FiftyFive.One
• Voices From Soccer's North •
Author: Brian Quarstad
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Omnibus Tax Bill With Soccer Stadium Provisions Passes House Moves to Senate
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Omnibus Tax Bill With Soccer Stadium Provisions Passes House Moves to SenateThe Minnesota State House of Representatives voted 80-52 to pass the omnibus tax bill HF4 on Thursday night. Votes on the Republican-sponsored measure followed closely by party lines. The bill, which includes tax exemptions for Minnesota United’s Midway stadium, was included in the measure but not before some drama occurred. Amendment A28 and A32 by…
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St. Paul Port Authority Will Partner With Milwaukee-Based Irgens for Midway Center
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: St. Paul Port Authority Will Partner With Milwaukee-Based Irgens for Midway CenterThe St. Paul Port Authority voted on Tuesday to enter into a master lease agreement with both Minnesota United and Milwaukee-based commercial real estate developer Irgens to help redevelop the Midway Center into a transit-oriented mixed-use development. The redevelopment of the site, which has been talked about for years, may finally come to fruition with the…
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Midway Soccer Stadium Aid Added to House Omnibus Tax Bill
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Midway Soccer Stadium Aid Added to House Omnibus Tax BillThe Minnesota State House added two amendments to bill HF4 last week that included help for Minnesota United’s soccer stadium. The addition to the House version of the bill would allow a permanent property tax exemption and a sales tax exemption on materials that would be used for the construction of the stadium. As we…
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MLS Home Opener Meant Big Day for Soccer Fans in Minnesota
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: MLS Home Opener Meant Big Day for Soccer Fans in MinnesotaSoccer fans gathered for a celebration on Sunday. It was the very first MLS home opener for Minnesota United and 35,043 supporters came to celebrate. And in keeping with Minnesota’s obsession with weather, mother nature didn’t disappoint with temperatures in the low 20s, snow, and a little wind to boot. FiftyFive.One talked to some of…
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Minnesota United Home Opener: What About the Weather?
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota United Home Opener: What About the Weather?Today’s inaugural MLS home opener for Minnesota United FC looks to be the coldest-ever and one of the coldest games ever played in MLS. Much like swirling snowflakes in a Minnesota snow storm, a question seems to be circling around the internet: Will the game be played if it snows? The answer is, most likely,…
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Opening the Minnesota United Season Ticket Package
Continue Reading: Opening the Minnesota United Season Ticket PackageThere’s been a real buzz on social media the last few days regarding the packaging for Minnesota United season tickets that are now being delivered to their rightful owners. Our own Nachiket Karnik, host of the We Call it Soccer podcast, received his on Saturday. He filmed himself opening the package so you could see why…
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The Sights From Minnesota United’s MLS Debut
Continue Reading: The Sights From Minnesota United’s MLS DebutThe result may have been disappointing for Minnesota United FC supporters, but the night was still a historic one. The Loons made their MLS debut and the game ushered in a new era for Minnesota soccer. Will Bramlett, special to FiftyFive.One, was on hand at Providence Park in Portland, Ore. for the match and captured…
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Minnesota United Soccer Stadium Meeting Reveals Signs of Progress
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota United Soccer Stadium Meeting Reveals Signs of ProgressSome very concrete plans were revealed for the first time at a recent City of St. Paul site plan meeting for the Midway soccer stadium. Demolition of the Rainbow Foods building is scheduled for mid-May with remediation of contaminated soil happening simultaneously. Actual construction could begin in September, when building permits are expected to be…
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Minnesota United Stadium Property Tax Exemption Bill Has Hearing on Wednesday
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota United Stadium Property Tax Exemption Bill Has Hearing on WednesdayThe property tax exemption for Minnesota United’s soccer stadium has begun its journey through the state legislature. The Taxes Committee will have its first hearing on the 2017 house version of an omnibus tax bill on Wednesday, Feb. 22. The stadium property tax exemption has been included in that measure. Tax legislation must originate in…
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Seventh Annual Sanneh Foundation Gala4Goals Next Saturday
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Seventh Annual Sanneh Foundation Gala4Goals Next SaturdayOn Saturday, Feb. 25, the Sanneh Foundation will hold the seventh annual Gala4Goals, the premier fundraising event of the Sanneh Foundation, which attracts more than 1,000 people each year. It’s an exciting evening of entertainment and community support, as well as an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the Sanneh Foundation’s innovative youth programming and its profound…
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New Legislative Session Means Restart on United’s Soccer Stadium Tax Bill
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: New Legislative Session Means Restart on United’s Soccer Stadium Tax BillDespite Minnesota United’s soccer stadium tax exemption bill being passed by both House and Senate in last year’s session, the provision will have to do a rewind and start all over again in 2017. The 90th biennial session of the Minnesota State Legislature got underway on Tuesday of this past week. One of many holdovers…
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Details Emerge for Minnesota United Development Reserve Team; Academy to Launch in Fall
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Details Emerge for Minnesota United Development Reserve Team; Academy to Launch in FallFiftyFive.One has learned that Minnesota United will start their Development Academy (DA) program in fall of 2017 with the U-13 and U-14 age groups. A spokesperson with the team confirmed this report. It’s also believed that Rochester, Minn. will be the future home of their USL Division II reserve team. This would not occur until…
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Minnesota United Plans for State of the Art MLS Training Facility
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota United Plans for State of the Art MLS Training FacilityPlans are underway to upgrade the National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine, Minn., as Minnesota United adapts its training facility for MLS. Team spokesperson Eric Durkee confirmed this on Friday, saying, “This is going to be one of the top MLS training facilities in the league.” Last February, we reported that Minnesota United was in…