Major League Soccer expansion franchise Minnesota United has released an updated timeline on its new stadium construction.
It is hoped the stadium will be completed by the 2019 MLS season. The club currently plays at the National Sports Center (pictured) in Blaine, Minnesota.
The timeline shows the club breaking ground on the St. Paul stadium as early as this summer. The club also plans to have the structural steel finished in early 2018, with the outer structure being worked on ahead of the 2019 season.
The 19,600-capacity stadium will feature a 360-degree canopy that will cover approximately 85 per cent of the seats from inclement weather, while also trapping crowd noise.
The stands will be on a steep grade, meaning that the farthest seat will be just 125 feet away from the sideline. A safe-standing supporters’ section will be on a steeper incline to create an imposing atmosphere behind the goal.
In addition, the stadium will feature programmable, colour-changing LEDs that surround the structure inside and outside the building.
The club has also introduced a hydronic heating system that can “wake up” the grass in the early spring, and also keep it cool via air circulation in the summer. A comprehensive drainage system has also been added to maximise the re-use of storm water while minimising waste.
The building has also been designed to be bird-safe and energy efficient, with plans for a 1.5-acre green space north of the stadium.
German financial services company Allianz has been linked to the naming rights for the new venue.
Image: Ry Fryy
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