Brickyard Battalion keeps hope alive for Indy Eleven

Driving the news: The game, which Indy Eleven lost, was the semifinal of the U.S. Open Cup — a tournament amongst teams from the country's various professional soccer leagues, including MLS, the USL and the National Independent Soccer Association.

Yes, but: Battalion president David Ziemba said the fact that the team made it that far — notching their first win over MLS club Atlanta United to make it to the cup semifinal — proves that Indy already has the soccer team it needs.

• "We're giving up a solid thing … for this mystery," he told Axios.

Catch up quick: The future of the Eleven was thrust into uncertainty this spring when Mayor Joe Hogsett announced his plans to pursue an MLS team and build a soccer-specific stadium — without the city's existing team.

• Indy Eleven owner Ersal Ozdemir had already broken ground on Eleven Park, a mixed-use development centered on a 20,000-seat stadium.

• Last month, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Indianapolis was "doing everything right" to land a team but that there was no timeline for expansion beyond its current 30-team lineup.

What they're saying: Fans say that with Eleven Park on hold and no guarantee of an MLS team, they're in limbo.

• "He (Hogsett) threw a grenade in the middle of this whole thing," said Frank Hall, a long-time Eleven fan.
• "Don't dangle MLS in front of us like we don't have anything here, because we do," added his wife, Lorraine.

"It's this community that keeps me coming," said Rachael Leathers, a fan for the last seven years. "It's the friends I've made."