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  • Save the Date: Minnesota to Announce 2017 Entry to MLS

    Wes Burdine

    August 7, 2016
    News
    Save the Date: Minnesota to Announce 2017 Entry to MLS

    After months of silence and speculation, Minnesota United FC have scheduled an event to formally announce a move to Major League Soccer for the 2017 season.

    UPDATE: Minnesota United FC have announced that the press conference will occur at Saint Paul’s Union Depot at 5:30 PM, with a party to follow. Fans can register to attend the event on the team website.

    On August 19th, the Loons will hold a joint press conference with MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Saint Paul’s Mayor Chris Coleman that will commit the team to playing in MLS in 2017. FiftyFive.One has also spoken to numerous sources who confirmed that the club will be playing at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium for 2017 under a new name of Minnesota FC.

    As fans left the National Sports Center in Blaine last night, United staff handed them business cards with “STP 08.19.16 Be There” and “#NextStopMLS” on them. The relief of Minnesota United finally committing to their future in MLS will have done something at least to distract those fans from watching an abject 4-0 defeat to Miami FC.

    The announcement has been long in the works and, as we wrote weeks ago, the team was merely waiting for confirmation of a legislative special session that would approve the final pieces of the Midway stadium deal.

    While there were hopes a legislative session would materialize mid-August, sources say that it is most likely going to occur at the end of the month. This means, Dr. Bill McGuire must have assurances that the legislation that pertains to the stadium will go untouched. No details for the event have been settled upon — time, venue, or whether it will be a press conference or a big party which the team had hoped to do earlier this summer when they thought the bill had passed.

    The new MLS era will see Minnesota United no longer. After pressure from Arthur Blank, whose new team Atlanta United will join MLS in 2017 as well, the Loons were forced to change their name, and Minnesota FC will be the fifth name in a decade for a Minnesotan professional soccer team. The rest of the Minnesota United brand –colors and the iconic loon — are expected to stay largely intact.

    Committing to MLS allows the Loons to finally start making plans for the future, including signing players and working on unveiling their new brand as Minnesota FC. The shortened turn-around means that the club will play its first season without customized jerseys, instead using off-the-rack Adidas designs.

    Don Garber, Minnesota United FC, MLS, stadium
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    11 responses to “Save the Date: Minnesota to Announce 2017 Entry to MLS”

    1. Spence Avatar
      Spence
      August 8, 2016

      This name change business is B.S. … I’m not saying that MN FC is terribly worse than MN United FC, just that we need to change it due to some punk owner who somehow thinks it is infringing on his brand. How many other “So-and-So FC” teams are out there (at least 3) and isn’t there already DC United?
      I mean WTF?

      Reply
      1. Gazza_55 Avatar
        Gazza_55
        August 8, 2016

        The owner (Blank) did not has not ever thought MUFC was infringing on his brand. He doesn’t care. His president wanted the name. The league owners (if you believe the rumours) had a problem with it.

        Reply
    2. PaleVermilion Avatar
      PaleVermilion
      August 8, 2016

      Just call them the Minnesota Loons. The team even calls themselves the Loons. We’re not a European team, plus like Spence says, FC is not even original. Just generic as heck.

      Reply
    3. Charles Spolyar Avatar
      Charles Spolyar
      August 8, 2016

      the 25% off sale on all the current gear was an early tip off of something coming. I’d propose they have the press conference at Surly – since the Green Line stop for that is just one stop away from TCF… literally, next stop to MLS

      Reply
      1. Doug Foss Avatar
        Doug Foss
        August 8, 2016

        Why Surly? At least Summit a corporate sponsor is from St. Paul.

        Reply
        1. Charles Spolyar Avatar
          Charles Spolyar
          August 8, 2016

          Summit’s not on the light rail line. One Stop. Away. from MLS…
          However, Summit is actually a great idea since it looks like the announcement will be in St. Paul and not Minneapolis.

          Reply
          1. Alex Schieferdecker Avatar
            Alex Schieferdecker
            August 8, 2016

            Yeah, as great as Surly would be, Summit is paying to be the sponsor, so I think a Surly announcement isn’t likely.

            Reply
    4. nathan3e Avatar
      nathan3e
      August 8, 2016

      We’ll finally have a team in a proper league, not an abject shite show that finds preposterous ways to embarrass daily. You can find things to object to, I choose happy.

      Reply
    5. K Hud Avatar
      K Hud
      August 8, 2016

      No, just no to an announcement at a brewery or tap room. We’re talking about an international game that touches the hearts and minds of all colors and creeds. Let’s evolve beyond parochial tomfoolery.

      Reply
    6. Eoin McGuigan Avatar
      Eoin McGuigan
      August 8, 2016

      we should go with Twin Cities FC or Twin Town…

      Reply
    7. Rob Thum Avatar
      Rob Thum
      August 9, 2016

      So someone needs to inform Mr Blank that DC UNITED just called and says they want their name back. Seriously there’s room for more then one “united”. This is goofy.

      Reply

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