Minnesota is a big step closer to getting an expansion Major League Soccer franchise.
The league confirmed on Monday that it was in “advanced discussions” with representatives from Minnesota United FC.
“We are in advanced discussions with Bill McGuire and his partners in Minnesota to bring a Major League Soccer expansion club to the Twin Cities and are particularly excited about their plans for a new soccer-specific stadium that will serve as the club’s home,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber in a statement.
The Minnesota United bid is one of several vying for an MLS team. Groups from Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Antonio and St. Louis have all made pitches for future expansion. The league said it will announce which city will get a team in the next 30-45 days.
“MLS leadership is well aware that the passionate soccer fans in Minnesota, combined with a world-class, soccer-specific stadium make the Twin Cities and our state a perfect home for the next MLS expansion team,” said Minnesota United in a statement.
The United bid also had some in-state competition from Vikings’ owners Zygi and Mark Wilf, who had put forth a plan to have an MLS team play its home games inside the new Vikings stadium, which will be completed in 2016. But MLS officials have favored outdoor soccer-specific stadiums.
McGuire owns the Minnesota United, which is a minor league soccer franchise. He proposes building a $150 million outdoor soccer stadium on the current site of the downtown Minneapolis farmer’s market near Target Field.
While McGuire’s stadium plans are in the very early stages, the league’s public endorsement Monday indicates it’s comfortable with his ability to follow through with it, the Star Tribune notes.
‘No public money’ for stadium, lawmakers say
According to MPR News, McGuire’s plan for the stadium would include some public money. But top lawmakers from both parties, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, warned backers not to count on the state to provide that assistance.
“The league ran into this problem in Miami,” Bakk told MPR. “They gave a franchise out two years ago, and they don’t have a field to play on. So I don’t know if they’re going to make that mistake twice or if this group of owners is going to figure out how to finance a $150 million soccer stadium or not.”
GOP Speaker Kurt Daudt and House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin say there will be no public money for a MLS soccer stadium.
— Tom Scheck (@tomscheck) March 16, 2015
Late Monday afternoon, Gov. Dayton issued a statement echoing that sentiment.
Dayton says he'd advise major league soccer that any new stadium would need to be privately financed. pic.twitter.com/1M49gGMkpB
— Rachel Stassen-Berger (@RachelSB) March 16, 2015
In a statement released following Monday’s news, the Vikings said their proposal would have allowed an MLS team to play in a world-class stadium, that’s already paid for.
“We offered MLS an ideal situation – a stadium that is certain and will be completed in 2016, a plan that was funded by the public and private sectors to host MLS, and an option that will not require additional government approvals. The new multi-purpose stadium also would have accommodated the length of the MLS season and the growth of the sport in this market.
At the same time, we commend MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Deputy Commissioner Mark Abbott for their continued success in building the MLS brand, and, most importantly, we are pleased to see they believe in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market.”
MLS, which has recently expanded to 20 clubs with the additions of teams in Orlando, Florida and New York City, has previously said it hopes to grow to 24 clubs by 2020.
