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Major League Soccer is in "advanced discussions" with former United Health CEO Bill McGuire to award him a top-level soccer franchise this year.

 
MLS Commissioner Don Garber confirmed the league's intentions in a statement on the league's website today.
 

"We are in advanced discussions with Bill McGuire and his partners in Minnesota to bring a Major League Soccer expansion club to the Twin Cities and are particularly excited about their plans for a new soccer-specific stadium that will serve as the club's home," Garber said.

 
McGuire currently owns a minor league soccer franchise, the North American Soccer League's Minnesota United. Major League Soccer cited McGuire's plans for a new outdoor stadium that would cost between $100 and $150 million.

Investors eye site near Mpls. Farmers Market for stadium


If a new sports stadium is built, it would be the state's third in 10 years. But if the immediate reaction of state lawmakers is any indication, it likely would not receive state funding.

 
Word of the league's pick came as state officials reiterated their opposition for public subsidy for the project.


 
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, has warned that backers of a Major League Soccer franchise 

should not ask the Legislature for public money


There was a similar reaction in the Minnesota House. Speaker Kurt Daudt and House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin said there will be no public money for a MLS soccer stadium.


Gov. Mark Dayton commended the people working to bring major league soccer to Minnesota, but added, "I am told by legislative leaders that there is very little support for state assistance in building another pro sports stadium. Thus, I would advise that any new soccer stadium would need to be privately financed."


Although Hennepin County officials have said that the sales tax for Target Field is running ahead of the debt payment for that stadium, and could theoretically help pay for another stadium, key lawmakers are opposed to that option.


Daudt, R-Crown, and Peppin, R-Rogers, said they won't support legislation that authorizes Hennepin County to use taxpayer money for a soccer stadium.


 
The state and the city of Minneapolis just put $498 million into a new $1 billion NFL stadium for the Minnesota Vikings — which came with a five-year exclusive offer to host pro soccer in the new facility. However, that did not guarantee the Vikings a top-level soccer team, which could only be awarded by the New York-based MLS.


One of the Vikings owners, Mark Wilf, said in a statement that the team had offered an ideal situation in a stadium set for completion in 2016 and a plan funded by the public and private sectors.

"The new multipurpose stadium also would have accommodated the length of the MLS season and the growth of the sport in this market," Wilf said.

However, Wilf said the Vikings are pleased to see that the MLS believes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market.


 
The league has 20 teams. Major League Soccer officials have said they would like to expand to 24 teams by 2020.

Garber said the leaque plans to evaluate a potential expansion beyond that. The league is on track to announce another expansion city within 45 days, he said.

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MLS Commissioner Don Garber confirmed that the league is discussing awarding a franchise to former United Health CEO Bill McGuire, who owns the minor league Minnesota United team.

Mpls. appears certain to win Major League Soccer franchise

Minneapolis looks to have a Major League Soccer franchise, and potentially a new stadium, coming its way.  The minor league Minnesota United team owned by former United Health CEO Bill McGuire will likely be awarded a spot in the MLS this year. That's according to a statement yesterday from Leage Commissioner Don Garber.  MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Brian Quarstad, who's a St. Paul based soccer blogger that covers the game in Minnesota and other minor league markets.

Mpls. appears certain to win Major League Soccer franchise

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