- ‘It’s great that you are coming. You are bringing this franchise and excitement to Minnesota, but this time you’re going to have to go it alone.’ — Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton concerning possible public financing for the new Minnesota United FC MLS team. Photo: www.mn.gov
By Kaitlin Merkel/Murphy News Service
With the announcement Tuesday by Bill McGuire, the owner of Minnesota United FC, that his pro soccer franchise will build a privately funded stadium in Minneapolis, a collective sigh of relief by government officials could be heard across the state.
That’s because they’ve already spent a combined $1.1 billion tax dollars since 2000 on publicly funded stadiums in the Twin Cities.
McGuire, the former UnitedHealth Group CEO, announced that the team plans to construct the stadium without public funding. However, he asked state legislators to consider non-direct methods of funding, such as tax breaks on the property and construction materials, Minnesota Public Radio reported.
Major League Soccer announced March 25 that Minneapolis has been awarded one of two expansion teams scheduled to begin play during the 2018 MLS season. And Minnesota United FC willl need to build a separate, outdoor soccer stadium.
The early indications after the Minnesota franchise award was announced were that public officials — city, county and state — had no appetite whatsoever for finding tax dollars to help pay for yet another sports stadium.
“It’s great that you are coming,” Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton told CBS Minnesota, “You are bringing this franchise and excitement to Minnesota, but this time you’re going to have to go it alone.”
Republican House Speaker Kurt Daudt and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk said they agreed with Dayton.
“They shouldn’t even come to ask for it (tax funding),” Bakk said.
The Twin Cities metro area has seen five publicly funded stadiums built in the past 15 years:
- Xcel Energy Center (2000),
- TCF Bank Stadium (2009),
- Target Field (2010),
- CHS Field in St. Paul (2015),
- And the new Vikings Stadium, set to open for the 2016 NFL season.
On top of the five stadiums built within the past 15 years, the Minneapolis City Council is advocating for a $97 million update and renovation of the Target Center, which was opened in 1990.
McGuire led the campaign to bring MLS to Minnesota and told Murphy News Service stadium plans will immediately begin to be drafted.
McGuire said his vision for the open-air stadium includes 18,500 seats with standing room to bring the total capacity to more than 20,000.
“I think the cost estimates would be consistent with recent MLS soccer stadiums around the country which have ranged anywhere from $100 million to $200 million,” McGuire added.
The stadium is proposed to neighbor the Minneapolis Farmers Market, not far from Target Field.
Reporter Kaitlin Merkel is studying journalism and Spanish at the University of Minnesota.
| Stadium/Location | Year Opened | Total Cost | City Contribution | State Contribution |
| New Vikings Stadium (Minneapolis) | Expected: 2016 | $1.027 bil | $150 mil | $348 mil |
| CHS Field (St. Paul) | 2015 | $60 mil | $22 mil | $30 mil |
| Target Field (Minneapolis) | 2010 | $522 mil | $392 mil(Hennepin County) | — |
| TCF Bank Stadium (U of M, Minneapolis) | 2009 | $248 mil | — | $137.3 mil |
| Xcel Energy Center (St. Paul) | 2000 | $170 mil | — | $65 mil |
Source: Minnesota Legislature website and individual stadium websites