CCO EXCLUSIVE: Evansville Leaders Pitch $100 Million Multi-Purpose Downtown Stadium During Statehouse Testimony

By Johnny Kincaid  CCO Exclusive Coverage  January 30, 2025

Among the bills in the current Indiana legislative session is a proposal to increase funding allocated to the Evansville Professional Sports and Convention Development Area (EPSCDA). Currently, the limit for EPSCDA funding is $10 per resident, but the new bill would create a maximum total of $5 million, an increase of hundreds of percent over what can be raised under the $10 cap.

An Evansville delegation of business and political leaders traveled to Indianapolis for the hearing. Justin Groenert and former mayor Lloyd Winnecke represented E-REP, and Evansville Deputy Mayor Lindsay Locasto watched while Mayor Stephanie Terry, Ron Romain of United Companies,and Old National Bank CEO James Ryan testified.

PLANS TO BUILD A $100 MILLION MULTIPURPOSE STADIUM DOWNTOWN

During the testimony, it was revealed that the commitment of funds would allow the city to secure up to $100 million in bonds to build a multipurpose sports facility on the riverfront. The 5,000-seat stadium would be able to host a variety of activities including baseball games.

Those baseball games would be played by a minor team with an MLB affiliation. That affiliation is expected to be with a team that has not yet been approved for Nashville, Tennessee.

During testimony, the committee was told that the new $100 million multipurpose facility would fit into the plans released by E-REP last year for a $600 million redesign of the riverfront. The riverfront plan, it was explained, included housing, shopping, dining, other sports, and recreation located nearby. The Multipurpose facility was not included in the riverfront plans from E-REP, nor was the $100 million cost.

The estimated number of visitors to events at the site was presented as 277,000 annually. To reach that number would require 55 sold-out shows per year.

NO TAX INCREASE

HB 1451 is authored by State Representative Tim O’Brien and cosponsored by Wendy McNamara, Matt Hostettler, and Alex Burton. Burton and Ways and Means Committee member Tim O’Brien were the only co-authors in attendance.

O’Brien explained that the funds captured for the proposed project will come from state income tax revenue .