Minnesota United to MLS

[Nerroth]

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGPHZpw1LSs[/yt]

Minnesota United FC - who currently play in the second-division North American Soccer League - have been announced as the latest expansion franchise for Major League Soccer. They have plans to build a new soccer-specific stadium adjacent to the Minneapolis Farmers Market, and are set to join MLS in time for the 2018 season.

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feSc2DQUxNE[/yt]

Professional soccer in Minnesota dates back to the 1970s, with the now-defunct Minnesota Kicks in the original NASL. Hopefully the Loons will hit the ground running in 2018, and secure the future of the sport at a "Division 1" level in that state.

Going forward, other ownership groups in Sacramento, San Antonio, and elsewhere are in the running for further MLS expansion slots - though the efforts to try and bring a team back to Miami seem to be stalled.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Are they really going to have two clubs named United?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I thought the Minnesota team was going to play in the new Vikings stadium (which will accommodate a MLS-sized field)?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

That almost never happens these days. MLS teams generally get their own stadiums that are a bit smaller than football crowd stadiums.

 

[Timby]

That almost never happens these days. MLS teams generally get their own stadiums that are a bit smaller than football crowd stadiums.

Right. The cost to rent a gigantic stadium like the Vikings' new facility would be astronomical, particularly considering most MLS teams are lucky to draw 18,000 fans or so per game.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Are they really going to have two clubs named United?

Two clubs? As I understand it, there's only one, it's just being "promoted" to MLS level.

Doesn't this happen a lot in European soccer? Teams can get bumped up a level, or sent down to a lower one. They call it 'promotion and relegation'.

 

[Timby]

The Washington, D.C., club is DC United.

 

[Skywalker]

The Minnesota team would have played in the new Vikings stadium if Zygi Wilf's group had gotten the franchise instead, but they didn't. And thank goodness for that. It's bad enough that the Revolution are still playing in Gillette and the new Atlanta franchise will play in the Falcons' new stadium.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It's bad enough that the Revolution are still playing in Gillette and the new Atlanta franchise will play in the Falcons' new stadium.

It's not so awkward that NFL and MLS teams might share a stadium; at least the fields are roughly the same shape. (Same thing for basketball and hockey.) It's not anywhere near as stupid as baseball and football trying to squeeze into one stadium - we all remember the cookie cutters, right?

The Washington, D.C., club is DC United.

I know. I thought Alidar Jarok was referring to two *Minnesota* teams called United. (and that he was assuming that the MLS team would be brand new, not the existing Minnesota team promoted to MLS level.)

As for the new Minnesota United stadium: I hope that both it AND the new Vikings stadium have 'Target' in their names, just to mess with people's heads. I mean, we have Target FIELD (Twins) and Target CENTER (Timberwolves)...what's next? Target STADIUM (Vikings)? Target WHATEVER THE HELL THEY CALL SOCCER STADIUMS (United)?

 

[Skywalker]

It's bad enough that the Revolution are still playing in Gillette and the new Atlanta franchise will play in the Falcons' new stadium.

It's not so awkward that NFL and MLS teams might share a stadium; at least the fields are roughly the same shape. (Same thing for basketball and hockey.) It's not anywhere near as stupid as baseball and football trying to squeeze into one stadium - we all remember the cookie cutters, right?

Logistically it's not the worst (although the Revs have had attendance issues because Gillette is in the suburbs and the easiest way to get out there is usually only active during football season, and only for Patriots home games), but most NFL stadiums use artificial turf which really screws with the way the soccer ball reacts compared to natural grass.