Indianapolis, IN

Many steps to go on plan for Major League Soccer stadium

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2024

Many steps to go on plan for Major League Soccer stadium

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An Indianapolis City-Council committee on Tuesday night voted to advance the plan for a Professional Sports Development Area to help fund a proposed Major League Soccer stadium in downtown Indianapolis near Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The council’s Rules and Public Policy Committee voted 6-4 to recommend the proposal to the full council. One councilman abstained. The council will consider the proposal June 3.

Democratic Mayor Joe Hogsett last month announced the downtown site for a MLS stadium just under a year after the city government backed another soccer stadium project.

The Eleven Park project, estimated at $1.5 billion, was being built on land previously owned by The Diamond Chain Co. along the east shore of the White River between West Washington Street and Kentucky Avenue. Plans call for a stadium with 20,000 seats, plus offices, apartments, a hotel, retail space, and a parking garage.

The Eleven Park project has come under fire after human remains from a former city cemetery have been found on the site.

Tuesday’s committee meeting included extensive back and forth between council members on the committee, and the city employees who explaining the proposed tax district for what’s known as the Pearl Street site near Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The city employees say, no matter the outcome of the vote for the tax area for the Pearl Street site, the city won’t move forward with the original plan to help build Eleven Park as a future home of the city’s United Soccer League teams, both called Indy Eleven.

That concerned Council Minority Leader Brian Mowery. The Republican said, “I am also concerned with the message this sends to the business community at large as well, that we are willing to start negotiations and back out completely at the last minute and turn it around on you, and what message that sends to the community.”

Council President Vop Osili, a Democrat, said he voted “yes” Tuesday because the Pearl Street site is the city’s best shot at getting a MLS team. “This city wants to have an MLS team, and the city could benefit from it. But, it was also clear tonight that we work as hard as we can to make something great come from the Diamond Chain site.”

During a public hearing at the Tuesday committee hearing, the leader of the Brickyard Battalion, the fan group for the Indy Eleven, said he felt betrayed that the city backed out of the project.

David Ziemba, the group’s president has been outspoken about wanting to see the Eleven Park come to fruition. “It’s all about compromise and doing what’s best for the citizenry and your constituents, and, right now, we’re not really seeing that play out.”

If the full City-County Council passes the tax district proposal, it will head to the Metropolitan Development Commission again. It next would face state approval if the commission approved it.

Statements

Tonight, our community engaged in a robust conversation on the future of soccer in Indianapolis and emerged one step closer to pursuing the vision to bring a Major League Soccer expansion club to our city.
I want to thank the passionate residents who shared their perspectives tonight, as well as the members of the City-County Council’s Rules and Public Policy Committee for supporting Proposal 175 in a bipartisan way, showing that they believe in the potential to solidify our status as the greatest sports city in the country. As this process moves forward, I look forward to continuing the conversations with City-County Councilors, state leaders, and members of our community as we work together – in the Indianapolis way.
Mayor Joe Hogsett, (D) Indianapolis
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We are heartened by the compelling support Indy Eleven and Eleven Park received this evening and continues to receive. Tonight’s meeting showed a troubling lack of details from city officials as to the why and how of their decision making, and it is our hope that the full Council will stand up for their constituents and taxpayers and demand transparency as Indianapolis prepares to walk away from its commitments to near Westside neighborhoods.
Alexandra Miller, Spokesperson for Keystone Group

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Indianapolis, IN

NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis breaks attendance records

Published

4 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

NCAA Final Four in Indianapolis breaks attendance records

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The NCAA has released Final Four attendance numbers.

More than 86,000 people attended the Fan Fest at the Indianapolis Convention Center during the Final Four Weekend.

It broke the overall attendance record and single-day records for Friday, Saturday, and Monday.

The NCAA says more than 142,000 people attended the semifinals and the national championship—
not to mention the thousands who showed up for fan activities.

For downtown businesses, that turnout translated into a major boost.

At 16-Bit Barcade in the heart of downtown Indy, things have slowed down compared to last week.
Staff say the Final Four more than doubled their usual customer traffic. Host Trinity Surbrook said, “We got to the point where we were telling people to stop and wait we’re not letting people in at that moment, and we’re waiting for other people to leave. It was a whole lot. We made bunch of good money and it was a lot of fun.”

The NCAA reports fans came from 49 of 50 states and 12 countries. “It was so interesting to see people passionate about the Final Four not even from this country.” Surbrook recalled customers from Australia. “It was really awesome, it was interesting.”

The weekend also featured a music festival with Post Malone and Twenty One Pilots, drawing more than 73,000 fans which was just steps away from the bar.

“There were thousands of people out. Just seeing the sidewalk traffic and seeing everyone on their feet. The festival was great for the city,” said general manager Janelle Miller. “When that festival ended, we saw hundreds of people hit the street and go in all different directions.” Miller said it didn’t just benefit pockets of the downtown but everywhere.

Miller said Saturday was their busiest day because there were a lot of activities to do. The employees served more than 6,000 drinks over the weekend. “I would say, we had numbers that I haven’t seen in probably 2 years on a Friday and Saturday. Which is refreshing to see.”

Now that the Final Four is over, the staff at 16-Bit said they are looking forward to what’s next: the Indianapolis 500.

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Indianapolis, IN

9-year veteran defensive back, Colts agree to seek trade. How it impacts Colts’ future

Published

16 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

9-year veteran defensive back, Colts agree to seek trade. How it impacts Colts’ future

The Colts and veteran slot cornerback Kenny Moore II, one of the franchise’s longest-tenured active players, have mutually agreed to pursue a trade this offseason, a league source confirmed to IndyStar on Friday

Moore, who has spent nine of his NFL seasons in Indianapolis after emerging from the 2017 draft an undrafted free agent and landing with the Colts following a training camp spent in New England, would be the second team captain dealt this offseason (along with linebacker Zaire Franklin) — should a trade partner be found before the 2026 season ramps up — and second bonafide team leader, along with former No. 1 wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. Coming off a start to a season where the Colts sprinted out to an 8-2 start to hold the top spot in the AFC, only to finish on a seven-game slide that often featured a crumbling defense in high-pressure moments, longtime Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard pledged early this offseason to get “younger and faster” on defense.

The notion has often been associated, in particular, with the team’s front seven, but in the Colts’ secondary, which one could argue is almost bursting at the seams with starting-caliber talent, Moore is far and away the most veteran member at the nickel corner position — a spot on the field that future second-year corner Justin Walley may be primed to slide into in order to get the rehabbing former third-round pick on the field with the outside corner spots spoken for by All-Pros Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward.

Given the Colts’ lack of a clear-cut starting strong safety alongside free safety Camryn Bynum, there was reason to wonder, too, if Moore could be asked — or even challenged in camp alongside other challengers for the role — to look at moving to safety, in order to both allow Walley a spot in the starting lineup while maintaining Moore’s veteran leadership, experience and tenacity.

In 14 games in 2025, Moore logged a single interception in an early season road game against the Titans — one he returned for a 32-yard touchdown. The veteran corner also forced two fumbles, registered 1.5 sacks, recorded 55 tackles (three for a loss) and had three quarterback hits. Though some of his numbers didn’t show it — his tackle numbers marked a career-low since his rookie season, and his single interception marked just his third campaign in nine seasons without at least two picks — Moore’s 2025 season was among his best while targeted in coverage, even if he at times looked to have lost half a step while working his way back from an Achilles strain that cost him three games in the early half of the season.

In a way, Moore’s toughness as a blitzer and capabilities in the run game seemed like a solid fit for the veteran nickel corner in first-year defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s system in 2025 — particularly for a team that also lost starting strong safety Nick Cross to free agency last month. But in seeking a deal that could net the Colts a mid-round pick, Indianapolis’ crowded secondary room is likely now to have easier avenues for a 2025 camp standout in Walley or new young additions in cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt or safety Juanyeh Thomas to find their way onto the field this fall.

In 2026, Moore enters the final year of a three-year, $30 million deal signed in the 2024 offseason that again (for the second time) made the now-30-year-old the highest-paid nickel corner in NFL history. Including a base salary of $9.49 million, Moore is set to count $13.11 million against the cap this next season, including a $3.2 million prorated signing bonus the Colts paid as part of his deal two years ago. In October, the Colts and Moore mutually agreed to restructure his contract, converting $4.75 million into more bonus money while adding three void years onto the end of his deal of $950,000 each. At the time, the move created $3.8 million in cap space for the Colts over the rest of the 2025 season.

Already with roughly $26 million in cap space open a month into free agency, trading Moore would save the Colts more than $7 million against the cap for this season while saddling them with just over $6 million in dead cap in accounting for Moore’s previous signing bonus money.

Trading Moore would mean the Colts’ sixth lost starter from its 2025 roster (and fourth on defense), a class that also includes Franklin, Cross, Pittman, offensive tackle Braden Smith and defensive end Kwity Paye. Indianapolis is also presently involved in seeking out, or listening to, offers for one-time starting quarterback and 2023 fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson Sr.

Off the field, the Colts would lose in Moore the team’s three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year Award nominee — including each of the past two seasons, along with 2021.

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

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Indianapolis, IN

Man arrested for gun and drug possession in downtown Indianapolis

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Man arrested for gun and drug possession in downtown Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers arrested a man Tuesday for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and possession of marijuana according to an Thursday IMPD Downtown District Facebook post.

Police pulled over 33-year-old Malcolm Murray at the intersection if East Ohio Street and North Delaware Street because Murray did not have a license.

Police asked Murray if he had any weapons in his car and he told the officers no.

Police asked Murray to leave the car and Murray put down a crossbody bag that he was wearing.

Narcotics detection K-9 Bruce identified narcotics odor in the car. Police searched the car and found a handgun and marijuana inside the crossbody bag.

Police say that Murray tried to blame the female passenger saying, “Ain’t that your gun.”

Police arrested Murray for possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and possession of marijuana.

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