Minnesota United reveal name, logo for MLS expansion in 2017
Minnesota United FC will join MLS as an expansion team in 2017. The club and league confirmed plans for the team to make the jump to the top flight at an event on Friday, which included the unveiling of the team's updated logo.
MLS announced that Minnesota would get an expansion club in March of 2015. However, at the time it appeared as if the team wouldn't begin play until 2018 because they had to sort out the building of a new stadium. They're doing that now, with a deal for a 20,000-seat venue nearly completed. But instead of waiting for it to be finished, they will open play at TCF Bank Stadium, home of the University of Minnesota football, before moving into their new grounds when finished.
Minnesota will join MLS along with fellow expansion team Atlanta United FC. The rules for the expansion draft and any other roster or salary cap provisions have not yet been announced, but when the league starts play in 2018, they will do so as a 22-team league for the first time ever.
The club is essentially the promotion of a second-division NASL team, albeit with a fat expansion fee paid and some much bigger ambitions. The team name will remain Minnesota United FC, despite speculation that they would drop the "United." The logo is almost identical to the NASL one too, with the Loon remaining the center of the crest, as well as black, grey and light blue colors. Bill McGuire will also be the team's owner, as he has since 2012.
Minnesota United has been one of the country's most successful clubs in the lower leagues, with a growing fan base and some of the most visible supporters groups. Now they're going to take that to the top soccer league in the country, with most of the branding and identity that has gotten them here, and then a better home and bigger goals that can take them even further.
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