Psst! Hey, you! Have you joined the Loon Army? It's only $50 down and $1,120 - $195 per season to rally around the home team, with the home team being professional soccer.
Minnesota United FC has yet to be officially accepted into Major League Soccer, but that isn’t stopping the team from advertising priority seating at a possible new professional soccer stadium, and it isn't stopping the city of St. Paul from forming a citizen's advisory committee.
Soccer.
The team itching to join MLS is telling fans how to be first in line for tickets if and when they move into their own Twin Cities facility.
The second-tier pro-soccer team, which currently leases 8,500 seats at the National Sports Center in Blaine, began advertising 2016 season tickets on Wednesday with a bold promise: “The first 10,000 United season ticket holders have the chance to be part of Minnesota history.”
Minnesota United hopes to relocate to an 18,500-20,000 seat stadium in St.
Paul’s Midway or the Minneapolis North Loop by 2018, and the team is offering die-hard season ticket holders priority MLS seating numbers.
Fans must purchase season tickets each year Minnesota United FC remains in the North American Soccer League in order to maintain priority at the possible future stadium: “Seating obligations must be paid each year until Minnesota United FC enters Major League Soccer.”
Meanwhile, the St. Paul City Council on Wednesday formalized a new citizen's advisory committee for the 34.5-acre Midway site where a stadium might land. The acreage in question includes RK Midway's privately-owned Midway Shopping Center, five vacant acres next door owned by RK Midway, and 10 acres controlled by the Metropolitan Council.
Should the new stadium have bike paths? Ask the advisory committee!
St. Paul City Council President Russ Stark on Wednesday told the council that applications are already coming in at a steady clip. The formation of a 15-to-20 member committee was announced last week by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman's office.
Here's the latest council resolution, which was sponsored by Council Members Chris Tolbert and Dai Thao:
Title
Requesting the Mayor to establish a Midway Redevelopment Advisory Committee.Body
WHEREAS, opportunity has arisen for the redevelopment of the 34.5 acre site bounded by Snelling Avenue North, University Avenue West, Pascal Street North, and Saint Anthony Avenue in the City of Saint Paul (the “Midway Site”) with a mix of uses including the potential development of a Major League Soccer stadium; andWHEREAS, the redevelopment of the Midway Site, should it occur, will affect not only the Midway Site, but adjacent properties, the neighborhood, the City, and the region; and
WHEREAS, the Midway Site and the adjacent properties have been the subject of intense community conversation and focus for many years; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to engage the community in conversation to advise and guide the City and developers as they work on the redevelopment of the Midway Site.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor is requested to establish a Midway Redevelopment Advisory Committee;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said advisory committee shall
1. Advise city staff, consultants, and developers on the overall design and development of the Midway Site, as more precisely specified by the Mayor.
2. Have a membership of 15-20 individuals from as broad a range of interests as possible, including the neighborhoods, the district councils, neighboring property owners, labor, the Metropolitan Council, the business community, and other interested parties.
3. Continue in existence until such time as the Mayor determines that the work of the advisory committee should be concluded.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that pursuant to Charter § 3.01.8, the Mayor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Council, the members of said advisory committee.
Applications are due by Nov. 4.
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