Major League Soccer’s impressive expansion has officially added another club for next season.
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McGuire and his partners have pledged to pay the entire bill for a 20,000-seat soccer-specific stadium that’s expected to cost about $150 million.
Top level professional soccer will return to Minnesota in 2017, after MLS commissioner Dan Garber announced the mooted United franchise will begin play next season.
The expansion team was officially announced in March 2015, but it was not certain whether the team would join in 2017 or 2018. “This next step is an endorsement of our great state, people, and values, and we look forward to jointly building this team as an important piece of our community”. The Minnesota Kicks, who played at Metropolitan Stadium from 1976-81 were the first pro club in the Twin Cities, and were among the best drawing clubs in the North American Soccer League, hitting their nadir in 1977 the year after their only appearance in the Soccer Bowl, when their average attendance hit 32,775. “[We] look forward to making the jump to Major League Soccer”.
With Minnesota joining Atlanta in 2017, many mechanics will need to be decided on. After a proposed plan fell through in Minneapolis, the club turned its attention to St. Paul, eventually securing a site in the city’s Snelling-Midway community.
The Portland Timbers played host to Minnesota United FC in February as part of the Simple Invitational tournament at Providence Park.
“We have designed what will be a state-of-the-art facility that is ideal for soccer and will optimize the experience for our diverse and passionate fans, as well as that of the players”, said Dr. McGuire.
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Minnesota have been a staple in the lower division for many years, going by many different names.
