Joe Hogsett: MLS can solidify Indianapolis as America's best sports city
When the roar of IndyCars at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is answered by the roar of fans packed into Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a Pacers playoff game, such is the magic that is Indianapolis — the greatest sports city in the country.
Add in the Caitlin Clark Effect, sold-out Fever games, and we find ourselves in a stretch of major, high-profile sporting events that put Indianapolis and Indiana on the national stage. Since May 20, we've had five Fever games, four chances to cheer on our Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, Carb Day at IMS and, of course, the Indianapolis 500.
These are our "Pacers and Racers" for an entirely new generation. These are among the dividends we now cash in from Indianapolis’ sports strategy first implemented by our city’s leaders decades ago. In fact, we were the first city in the country to have a civic organization dedicated to building our city’s sports future. And we haven’t slowed down since.
Our Pacers ascended to the NBA. We brought the Colts to our city. We hosted events like the National Sports Festival and the Pan American Games. In so doing, we established ourselves as the amateur sports capital of the world.
We were an early city to invest in women’s basketball and launch the Indiana Fever. We’ve hosted the entirety of the NCAA March Madness Tournament, the NBA All-Star Weekend, NASCAR and F-1 races, the NFL Scouting Combine and we’re preparing the largest natatorium in the world for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium.
For a city with sports in its DNA, we shouldn’t take our foot off the gas.
Last month, after meeting with Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, I personally committed our city to the pursuit of an MLS club. I did so because I firmly believe it is in the best interests of Indianapolis and its future.
Soccer is a sport that has shown substantial growth in the U.S. — and it is, of course, the premier sport in the rest of the world.
Our reporting: Indianapolis plans to pursue MLS expansion team, raising questions on Indy Eleven future
The City-County Council is considering a proposal that will allow us to pursue this opportunity to create even more unforgettable sports memories in our city, generate hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in our downtown, create construction and hospitality jobs and improve our attractiveness as a home for top talent from across the globe.
Over the next few months, Indianapolis has this once-in-a-generation opportunity to solidify our status as a major league city. By working together, as is the legacy of our city, I am confident we will be successful in our pursuit of the major league of the world’s game.
Year after year, Indianapolis competes on the world’s stage. And we play to win. Always have. Always will.
Joe Hogsett is the mayor of Indianapolis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: We've had the Pacers, Fever and Indy 500 in May. Imagine adding MLS.
