Major League Soccer is heading to Minnesota.
On Wednesday in a press conference in Downtown Minneapolis, MLS announced that Minnesota United FC will become the league's 23rd club and will play their first season in the league in 2018.
“We are proud to welcome Minnesota to Major League Soccer,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “The ownership group’s commitment to soccer and the community, the area’s growing millennial population and the region’s rich tradition of supporting soccer at all levels in Minnesota were key indicators that this was the right market. The passionate soccer fans in Minnesota will soon have a world-class, downtown soccer stadium that will serve as the home for the new MLS team and become a destination for marquee international sports events.”
Minnesota's entrance to the league will follow the new Atlanta franchise and yet to be named Los Angeles Football Club who are scheduled to join MLS in 2017. MLS has guaranteed that one more expansion club will be awarded before the 2020 season, with Sacramento and Miami considered the frontrunners.
“I want to thank MLS Commissioner Don Garber and the league’s owners for helping us bring Major League Soccer to Minnesota,” said Minnesota primary owner Dr. Bill McGuire. “As a group of Minnesotans who love this state and have made a commitment to bring this vision to life, this is a momentous day that we’ve all been waiting for.”
According to Sports Illustrated's Brian Straus
, Minnesota United is hoping to have a stadium plan in place by July as they look to build a stadium in Downtown Minneapolis.
