Allianz Field

Allianz Field is a soccer-specific stadium in Saint Paul, Minnesota, home to Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). The 19,400-seat stadium was designed by Populous and opened on April 13, 2019, during the club's third MLS season. It is located near Interstate 94 and Snelling Avenue, with transit connections provided by the Metro Green Line.

Allianz Field
Allianz Field
Location in Minnesota
Allianz Field
Location in the United States
LocationSaint Paul, Minnesota
Coordinates44°57′10″N 93°9′54″W
Public transit  Green Line 
A Line
at Snelling Avenue
OwnerMinnesota United FC
Capacity19,400
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundDecember 12, 2016
OpenedApril 13, 2019
Construction cost$200 million
ArchitectPopulous
Structural engineerWalter P Moore[1]
Services engineerM–E Engineers, Inc.[2]
General contractorMortenson Construction
Tenants
Minnesota United FC (MLS) (2019–present)

On October 23, 2015, team owners announced that Minnesota United would build a stadium on the 35-acre (14 ha) St. Paul bus barn site.[3] The stadium seats approximately 19,400, was completed in early 2019,[4] and was privately financed for $200 million.[5][6][7]

On November 25, 2015, Minnesota United FC hired Kansas City-based Populous to design the stadium. On December 9, 2015, the team hired Mortensen Construction as part of the stadium construction along with Populous. Mortensen built U.S. Bank Stadium for the Minnesota Vikings in 2014–2016,[8] and worked with Populous on three other Twin Cities sports facilities: Target Field, TCF Bank Stadium, and Xcel Energy Center.[9] Construction was completed in February 2019, and the stadium opened two months later on April 13, 2019, with Minnesota United FC hosting New York City FC.[10]

Location and transportation

Allianz Field is located on the north side of Interstate 94 between Snelling Avenue and Pascal Street in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota, halfway between Downtown Minneapolis and Downtown Saint Paul.[11] The stadium is located on several major transit routes, including the Snelling Avenue light rail station on the Metro Green Line and a set of stops served by the A Line bus rapid transit route.[12] The venue has fewer than 1,000 spaces of on-site parking, instead relying on public transit and off-site lots with shuttle buses. Minnesota United has also organized several designated areas for rideshare pickups and dropoffs, as well as 400 parking spaces for bicycles.[13] The city government of Saint Paul projects that 38 percent of match attendees will use public transit, while 23 percent will use off-site parking lots with shuttles, and 11 percent will use private parking closer to the stadium.[14]

Design

The stadium is a ring-shaped stadium, with seating for approximately 19,400 in the first phase and 24,474 in a future expansion that would fill the four corners.[15][16] It has a safe standing terrace for 2,920 supporters, named the "Wonderwall" after the club's unofficial anthem, located behind the south-end goal. The single-tier Wonderwall terrace was designed with a 34.9 percent incline and has no seats.[17] The north end has a brewpub, named Brew Hall, and a manual scoreboard and 90-minute clock that were designed to resemble fixtures at the former home, National Sports Center in Blaine.[18]

The stadium was designed by Populous with deliberate sightlines and an "intimate atmosphere" in mind. The pitch sits 16 inches (41 cm) above the first row of seats and is composed of 97,000 square feet (9,000 m2) of turf from Heath Farms in Wisconsin, installed in October 2019 to replace the original Kentucky bluegrass from Colorado that suffered from drainage issues.[19] [20] A glass-like polymer mesh oval exterior provides the stadium with a sleek facade. It is clad in PTFE, which covers the steel structure that holds the roof in place.[21] With an overhang partially covering the field, the facade is expected to soften the noise towards the neighborhood.[22] Color-changing LEDs light the exterior mesh in the same manner as Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany and MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[23] The first tests of the lighting system in December 2018, which ran overnight in the fog, drew complaints from neighboring residents due to the intensity of the colors.[24]

Green space

The masterplan is pedestrian-oriented and designates 2.6 acres (1.1 ha) of outdoor gathering spaces. The stadium will be ringed by three grassy plazas and a fourth green space will be placed along University Avenue, near Snelling Avenue Station. Pascal Green will be on the east of the stadium; United Champion Plaza will be on the southwest corner; Victory Plaza will be on the north; and Midway Square will be north of Victory Plaza, along Snelling Avenue. Midway Square and Victory Plaza will express the north-south axis of the stadium.[22]

These green spaces are planned to be progressively introduced in phases as property owner RK Midway waits for existing leases on its current tenants to end. However, the timeline of these phases has not been released to the city or the public, as of July 2016. The project drew criticism as the full realization of the masterplan could take many years.[22]

History

Site
Construction as of September 2017

A masterplan has been drawn up for the redevelopment of the broad area, including the stadium site and adjacent properties owned by RK Midway. This may include building new hotel and office space and the redevelopment of the existing shopping center.[6][25] The buildings occupied by Rainbow supermarket, Walgreens, Midway Pro Bowl and some adjoining spaces will be torn down. The masterplan calls for the redevelopment to be more pedestrian friendly, to accommodate large numbers of fans walking to and from the transit stations.[22]

The southern half of the site was formerly a bus barn used by Metro Transit until it was demolished in 2002. Later a big-box store was pursued for the site but not built. The site was acquired decades earlier by the Metropolitan Council with help from the Federal Transit Administration so development of the site required federal government approval.[26] The property had been the Snelling Shops, where streetcars were built and maintained for the Twin City Rapid Transit Company.[27] The stadium itself primarily sits on this property.

Naming rights

On July 25, 2017, Allianz Life was announced as the sponsor for the stadium. Allianz Life, a subsidiary of German company Allianz, is headquartered in nearby Golden Valley.[28] It is one of eight sports facilities around the world that is sponsored by Allianz or its subsidiaries.[29] The naming rights agreement with Allianz runs until the end of 2028 and costs an undisclosed amount.[30]

On April 17, 2018, Minnesota United announced a 10-year partnership with Fargo, North Dakota-based Bell Bank that included naming Bell a gate sponsor in the southwest corner of Allianz Field. The partnership also involves the bank providing a $1,000 check to a player each match of the 2019 season to be donated to a charity of the player’s choice. In announcing the partnership, Bell donated $10,000 to goalkeeper Matt Lampson for his LampStrong Foundation charity, which supports cancer patients.[31]

Due to the stadium's resemblance to the floating city on Bespin in the fictional Star Wars universe, Allianz Field has gained the nickname "Cloud City."[32]

Construction

The stadium was planned to break ground in June 2016, but was delayed while the team awaited a tax-exemption from the state, similar to ones granted to other recent stadium projects. Despite the stadium construction being privately funded, the franchise owners stated that the tax-exemption was needed for the project's viability.[6]

In addition, because stadium construction would eliminate Rainbow Foods – an anchor tenant in the Midway Shopping Center – strip mall owner RK Midway of New York faced lease complications with its smaller tenants. Industry analysts say intense competition between the grocery company SuperValu (which operates Rainbow within the strip mall) and rivals, primarily Hy-Vee, makes it unlikely that Rainbow will agree to terminate its lease early without a signed guarantee against a competitor moving into the shopping center.[33]

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on December 12, 2016, and was attended by MLS commissioner Don Garber. Major construction on the site began in June 2017.[15] Steel erection began in November 2017 and construction reached a halfway milestone in late April 2018.[34] Construction on the stadium was completed by Mortenson Construction on February 27, 2019, after 20 months of work.[35]

Major events

The first home game at the stadium was held on April 13, 2019, against New York City FC, which was attended by a sellout crowd of 19,796.[36] The match ended in a 3–3 draw, with the first goal scored by Osvaldo Alonso in the 13th minute.[37] A winter storm arrived in the Twin Cities the day before the match, requiring grounds crews to scrape away snow and ice from the stadium's seats and parts of the pitch.[38]

The United States men's national soccer team's opening game of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup was held at Allianz Field on June 18, 2019.[39]

College football

The first college football game at Allianz Field was a rivalry game between St. Thomas and St. John's took place on October 19, 2019.[40] St. John's won the game 38-20 in front of a crowd of 19,508.[41]

MLS Cup Playoffs

Following the St. Thomas–St. John's college football game, field crews switched the field back to soccer to prepare for Minnesota United's first MLS Cup Playoffs match, played the following day against the LA Galaxy.[42] Minnesota lost 2–1 and were subsequently knocked out of the playoffs.[43]

References
  1. "Minnesota United FC's New Field Is Looking Great!". Wells Concrete. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  2. "Facility Watch" (PDF). PanStadia & Arena Management. Sevenoaks Kent: Hemming Group. 2017. p. 115. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  3. Melo, Frederick (October 23, 2015). "Minnesota United FC Announce Plan for New St. Paul Stadium Resolution". Major League Soccer. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
  4. Greder, Andy (November 26, 2017). "Minnesota United Stadium Construction Back on Track for Spring 2019 Opening". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
  5. Greder, Andy (July 28, 2016). "MLS Expansion: Atlanta is Lock for 2017, Minnesota Expected to Join Them". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on July 30, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  6. Melo, Frederick (July 1, 2016). "St. Paul's Soccer Stadium Was Supposed to Break Ground in June. What Happens Now?". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  7. Borzi, Pat (August 28, 2016). "Duel of Suitors Yields an M.L.S. Franchise for Minnesota". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  8. Olson, Rochelle (January 26, 2016). "First of Signature Glass Doors Opens on Minnesota Vikings' New Stadium". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  9. Walsh, James (December 9, 2015). "Minnesota United Picks Mortenson to Build Stadium". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  10. "Allianz Field Construction Complete". Minnesota United FC. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  11. Melo, Frederick (April 7, 2019). "Allianz Field is just the beginning. Here's what's happening — and hoped for — around St. Paul's new soccer stadium". Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  12. Melo, Frederick (April 7, 2019). "Drive? Bus? Shuttle? Here's how to get to St. Paul's new Allianz Field". Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  13. Harlow, Tim (April 13, 2019). "Going to Allianz Field? Here is how to get there". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  14. Melo, Frederick (March 12, 2019). "Lots of transit options, but on-site parking at Allianz Field? Not so much". Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  15. Van Berkel, Jessie (December 12, 2016). "Minnesota United Officials Say 'big dig' at Stadium Site Will Begin in Spring". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Archived from the original on December 13, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  16. Greder, Andy (April 14, 2019). "Is Allianz Field too small? MLS Commissioner Don Garber thinks so". Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  17. Zgoda, Jerry (April 12, 2019). "Standing-only by design, Wonderwall holds 2,900 ardent noisemakers". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  18. Zgoda, Jerry (April 12, 2019). "Allianz Field's clock, scoreboard resemble those from National Sports Center". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  19. Greder, Andy (September 9, 2019). "Drainage Problem Has Allianz Field Replacing Grass". Twincities.com-Pioneer Press. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  20. Zgoda, Jerry (April 11, 2019). "Get ready for faster soccer on pampered Allianz Field pitch". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  21. Edgerton Martin, Frank (May 3, 2019). "The secret to Allianz Field's amped-up fan experience? It's wrapped in fabric". Star Tribune. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  22. Melo, Frederick (June 10, 2016). "Newest soccer stadium site plan has less green space". Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  23. Rathbun, Andy (July 25, 2017). "St. Paul's new Midway soccer stadium gets its name". Pioneer Press. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  24. Melo, Frederick (December 20, 2018). "Intense light test at St. Paul's Allianz Field draws oohs, aahs — and questions after 12 hours". Pioneer Press. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  25. Melo, Frederick (February 18, 2016). "Midway-Snelling Site Plan Outlines Movie Theater, Hotel, Stadium, Park Plaza". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  26. Melo, Frederick (August 17, 2015). "St. Paul Fed-Financed Land Might Hinder Pro-Soccer Stadium Deal". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on February 28, 2016. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  27. Olson, Russel L. - The Electric Railways of Minnesota. Minnesota Transportation Museum, Hopkins/H. M. Smyth Co., St. Paul. (1976).
  28. Klauda, Paul (July 25, 2017). "Minnesota United's New Soccer Stadium Will Be Allianz Field". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  29. "MNUFC & Allianz Field". Minnesota United FC. July 25, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  30. Kennedy, Patrick (February 24, 2019). "Minnesota United's stadium in St. Paul will be the eighth bearing Allianz's name". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  31. White, Jack (April 17, 2018). "Minnesota United, Bell Bank announce gate partnership, charity support". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  32. "Cloud City Looks Dreamy: MN United Ceremoniously Break Ground on New St. Paul Stadium". FiftyFive.One. December 13, 2016.
  33. Melo, Frederick (December 8, 2016). "Groundbreaking Set for St. Paul Soccer Stadium, As Construction Snags". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  34. Murphy, Brian (May 3, 2018). "Minnesota United halfway home with Allianz Field, 'the best' soccer stadium in U.S." St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  35. Melo, Frederick (February 27, 2019). "Mortenson Construction completes Allianz Field soccer stadium in St. Paul's Midway". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  36. MPR News Staff (April 13, 2019). "'It's just beautiful': Minnesota United battles to tie in Allianz Field debut". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  37. Zgoda, Jerry (April 13, 2019). "Minnesota United settles for 3-3 draw with New York City FC in first game at Allianz Field". Star-Tribune. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  38. "Grounds crew de-icing Allianz Field for Minnesota United home opener". FOX 9. April 12, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  39. "Gold Cup 2019". Minnesota United Website. October 8, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  40. Rand, Michael (December 4, 2018). "St. Thomas, St. John's to play at Allianz Field in October". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
  41. "St. John's uses its 'swagger' to rally past St. Thomas 38-20 at Allianz Field". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  42. "Allianz Field survives rapid transition from football to futbol for Minnesota United playoff game". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  43. "Minnesota United bows out of MLS playoffs with 2-1 loss to L.A. Galaxy". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
Events and tenants
Preceded by
TCF Bank Stadium		 Home of the
Minnesota United FC
2019–present		 Succeeded by
Current Stadium
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