Subtext Books, Event Page, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN
Soccer in Minnesota has always been prevalent to residents of the north, with ups and downs, quality and optimism, which is a glowing reflection of the greater American soccer scene, growing each year, reaching for a men’s World Cup championship, and also the increased fanfare and participants in the game which is crucial for the future of its success. Currently, a big concern for American soccer is the expansion of the game into more US cities, broadening the MLS franchise. Minneapolis-Saint Paul is one such place currently under the microscope as the MLS has reached an agreement to open an expansion team there.
The matter of building a soccer-specific stadium is under review, nearing completion, as Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is rumored to be supporting construction of the stadium in Saint Paul with property tax exemption, working with the state of Minnesota to allow a sales tax exemption for construction materials (according to a story written on July 13, 2015 by Eric Boehm, at watchdog.org, Minnesota Bureau). Views from local businesses have varied. Julia, a manager at Golden Fig Fine Foods in Saint Paul said, “It’ll bring people to Saint Paul, so that’s an added bonus.”[1] This would be the hope of any franchise team – to expand the business of their brand, while creating excitement for local stores. This is what the owners of the proposed stadium, along with government officials, are optimistic over. It’s the technical process of building a stadium that has some residents up in arms. An anonymous business owner commented, “I’m against public subsidies of any sports stadiums,” adding sarcastically, “My business is in a mall and it’s getting old – shouldn’t the public pay for construction to my building as well?” [2]
William McGuire, of the Minnesota United, along with Mayor Coleman view the arrival of the team as a great asset to the community; one which will yield profits to surrounding business owners for years to come. From a recent story, linked with the website of Minnesota United FC, which posted "$0.00 tax dollars for stadium build" (see: www.newstpaulstadium.com), Coleman said, "I am thrilled that the team wants to work with the community to build a stadium here in Saint Paul. A soccer stadium will provide an important catalyst for the redevelopment of the entire area – creating jobs, spurring housing and new commercial opportunities, and building on our commitment to transit oriented development. With an agreed framework for the construction of this stadium, we are confident that working with the community, our local and state partners and with one another, we can complete the process necessary to bring MLS to Minnesota."
Minnesota is not unfamiliar with a professional soccer franchise. From 2010 to the present, the Minnesota United FC competed in the newly formed NASL, before the MLS announced expansion intentions in March of 2015. Prior to that – during some of Pele’s tour of 1975-77 – were the Minnesota Kicks, playing in the NASL from 1976 through 1981, which hosted games at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota. Back then, the likes of Commissioner Phil Woosnam were overly optimistic that American soccer would grow on a steady path, which unfortunately did not come true until the inception of the MLS in 1995. (Reasons included some competition from the Major Indoor Soccer League, which began in 1978, and, to the eyes of any average fan, the lack of soccer-specific stadiums; it was difficult for soccer to take off as games were played on football fields, or baseball diamonds, which never provided the game a true identity.) With things changing in terms of time, and the broadening acceptance of a game mortally ignored by much of America for generations, coinciding with the MLS continuing to branch out, a lot of a potential rests in American soccer, hosted by great cities like Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
[1] From a phone interview on 12-16-15
[2] From a phone interview on 12-16-15
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