MLS will formally announce that NASL club Minnesota United will join the league as an expansion club at a press conference scheduled for Wednesday at 11:00am CT. Minnesota United is owned by Bill McGuire, the former UnitedHealth Group Chair & CEO who purchased the club from the NASL in '12. This past fall, the club added T'Wolves Owner Glen Taylor and Twins Owner Jim Pohlad to its investor group. The club currently plays its games at the 8,500-seat National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn., although it is working with MLS on plans for a new outdoor, downtown Minneapolis stadium near Target Field. The Vikings and the Wilf family had also been angling for the ownership of an MLS team to play in its new stadium, set to open in '16. However, Vikings President & co-Owner Mark Wilf in a statement last week said that MLS wanted to pursue an outdoor stadium in Minneapolis. It is uncertain if MLS will announce further details on when the club will enter the league at the press conference. Previously announced expansion club Atlanta is expected to join the league in '17, with the entry of LAFC still uncertain as the team works on finding a site for its own new stadium. MLS Commissioner Don Garber has previously stated his plan to expand the league to 24 clubs by '20. Now, with just one spot remaining, a decision will likely come down between two bids -- David Beckham and his ownership group, currently looking for a stadium site in downtown Miami, and USL team Sacramento Republic.
