Minnesota United unveils Populous-designed stadium

Minnesota United unveils Populous-designed stadium

Mar 1, 2016  Architecture 


Minnesota United unveils Populous-designed stadium
(Photo by: Populous)

Renderings released for New Home for soccer in Minnesota.

Minnesota United FC unveiled Populous-designed renderings for the new home of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the land of 10,000 lakes. Populous designed a new, $150 million, 20,000 seat stadium that will boast the latest in amenities and technology while also being sustainably designed to minimize environmental impact and energy usage. The stadium is planned to open in two years for the 2018 MLS season.

“We are truly excited to unveil the architectural vision for the new home of the Minnesota United. This new facility will provide the city of St. Paul and the northern Midwest region a year-round destination for both soccer and entertainment. This building is designed to be a soccer first facility, but it is also designed to host events year round,” said Bruce Miller, Senior Principal at Populous and lead architect for Minnesota United FC’s new stadium. “The new Minnesota United stadium offers a bold vision for the future of soccer and aspires to become an international stage for the Beautiful Game. The building will be both contextually and climatically responsive and offers an intense fan experience both inside and outside the stadium walls.”

Minnesota United will finance the estimated $150 million stadium, with it becoming publicly owned once construction is complete. Minnesota United was awarded an MLS franchise in 2015 in a highly competitive process that puts Minnesota ahead of other major markets in the U.S.

“This world-class venue will not only offer our fans an iconic professional soccer experience, but also provide our team with the necessary tools to establish themselves as a top-tier professional soccer club,” said McGuire, principal owner of Minnesota United FC.  “We want this facility to be the cornerstone of professional soccer throughout our state and the North. We expect this facility to serve as a catalyst for additional development that inspires greater livability in this area. We are proud to say that the fulfillment all of these goals appears to be on track.”

Some of the features that will set this world-class facility apart include:

  • Elegant “flow” design concept with LED lighting throughout
  • 20,000 seats
  • Three hospitality clubs
  • Complete 360-degree canopy over the bowl to protect fans and players from the elements – reduces light and noise from spilling into the neighborhood, while creating an intimate and intimidating home pitch atmosphere
  • Field heating system similar to TCF Bank Stadium and Target Field
  • Distributed Antenna System for enhanced cell phone coverage
  • High-Density WiFi for mobile device coverage
  • 1,600 Square foot retail store
  • Year round uses located at street level to provide non-game day activity to the building
  • A variety of suites, club seats, loge boxes and general seating
  • Street level exterior materials of native Minnesota limestone, complementary burnished block, and glass
  • Intimate seating bowl – furthest distance from spectator to the pitch is 125 feet
  • Sustainably designed to minimize environmental impact and energy usage
  • Translucent PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) building skin to protect fans from the elements

Populous, based in Kansas City since 1983, has a Minneapolis portfolio that also includes AMSOIL Arena, the Minnesota Twins’ Target Field, TCF Bank Stadium, Xcel Energy Center, and the University of Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium.




Via Populous
Image,video ©: Populous