Could a professional soccer stadium land in St. Paul instead of Minneapolis? Never say never, dear Scoop reader.
Back in May, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Deputy Mayor Kristin Beckmann met with Bill "Doc" McGuire, the owner of the Minnesota United FC who supposedly doesn't care much about soccer, to formally introduce themselves. The conversation was cordial and general.
"It was very broad ranging," said Tonya Tennessen, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office. "It was just to kind of have a conversation face to face."
The timing was no coincidence. The city of Minneapolis is discussing the possibility of building a professional soccer stadium to house the Minnesota United, and despite the many details involved, there's supposedly a July 1 deadline to get the basics sorted out.
Does the Scoop sound incredulous? Sure, deadlines add a sense of urgency and seriousness to stadium talks, but how often are they really really real?
In any event, St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kramer has said that St. Paul would and should be open to negotiating a stadium with the owners of the Minnesota United, and he's pointed to the Sears site near the State Capitol and the Metro Transit bus barn near Snelling and University as potential locations.
How do the other powers that be in St. Paul feel about those options?
St. Paul City Council Member Dai Thao, whose political ward includes the Snelling/University bus barn, is mulling the issue, as they say. He admits to having some doubts that the proposal is 'real.' "I am open to the conversation," he tells the Scoop, "but I don't think all the parties are serious at this time." He adds: "I am also a soccer fan and played growing up."
St. Paul City Council President Russ Stark, whose political ward runs right close to the Metro Transit bus barn site, appears to be no more and no less middle-of-the-road enthusiastic. "Keeping an open mind at this point," Stark said.
The Met Council, which owns the bus barn site (though not the privately-owned vacant land next to it), would be another key player in that conversation, should it get going. The Scoop is making inquiry.
How about Mayor Coleman? Like Kramer, he's apparently of the mindset that a race to the bottom to see which city will cough up more taxpayer funds to placate another professional sports team does neither city any good. City Hall isn't liking the prospect of being used as a bargaining chip to get a sweeter deal in Minneapolis, which is how many feel Arden Hills and Los Angeles were used not long ago in the Vikings stadium debate.
"The city doesn't want to do anything to interfere with conversations in Minneapolis, and we understand those conversations are ongoing," said Tennessen, the mayor's spokeswoman.
"But I understand that if a deal isn't struck, the mayor would be open to seeing soccer remain in this state and would be open to formal discussions about having them here in St. Paul," she added.
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