Minnesota United's future in Major League Soccer, on hold in the wake of a stalled legislative session, appears headed for resolution as early as mid-August.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber told ESPN in an interview aired at halftime of the MLS All-Star game Thursday that the league will add Atlanta United FC as a franchise in 2017. He said "another expansion announcement'' for next season will be made "in a couple of weeks.''
Garber did not mention Minnesota United by name in his remarks. The team was awarded an MLS franchise for play beginning in 2017 or 2018, pending a new stadium. The league, with 20 teams this season, is said to strongly favor adding expansion teams in pairs to maintain an even number of teams.
A spokesman for Minnesota United said Friday that the team would not comment on the reports.
Minnesota United, playing this season in the North American Soccer League, is waiting to break ground on a new 21,500-seat stadium in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood. This spring state lawmakers agreed to a property tax exemption for the land where the team wants to build and approved a liquor license for the facility. The team is eligible for a sales tax exemption on construction materials.
However, Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed a package of tax breaks that included those approved provisions, due to a $100 million error unrelated to the soccer facility. A special legislative session to resolve those differences now appears likely in late August.
An MLS spokesperson has said previously that the league expects to finalize the 2017 schedule in late September.
If Minnesota United begins play in MLS next season, it is expected to move from its current home at the National Sports Center in Blaine to TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota until the new stadium is ready.
Minnesota and Atlanta likely would end up with new names as well, since MLS already has a D.C. United franchise. In February the league registered "Minnesota FC" as the name for a franchise here, according to a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing.
Paul Klauda • 612-673-7280
