LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- The neighborhoods near downtown Louisville as we know it could have a much different look in the next few years.
Louisville City FC is hoping to build a multi-million dollar stadium in Butchertown in a location visible from Spaghetti Junction.
If you were to look at the site today it's hard to imagine a stadium in this area.
However if things go as the Louisville City ownership group plans the junkyard that currently sits on the property will be polished into a gem that draws soccer fans from across Kentuckiana, but they're going to need your help.
"It's time we think bigger,” said LCFC Chairman John Neace. “We can do it right here in Louisville."
It's an announcement that diehard soccer fans like Brian Davis have been waiting years for: A soccer stadium is coming to Butchertown.
"We need a stadium in order to stay here,” said Davis. “Without a stadium there's no Louisville City soccer team, so for us it's pretty exciting news."
"The USL really wanted the stadium in a location that young people, millennials, and young people want to take advantage of,” said Mike Mountjoy. “We have to play in our own stadium by 2020."
If everything falls into place these 40 acres which today is home to a vacant factory a junk yard could soon house not only a stadium, but a $200-million dollar development with restaurants, and other businesses but there's a catch.
"We can't do it totally on our own privately,” said Neace. “We need some support so it needs to be a public private partnership, but we are not here asking the city or the state to give us a stadium to play in."
While it's not clear how much public funding will need to be involved the ownership group says this deal will be different from Yum! Center lease because LCFC would be liable for the stadium win or lose.
"When you look at this stadium we're only building 10,000 seats today, but we're going to have 20,000 seats here,” said Neace. “We're building this thing to get an MLS franchise here."
"This is the opportunity to get a pro sports franchise in the city of Louisville,” said Davis. “Football isn't going to happen. Baseball isn't going to happen. I think the NBA unless somebody with some really, really deep pockets comes along isn't going to happen."
By USL rules Louisville City has to be into their stadium by 2020.
In order for that to happen the city still has to approve a public private partnership to clean up the property so that construction can begin in 2018.
