty going on at Eleven headquarters. IndyStar caught up with team president and CEO Greg Stremlaw to get the latest on a potential Major League Soccer bid, Eleven Park, the 2019 and 2020 seasons, a potential future women’s team and more.

MLS BID

This past week, Charlotte officially became MLS’ 30th franchise. Of the original 12 cities vying for four spots in the league when it planned to expand to 28, Indianapolis ended up losing out to five other markets: Cincinnati, Nashville, St. Louis, Sacramento and now Charlotte. And that’s after the league decided to go from 28 teams to 30. Austin entered the mix, which was awarded a team when former Columbus Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt wanted to relocate there, and new ownership stepped in to retain a team in Columbus.

While Stremlaw didn’t want to speculate where Indy currently stands in the pecking order, he expects league expansion to continue and likes Indy’s chances.

“I don’t think it’s healthy to get bogged down in exactly our placement,” he said. “But we have a process, and we’ve said from the get-go we want to stick to a process.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber stated during the Charlotte announcement the league is content at 30 teams. Even if the league decides to go bigger, Indy’s bid might be trailing others like Phoenix and Las Vegas, which has since burst on the scene.

Garber previously hinted MLS hasn’t ruled out growing to 32 clubs, but it doesn’t appear the announcement of teams No. 31 and 32 will be on the league’s agenda anytime soon.

“I think we have a very strong application,” Stremlaw added. “I feel confident that MLS will be going to 32 teams.”

To get in the league, Charlotte ponied up somewhere between $300 million and $325 million for its expansion fee, Garber confirmed at the Charlotte news conference. That’s the financial barometer the Indy Eleven’s ownership group will face if MLS ever comes knocking.

Stremlaw remained steadfast the organization’s current focus is mostly on the USL Championship, and that the Eleven Park development is not at all contingent on the success or failure of Indianapolis’ MLS bid.

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ELEVEN PARK

The Eleven have entertained discussions on “over a dozen” sites for Eleven Park, Stremlaw explained. But only a fraction of them are truly in consideration.

“We’ve got our list down to a handful of sites,” he said.

When pressed to name a specific site among the handful, Stremlaw declined. He reiterated that Senate Bill 7 allows for Eleven Park to be built anywhere in Marion County.

The embattled former General Motors stamping plant site, however, isn’t one of them, according to Stremlaw. It’s owned by Ambrose Property Group, but the city is trying to seize the land via eminent domain. Ambrose responded with a lawsuit claiming, among other things, that the city has already improperly engaged in conversations with the Indy Eleven about potentially using the site.

“It’s not a location under consideration by Indy Eleven for Eleven Park,” Stremlaw said. “It’s just not.”

As for the stadium portion of the development, Eleven officials have toured several comparably sized soccer developments for ideas.

“We’ve gone to Sporting KC to what they’ve done with their venue. We’ve gone to Allianz Field, the new one in Minneapolis, to see that they’ve done," Stremlaw said. "We’re meeting with their ownership groups as well as their front office staff to glean things that they’ve done well, things they feel they could’ve done better… We’ve gone to LAFC, New York Red Bulls. We were down at the MLS All-Star Game in Orlando.

“We’ve also taken the time to meet with many national design firms. So, in the next few months we’ll be announcing our national design firm. We’ll be partnering that national design firm with local businesses and local architects here.”

2020 ROSTER

For the first time since the offseason following the 2016 campaign, the Indy roster won’t endure a massive overhaul. Back are leading scorer Tyler Pasher and 2019 All-League First Team defender Neveal Hackshaw, along with wingbacks Ayoze, Lucas Farias and Macauley King, goalkeepers Evan Newton and Jordan Farr, midfielders Matt Watson, Tyler Gibson and Kenney Walker, attacker Ilija Ilic, and defenders Paddy Barrett, Mitch Osmond and Karl Ouimette.

The quick announcement of several returnees came as no surprise. Following the team’s loss to LouCity FC, Eleven coach Martin Rennie indicated he and his staff had already thoroughly evaluated the 2019 roster.

“I think most of them are made already,” Rennie said of the forthcoming personnel decisions. “We know what we’re doing and just have to take our time over the next few weeks and get it out there.”

New for 2020 are attacker Carl Haworth (Ottawa Fury FC), midfielder Nick Moon (Lansing Ignite FC) and defender Conner Antley (South Georgia Tormenta FC).

Haworth was one of the most decorated players in Fury history and is coming off a 10-goal, nine-assist season. Moon impressed at Lansing enough in 2019 to make the USL League One All-League Second Team, while Antley was named USL League One Defender of the Year.

FUTURE NWSL SIDE?

Regarding a potential women’s side in the club’s future, Stremlaw indicated that it’s only likely to gain traction once Eleven Park is finalized.

“We’ve had discussions with NWSL before,” he said. “We’re big fans of the women’s game. We’re big fans of what women’s professional sport has to offer in this community.

“The timing for us, if we were going to pursue a women’s professional team, would be once Eleven Park is established. I would say that’s a key catalyst… (a women’s side) is spec-ed into Eleven Park’s utilization.”

REFLECTING ON 2019

On the pitch, the Eleven earned their most wins and points ever in 2019. Their attendance was among the league's best, averaging 10,700 fans per home match.

“There are 36 teams in our league; we finished second overall in attendance,” Stremlaw said.

He added Indy also achieved several club records in 2019 across various ratings metrics. Indy’s matches on May 1, July 20 and Aug. 30 all cracked the top 5 of the team’s all-time most watched broadcasts. On the year, the team broadcast more games (23) than ever before and had its highest ratings ever. Those numbers include both television viewers and ESPN+ streamers.

“(2019 was) our best year to date, on and off the field,” Stremlaw said.

The Eleven’s 2020 regular season, their seventh in club history, will kick off in March.