Interview with Indy Eleven Supporters Group (Brickyard Battalion) President David Ziemba
In our first interview with Ziemba, we discuss everything that’s happening surrounding Indy Eleven and possible MLS expansion.
The Brickyard Battalion is Indy Eleven’s main supporters group, formed first in 2011 to attract a professional soccer team to Indianapolis and successfully doing so in 2013. Supporting their club through the NASL and now the USL, they’ve become an established group both as a nonprofit helping the community and as passionate fans spread across the globe. At the forefront of their group is their President, David Ziemba, who gladly took time to sit down with Beyond the 90 and discuss the current situation with the club being threatened by possible MLS expansion supported by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett. If you need to catch up on what’s been going on, we have all the information in the article below.
Please give a brief introduction of yourself and your organization.
The Brickyard Battalion was formed in 2011 and currently has 501(c)(7). We also have an active 501(c)(3) arm, the Indy Forever Foundation, that does active work in and for our Indianapolis community. We currently have working relationships with Firefly Children's Bureau and Family First, Teachers' Treasurers, Inc, Ronald McDonald House of Central Indiana, and Second Helpings. We are also members of the Independent Supporters Council of North America which is a collection of SGs ranging from UPSL to MLS SGs. The BYB was founded to attract and create an atmosphere for professional soccer in Indianapolis. We did so by working arm-in-arm with the City of Indianapolis and, in 2013, with the help of Peter Wilt and Ersal Ozdemir, welcomed Indy Eleven to the NASL and then the USL-Championship. Over the last 11 years, we've established a brand well known throughout the world and have BYB members in places like the UK, Scotland, Europe, New Zealand and across the United States.
As for me? I became the President of the BYB in January. I've been a member of the BYB since 2012 and am member number 988 (still have my membership card). I've been an attorney since 2012 and served Marion County - where Indianapolis is - as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for 10.5 years; 7 of those in major felonies such as murder, sex crimes, domestic violence, drug dealing, long-term investigations and more. I'm currently in private practice. Before becoming an attorney, I worked in Washington, DC as a staff member on Capitol Hill working on legislation such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness plan and trade relationships between Canada, Mexico and the United States. I've also supported a plethora of political candidates including being a statewide campaign coordinator for the current President of the United States in 2020.
What was your organization’s initial reaction to Mayor Hogsett’s change in plans from Eleven Park, the construction of which is already in progress, to potential MLS expansion with a new stadium?
We have a good working relationship with our front office. So, I was made aware of the news before the news broke. We had a very deep level conversation regarding the upcoming news and they answered any questions I had. I immediately then went to our Board and informed them of what I had learned. However, because of my legal and political background, I understood that what was going to be reported as well as the scheduled press conference later that evening, it wasn't the whole story. So, I began work on investigating with key players across the city. I've learned a lot in the past few days and am continuing to learn more sometimes minute by minute.
I was able to update our membership after a much needed 2-1 win on Saturday evening against North Carolina FC. What we really are interested in, as continues to be the case, is to be involved in the conversation about professional soccer in Indianapolis moving forward as we have been since we were founded in 2011. I'm making sure that we are a key player in this very tense time for Indy Eleven, the City of Indianapolis, USL and MLS.
In your groups official statement on the matter, you state that you want to solidify professional soccer’s future with your club, Indy Eleven. But, you also said you are willing to go down whatever path is chosen. Can you clarify what you meant by that statement?
There's a lot I can talk about and even more I, unfortunately, cannot share due to the sensitive nature of the information I am gathering. I know this is incredibly frustrating for a lot of people including our membership. However, being able to navigate these very tense negotiations at incredibly high levels requires confidentiality in a lot of different ways. And, based on my extensive experience in both the legal, legislative, and political worlds, there's no one better suited in the BYB to bring the members' desired outcome than me. What I can tell you is that professional soccer is happening in Indianapolis. I have no doubt that it will continue in Indianapolis. We have put our blood, sweat and tears into building our club, Indy Eleven, since its founding in 2013 as has the club's owner, Ersal Ozdemir. At the present time, we do believe that Indy Eleven's crest, colors and culture needs to continue on and we're willing to be a partner in that conversation with any and all parties that wish for that to happen. We're open to those conversations and, because of my abilities, facilitate them if necessary.
The definition of going into the future with “your club” is hazy. Does that mean branding wise or ownership wise?
The BYB's definition of a club is a traditional soccer supporter definition. As was stated in our official statement, we believe that Ersal Ozdemir and, to a lesser extent, the City of Indianapolis are just stewards of our club. As with any football/ soccer club around the world, owners can come and go. While they're fans of the club themselves, it doesn't mean they'll own the team forever. And that's okay. We understand that soccer/ football is a business too.
However, it's the fans who stay. It's the fans who create the atmosphere that bring people and, sometimes, big named players to the club. And, thankfully, the club's current front office has been wonderful partners in helping us not only continue with our traditions and culture, but also continue to grow those in new areas. One of the reasons this conversation is even happening is because of the support we, the fans and the BYB, have helped create and maintain through good times and bad. We're the constant and we come with the packaged deal. Any potential new investors in the club knows this. However, this support is for our crest, colors and culture. And, because of this, after a lot of conversations with members, I cannot guarantee the level of support currently for Indy Eleven or even the BYB in its current form if the future does not contain the brand we've been able to build over the past 11 years. And with that comes, a lot of season tickets - nearly a third of a 20,000 seat stadium. It's important for any current owner, potential owner, or potential investor to know that. Without us? A club doesn't exist because you would not be able to fill a stadium or have a welcoming soccer specific atmosphere or attract new, talented players.
If the branding of the MLS club becomes Indy Eleven, that’s still not the club you’ve been cheering on for the past 11 years. In my personal viewpoint, it’s a copy and paste of sorts at a higher level of soccer with new club leadership. However, from your viewpoint, would you view MLS Indy Eleven the same as USL Indy Eleven and support them?
That depends on the negotiations that could be happening between current ownership and any new investors willing to sit down at a table with the Brickyard Battalion. However, at the moment, the BYB has yet to be invited into those conversations. I feel that it could be beneficial to utilize me to help break the impasse we are currently seeing between MLS, the new investor group, Indy Eleven, the Mayor's office and the City of Indianapolis. Parties have my contact information. I'm well known to all sides. I'm ready to apply my skills as a mediator and deal-maker to see how best to move forward with our club.
With the information on the matter that you have, do you see a world where Keystone (Indy Eleven’s ownership group) owns an MLS team that you’ll support? Mayor Hogsett has mentioned new ownership in his public remarks.
I never believe that a win-win is off the table. Sometimes it takes a lot of hard work, compromise, and maturity to get to that stage. But it's doable. Again, I'm ready and willing to get into a room and hammer out something between all sides. And, moreover, I do see a path that everyone walks away from this with a press conference in which everyone is smiling, patting each other on the backs, and shaking hands. Everyone just has to be willing to come to the table with the Brickyard Battalion to do so.
Will your organization have a voice in front of both Indy Eleven, Mayor Hogsett, and the MLS expansion group to figure out what solution is best?
At the moment, we already do behind the scenes. I've made sure of that due to my well-earned connections and abilities. However, those conversations are happening in silos at the moment. The time has come, in my extensive experience as a negotiator and mediator, for everyone to have a joint conversation with the shared goal of sustaining and flourishing professional soccer in Indianapolis. The question that remains is if the key players are willing to put their respective egos aside, get in a room, and work this out for the betterment of Indianapolis. As the Mayor promised during his most recent re-election campaign, we are ONE City; ONE Indianapolis. Right now, it doesn't feel that way. But it doesn't have to. In the meantime, I'll continue to work with individual stakeholders and take every opportunity to testify at public committee hearings, council meetings and speak to the press to keep the pressure on the parties to include the BYB in all future conversations for the sake of our club. Our influence directly depends on publications, news outlets, podcasts, vloggers, and more continuing to put the Brickyard Battalion and the fans at the forefront of this ongoing, and troublesome, time.
In summary, President Ziemba states that the Brickyard Battalion are essential to the future health of soccer in Indianapolis. They are willing to support future soccer endeavors in any shape or form (but preferably in the Indy Eleven name) if the Mayor, MLS leaders, and the USL club come to negotiate with the fans and not leave them behind.
Luckily, on Wednesday, the group will hear Mayor Hogsett’s proposal on new MLS stadium maps at a Metro Development Committee meeting and will have many other talks with the associated parties regarding the current situation. Because of this, there will be a Part 2 to this article, and we cannot wait to sit down with Mr. Ziemba again soon. Until then, we’ll continue to hope for the inclusion of Indy Eleven’s fans to calm the situation as professional soccer stability has been rattled in their city over the last few days.
Because without the fans, can the team really exist?
This is tremendous. So much to unpack from this and so much that leaves those of us who love lower division soccer, and the supporters culture somewhat uncomfortable.
Regardless of the eventual outcome, the entire process could have been handled in a more deft manner. There was so much unnecessary dismay, anger, confusion created by the Mayor's shock announcement. At the minimum, it embarrassed and likely angered many of the city council that were kept in the dark and thus were unprepared. I just don't understand the need to go public with such half-formed, poorly supported news. Unless the MLS forced on the Mayor some kind of immediate ultimatum???