populous breaks ground on indy 'eleven park' multipurpose stadium wrapped in a luminous facade

populous designs ‘eleven park’ soccer stadium in Indianapolis

‘Eleven Park’ is set to be the new permanent home of the American soccer team Indy Eleven. Led by architectural studio Populous, the stadium will emerge as a new landmark for the region, enlivening the southwest quadrant of downtown Indianapolis. Once built, the arena will feature 20,000 seats, while the entire complex will consist of over 600 apartments, including office and retail spaces, restaurants, a hotel, public plazas with ample green space, and public parking garages.

According to Indy Eleven and Keystone Group, the former company on the property has recently ended production at the facility and will vacate the property by the end of April. Thus, the multipurpose stadium is scheduled to start construction in May 2023, while Indy Eleven fans will be able to enjoy soccer games in the new arena by the summer of 2025.

all images by Indy Eleven

a lively hub that invites soccer fans and more

With great experience in state-of-the-art soccer and multipurpose stadiums, which saw their fruition all around the world, the global architecture and design firm Populous has undertaken the design of ‘Eleven Park’, introducing a vivid color-shifting envelope that lights up the neighborhood. The project will feature several outdoor and indoor amenities in order to engage the local community with different activities, such as a large public plaza with outdoor stages for concerts, a kids’ play zone, and a dog park while water features and green spaces will dot the area. The public plaza will activate the village all year-round, open to various community events, farmer’s markets, and other uplifting occasions. Other highlights will be an indoor 4,000-seat music and entertainment venue, rooftop bars, a riverfront activation, and walkability and connectivity to ‘The Cultural Trail’ and downtown.

‘The vision of this transformational development into a live, work, and play village is becoming reality. Eleven Park will not only change the skyline of Indianapolis, but will add over a thousand jobs, have a huge economic impact, create quality of life benefits and attract talent and opportunities to our city and state,’ said Ersal Ozdemir, Chairman and Founder of Keystone Group & Indy Eleven (more here). ‘We’ve been investing in downtown for over 20 years and believe it is important now more than ever. Our goal for Eleven Park is to continue the city’s tradition of using sports as a business driver for Indiana by increasing Indianapolis’ profile as a global city and showcasing the world’s most popular sport.’

The development will create a vibrant village, appealing to soccer enthusiasts, the staff working there, and people from the surrounding facilities. The result will boost and activate the White River Vision Plan, a community-driven plan in Hamilton County and Indianapolis, with many improvements along the river, including trails and gathering areas, that will act complementary to the regions around.

‘A world-class stadium is designed as a true destination, a reflection of its community, and a catalyst for growth in the area. This is our mission with the new stadium for Indy Eleven,’ said Phil Kolbo, a principal at global design firm Populous. ‘The stadium will anchor Eleven Park, providing a home for Indy Eleven that creates new and tailored experiences for Indianapolis fans in a venue designed with the innovation and aspirations of a great global soccer venue.’

fans will enjoy views of the skyline and the surrounding skyscrapers