Minnesota United FC Stadium
 Concept Art of the Stadium | |
| Location | St. Paul, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°57′10″N 93°09′54″W / 44.9528°N 93.1651°WCoordinates: 44°57′10″N 93°09′54″W / 44.9528°N 93.1651°W |
| Owner | Minnesota United FC |
| Operator | Minnesota United FC |
| Capacity | 21,500 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | Early 2017 (est.) |
| Opened | 2018 (est.) |
| Construction cost | $150 million |
| Architect | Populous |
| General contractor | Mortensen Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Minnesota United FC (MLS) (2018–future) | |
Minnesota United FC Stadium is the working title for the soccer-specific stadium to be built for the expansion soccer team Minnesota United FC. On October 23, 2015, team owners announced that Minnesota United would build a stadium on the 35-acre St. Paul bus barn site.[1] The proposed stadium will seat approximately 21,500, is to be completed in 2018, and will be privately financed for $200 million.[2][3][4]
On November 25, 2015, Minnesota United FC hired Kansas City-based Populous to design the stadium. On December 9, 2015, the team hired Mortensen Construction as part of the stadium construction along with Populous. Mortensen built U.S. Bank Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings in 2014-2016,[5] and worked with Populous on three other Twin Cities sports facilities: Target Field, TCF Bank Stadium, and Xcel Energy Center.[6]
Site
The stadium will be built on a 35-acre (14 ha) site on the southeast corner of Snelling Avenue and University Avenue. The location is in Saint Paul's Midway neighborhood, halfway between Minneapolis and Saint Paul downtowns. The site is accessible by transit, through the immediately-adjacent Snelling Avenue Station served by both the METRO Green Line and the A Line. A city environmental assessment predicted in June 2016 that nearly a third of the attendees will arrive on the Green Line.[7]
A masterplan has been drawn up for the redevelopment of the broad area, including the stadium site and adjacent properties owned by RK Midway. This may include building new hotel and office space and the redevelopment of the existing shopping center.[3][8] The buildings occupied by Rainbow supermarket, Walgreens, Midway Pro Bowl and some adjoining spaces will be torn down. The masterplan calls for the redevelopment to be more pedestrian friendly, to accommodate large numbers of fans walking to and from the transit stations.[7]
The southern half of the site was formerly a bus barn used by Metro Transit until it was demolished in 2002. It was later acquired by the Metropolitan Council, with help from the Federal Transit Administration, after a planned big-box store was not pursued.[9] The stadium itself will primarily sit on this property.
Design
Stadium
The plans for the stadium include a ring-shaped stadium, with seating for approximately 21,500.
A glass-like polymer mesh oval exterior will provide the stadium with a sleak facade. With an overhang partially covering the field, the facade is expected to soften the noise towards the neighborhood.[7]
Green space
The masterplan is pedestrian-oriented and designates 2.6 acres (1.1 ha) of outdoor gathering spaces. The stadium will be ringed by three grassy plazas and a fourth green space will be placed along University Avenue, near Snelling Avenue Station. Pascal Green will be on the east of the stadium; United Champion Plaza will be on the southwest corner; Victory Plaza will be on the north; and Midway Square will be north of Victory Plaza, along Snelling Avenue. Midway Square and Victory Plaza will express the north-south axis of the stadium.[7]
These green spaces are planned to be progressively introduced in phases as property owner RK Midway waits for existing leases on its current tenants to end. However, the timeline of these phases has not been released to the city or the public, as of July 2016. The project drew criticism as the full realization of the masterplan could take many years.[7]
Construction
The stadium was planned to break ground in June 2016, but has been delayed while the team awaits a tax-exemption from the state, similar to ones granted to other recent stadium projects. Despite the stadium construction being privately funded, the franchise owners stated that the tax-exemption is needed for the project's viability.[3]
Construction is expected to be completed and the stadium opened in time for the 2018 season.
References
- ↑ Melo, Frederick (October 23, 2015). "Minnesota United FC Announce Plan for New St. Paul Stadium Resolution". Major League Soccer. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ↑ Greder, Andy (July 28, 2016). "MLS expansion: Atlanta is lock for 2017, Minnesota expected to join them". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- 1 2 3 Melo, Frederick (July 1, 2016). "St. Paul's soccer stadium was supposed to break ground in June. What happens now?". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ↑ Borzi, Pat (August 28, 2016). "Duel of Suitors Yields an M.L.S. Franchise for Minnesota". New York Times. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ↑ Olson, Rochelle (January 26, 2016). "First of Signature Glass Doors Opens on Minnesota Vikings' New Stadium". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ↑ Walsh, James (December 9, 2015). "Minnesota United Picks Mortenson to Build Stadium". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Melo, Frederick (June 10, 2016). "Newest soccer stadium site plan has less green space". TwinCities.com. Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
- ↑ Melo, Frederick (February 18, 2016). "Midway-Snelling Site Plan Outlines Movie Theater, Hotel, Stadium, Park Plaza". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
- ↑ Melo, Frederick (August 17, 2015). "St. Paul Fed-Financed Land Might Hinder Pro-Soccer Stadium Deal". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 23, 2016.