By DAN KARELL
On the eleventh of December, North American Soccer League club Indy Eleven made two big announcements ahead of their inaugural season.
On Wednesday evening, Indy Eleven announced the signings of four new players, taking their total roster to eight ahead of the 2014 NASL season. Among the signings were former Columbus Crew midfielder Kyle Hyland and Atlanta Silverbacks forward Pedro Mendes. Forward Don Smart and defender Chris Way rounded out the day’s signings.
“The addition of these four players encapsulates the vision of how we want to build the Indy Eleven roster,” club president Peter Wilt said in a statement. “This quartet adds a little bit of everything – international players with attacking flair, experience within American soccer circles, and talents with local ties that proved their worth through the trial process.”
In addition, Indy Eleven revealed that they’ve partnered with MyIndy-TV to broadcast every home game of the 2014 season and select road matches as well. MyIndy-TV is a sister channel of WISH-TV, the CBS affiliate in Indianapolis.
“We are very excited to bring this level of professional soccer into central Indiana homes,” Jeff White, president and general manager of MyINDY-TV and WISH-TV said in a statement. “We look forward to providing viewers a front row seat to all Indy Eleven home games and select away games, during their inaugural 2014 season. MyINDY-TV and WISH-TV have a tradition and the experience in producing some of our communities’ elite events such as Butler Basketball, the 500 Festival Mini Marathon and Parade and the annual Circle City Classic Parade. This Indy Eleven partnership continues our commitment to producing the highest caliber local sports and event programming for our viewers. We look forward to a successful season together.”
Indy Eleven said that a detailed broadcast schedule will be released in a few weeks, once the 2014 NASL schedule is published.
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What do you think of these developments? Like the signings? Glad to see Indy Eleven sign a good TV deal?
Share your thoughts below.
We are so excited about Indy Eleven. We have our seats, scarves, and T- shirts. We are also
Portland Timbers fans and just found out our Indy Eleven team will play them as part of the
Timbers preseason games in Tuscon, AZ on Feb. 12. We are not rich people, but we are actually thinking of making the trip to have a few people in the stands shouting out for our Eleven in Tuscon!
Such a cool name, seems like they are doing things there right way over there too.
When Alexi Lalas referred to the emerging soccer culture in the United States as an “organic, hipster movement” I kind of chuckled but he was absolutely right. Indianapolis has a large hipster scene that is embracing Indy Eleven and I think season tickets are almost sold out! About six years ago, my then girlfriend and I talked about starting an AO chapter in Indy but found little interest as most soccer fans in Indy (which were few at the time) cared only about European club teams. Of course, AO at the time had comparatively small numbers. Now Indy has an AO chapter and they meet at the English pub I used to bartend at! Most of these new fans of Indy Eleven are just learning about the game but it’s great to see growth!
Pretty encouraging, especially the TV deal. I would not have expected that at all for an NASL side. Should be fun. Really beginning to look forward to opening day! Go Indy!
It’s not as uncommon as you may think. Off the top of my head, I know that FC Edmonton, San Antonio, NY Cosmos, and Minnesota United all have local TV deals. Nonetheless, I think it’s great these NASL sides can secure these local deals. It’s only a positive.
Nice moves from Indy Eleven! Nabbing Pedro Mendes is definitely a coup: a very versatile, skilled player who’s always dangerous on the field. And a TV deal too!
I really like what how their going about this. Best of luck to them, and I hope their experience will encourage more cities to think about fielding their own NASL teams.