James Briggs

james.briggs@indystar.com

The clock is running out on Indy Eleven's bid to join Major League Soccer.

Team officials say they still can succeed, and that might be true. But unless the General Assembly finds surprise funding for a new stadium in the coming days, Indy Eleven has no discernible path to join America's premier professional soccer league.

Here's what we know. Indy Eleven plays in the second-tier North American Soccer League. Team owner Ersal Ozdemir in January filed paperwork at the last minute to essentially vie for one of two openings to join MLS. The league plans to expand by four teams, for a total of 28, but Sacramento, Calif., and St. Louis appear to have two spots locked down. That would leave Indianapolis among 10 cities competing for the other two openings.

MLS is evaluating bids based on many criteria, but there are two (and maybe only one) that you need to pay attention to: MLS is requiring a $150 million expansion fee and a new stadium from successful bidders.

Let's assume Ozdemir, who's also the CEO of Keystone Realty Group, knows how he and his investors would pay the expansion fee. The Eleven hosts games at IUPUI's 35-year-old Carroll Stadium, which would not be acceptable to MLS. That means Ozdemir still needs a stadium plan.

There is a little bit of leeway on this — but not much. MLS President Mark Abbott said in a February conference call with reporters that the league expects to select its next expansion cities by the end of the year. He also expects applicants to have stadium plans in place by then, which means bidders likely only have a few months to come up with shovel-ready stadiums.

"What we asked for is, at this time, for people to provide us with information about the status of their stadium plan and what the path is for a finalized stadium plan," Abbott said. "We can't select a market without a finalized stadium plan, so there's a difference between what you have to have when you file, which was (Jan. 31), and ultimately when we make the selection process."

When Ozdemir submitted his bid in January, he had two things on his side: The Indiana General Assembly is in a budget year and some lawmakers supported his 2015 pitch to use state money to help pay for an $82 million stadium Downtown. But the legislature must pass its biennial budget by April 29 and no one seems to be talking — at least publicly — about including money for an Indy Eleven stadium.

"It's in the background, but I have not heard any specific proposal," said state Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis. "There's been no active consideration."

Sen. Luke Kenley, the Republican chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which controls the budget process, could not be reached for comment.

Elected officials generally like the idea of having an MLS team in Indianapolis. Mayor Joe Hogsett was among dozens of influential people who signed letters of support that were included in Indy Eleven's MLS bid package. Thomas Cook, Hogsett's chief of staff, said the mayor has met with team officials and legislative leaders and is "very interested in talking about what bringing a new professional sports team to the city could mean."

But here comes the cold water.

"We're going to be looking to see what state legislative leaders have to say about that, and that will probably set the tone for what the city's involvement, if any, is going to be," Cook said.

So here's where we're at. MLS isn't going to approve an expansion bid from anyone who doesn't have a stadium plan. Indy Eleven's $100 million-plus stadium plan relies on state funding, which lawmakers would need to provide within the next month. The city is waiting on the state to make a move.

Meanwhile, other bidders in Detroit, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego, St. Louis and Tampa, Fla., either have more concrete stadium plans or at least wealthy backers in place to pay for them.

Indy Eleven nonetheless insists its MLS bid still has a chance.

"We continue to have conversations with the Statehouse and mayor's office," Indy Eleven president Jeff Belskus said. "We don't have any active legislation at the moment, but I think to call it dead would be premature."

MLS has left its timeline for selecting the final two expansion teams somewhat open-ended, which Belskus said offers hope that the league could give Indy Eleven until next year to finalize a stadium plan. But lawmakers previously have expressed reluctance to take up stadium financing in a nonbudget year — which next year will be.

Belskus acknowledged the dilemma.

"That (stadium) plan does not exist today," he said. "If nothing happens before this legislative session ends, we're back to square one."

From the mayor's office to the Statehouse, there is plenty of goodwill toward having an MLS team in Indianapolis. But there are 11 other cities competing for expansion teams — and most of them are already past square one.

Call IndyStar business columnist James Briggs at (317) 444-6307. Follow him on Twitter: @JamesEBriggs.