The effect of the now-completed Allianz Field has "already had a massive impact on Minnesota United's operation," as the team is expected to "see some extra green" by moving into its own venue, according to Jeff Rueter of THE ATHLETIC. Minnesota United's current rental agreement with the Univ. of Minnesota to use TCF Bank Stadium cost the team $40,000 per game in rent, plus $200,000 in "gameday expenses" per season. That adds up to the MLS club paying UM over $2M across the past two seasons, without factoring in the "lost revenue streams of concessions and advertising opportunities." Minnesota United CEO Chris Wright said, "From a revenue standpoint, it's the first time in the club's history where we control every single asset." Wright added the team has already announced Bell Bank as a gate sponsor, and is "getting ready to announce our second, and we're negotiating with a third and fourth company for landmarks in and around the stadium." Rueter noted the additional revenue streams "should directly benefit the on-field product." For the club to be freed of its "previous rental agreement has helped open the purse strings more this winter." Minnesota United has "spent seven-figure transfer fees" on F Angelo Rodriguez and MF Jan Gregus, and has also "spent big" within MLS (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/27).
LOONY BIN: In St. Paul, Frederick Melo in a front-page piece notes Mortenson Construction has "finished work on Allianz Field," and has "turned over control of the facility to Minnesota United after 20 months of work." The new Populous-designed stadium "features a translucent exterior skin made of polytetrafluoroethylene wrapped over LED lighting, allowing the team to change its color scheme with the press of a button." Allianz Field's natural-grass playing surface is "sunken below street level, which will help blunt noise from the open-roof stadium." Mortenson "remains the development manager" for Midway Shopping Center and the 35 acres surrounding the stadium, with the "expectation that new businesses and real estate development will follow" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/28).
