Filings at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in February showed that MLS registered “Minnesota FC” as the "new name for the state’s professional soccer team," according to Andy Greder of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. Minnesota United FC has "been the name" of the NASL club since '13, when Owner Bill McGuire "rebranded the team formerly known as the Stars and, before that, Thunder." However, there already are "two MLS teams called United" -- DC United was an inaugural MLS team in '96, and Atlanta United is an expansion team that will start play in '17. MLS has not "officially announced a name change," which was first reported last month. The league also has not decided if the club "will join the league" for the '17 or '18 season. Minnesota United coach Carl Craig has been "diplomatic about the prospect of changing names." He endorsed the team’s "secondary nickname, 'Loons,' and the team’s crest, which includes the state bird and representations of the North Star and Mississippi River." Craig: "I would just hope that whatever the name changes to -- if it changes at all -- that we maintain the Loons" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/9). Minnesota United Dir of PR Eric Durkee said that the team hopes its entry date to MLS and venue "will be determined by the end of March." He added that that news "would include any change to the team’s name." McGuire had previously said "calling the soccer team United was about bringing the soccer communities of Minnesota together" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/9).
