Soccer Stadium in Minneapolis (cancelled)

[Didier]

http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_25 ... -minnesota

[talindsay]

Yet another article calling the NASL "Minor league". Americans really don't understand the way soccer leagues are structured; while MLS is a more prominent and better funded league, NASL isn't really the equivalent of minor baseball or hockey leagues. In fact, NASL and MLS teams compete against each other in organized soccer tournaments, and it's not unusual for NASL teams to beat MLS teams.

[Didier]

Who knows what to read into anything Lester Bagley says, but if there is actual work being done on the McGuire/Pohlad side that almost certainly means they are looking into the soccer stadium option. Also NYCFC is joining MLS with plans to start in Yankee Stadium.

Honestly, Target Field would probably suck for soccer, but I can't imagine anything worse than indoor soccer at the Vikings stadium.

[talindsay]

Honestly, Target Field would probably suck for soccer, but I can't imagine anything worse than indoor soccer at the Vikings stadium.

Agreed.

[Nick]

Topical-ish.

[eazydp]

Does anyone know if they are bringing in grass for that game?

Haven't decided yet, but it's probably easier to bring in than booze.

[go4guy]

Doubtful since they are installing the new heating coils and new turf right now. Highly doubt they would put down all that weight on the grass, but who knows.

As far as getting booze into TCF, that is extremely easy. If you cant sneak booze in there, then dont carry it in your hand.

[Didier]

I don't know the specifics, but it seems like one-time turf installation isn't as complicated as it sounds.

[Didier]

This article implies that a Mall of America stadium site could be in play as well.

http://www.mls4mn.com/minneapolis-favor ... Ks.twitter

[Snelbian]

Yet another article calling the NASL "Minor league". Americans really don't understand the way soccer leagues are structured; while MLS is a more prominent and better funded league, NASL isn't really the equivalent of minor baseball or hockey leagues. In fact, NASL and MLS teams compete against each other in organized soccer tournaments, and it's not unusual for NASL teams to beat MLS teams.

To be fair, the NASL and MLS don't really understand hte way soccer leagues are structured. Hence franchises without a relegation/promotion system.

[Rich]

The Wilfs are stepping up their game.

http://bringmethenews.com/2014/06/09/re ... franchise/

[talindsay]

The Wilfs are stepping up their game.

http://bringmethenews.com/2014/06/09/re ... franchise/

Hmmm, privately financed 20,000 seat stadium by the Farmers Market or shared use of the ginormous indoor, artificial-turf Vikings stadium? I know which choice is better for soccer. Not that we need another stadium, but I strongly prefer the notion of MN United going MLS in their own stadium.

[MNdible]

The original article opines that there would likely be little interest in another publicly financed stadium, and therefore extrapolates that the MN United stadium would have to be privately financed. This is not the same as Bill McGuire opening up his checkbook and writing a $250m check.

[Didier]

Not sure what you mean in the last sentence?

It's important to remember, too, that the Pohlads and potentially the Twins organization are apparently involved, so there's some firepower behind both sides.

[MNdible]

I mean that nobody has actually stepped and said that they'll be paying for the stadium privately, and there's no precedence in modern Minnesota history for such a thing happening.

So to say that the choice is between playing in the Vikings Stadium or playing in a soccer specific stadium that is privately financed isn't exactly the choice that's on the table at the moment.

[talindsay]

So to say that the choice is between playing in the Vikings Stadium or playing in a soccer specific stadium that is privately financed isn't exactly the choice that's on the table at the moment.

At the moment there are no choices on the table - everybody is still arranging their hands. We know that there are two local parties who agreed to be dealt in - the Wilf party, and the McGuire/Pohlad party. We also know that the former has a massive publicly-funded indoor stadium they want to use, and that the latter is proposing a smaller, open-air venue that, thus far, nobody has suggested the public would be involved in. Finally, we know that the ante will be called shortly by MLS/FIFA, and at that point we'll have a better notion of who's in for how much.

[John21]

TCF would be a great place to play, but I think they have an agreement with the neighborhood as to a certain number of events a year?

[holmstar]

Watched MN United defeat Swansea City (English premier league) 2-0 tonight. Good game!

Before the game Nick Rogers (MN United team president) stated:

The premier league already gets the respect that they rightfully deserve. … That’s the standard,” he said. “You never know, if we’re able to get a result and actually beat them, that goes around the soccer world pretty quickly. So we’ll gain some respect in that for sure.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/267740181.html

Another article detailing some of the efforts going on at making the MN United a world class team:
http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_261 ... ple-fronts

[maxbaby]

Attendance should be par for the course.
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/n ... adium.html

[Unity77]

The Guinness International Cup was a poorly advertised event. I'm sure the Fringe Festival, Uptown Arts Fair, Loring Park Art Festival , Powderhorn Art Fair, and the Paul McCartney concert will impact attendance.