August 7 – More detail on one of the MLS expansion franchises looks to be announced in Minnesota later this month. Fans leaving the NASL game between Minnesota United and Miami FC were handed a save-the-date card for August 19 with ‘#NextStopMLS’ printed on it.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman are scheduled to be on hand for an announcement that seems likely to reveal Minnesota will begin MLS play in 2017, moving over from the NASL.
Garber is also expected to announce that the club will change its name, dropping its United tag in favour of FC. MLS filed a trademark on Minnestoa FC at the end of 2015. Minnesota was awarded a franchise in March 2015.
To date plans for a soccer-specfic stadium for the club have still to be finalised woth the sticking point being a property tax exemption for the proposed 21,500-seat stadium in St. Paul’s Midway neighbourhood.
The state legislature could grant this tax exemption in the week before Garber comes to town, The St. Paul City Council is also expected to meet that same week with stadium a key agenda item.
The $200 million stadium was initially planned to be operational in 2018. Minnesota would start MLS matches next season in the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.
Meanwhile, the club sits sixth in the Fall Season NASL table, and fourth in the combined table. Looking to make the final four play-offs, Minnesota didn’t help their cause losing 4-0 to Miami FC at the weekend in front of a crowd of just over 9,000.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713544523labto1713544523ofdlr1713544523owedi1713544523sni@n1713544523osloh1713544523cin.l1713544523uap1713544523