Minnesota United FC and Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz), a leading provider of retirement and protection solutions, today announced a multi-year naming rights sponsorship agreement for the team’s new soccer stadium in St. Paul, Minn., which will be known as Allianz Field. The new stadium, which is being privately paid for by a partnership composed of Minnesota-based families and business leaders, is the first stadium in Minnesota without a direct public subsidy.
Scheduled to complete construction in time for the start of the 2019 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, Allianz Field joins seven other Allianz-sponsored stadiums located in some of the most dynamic cities around the world. As the newest landmark in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area, Allianz Field will be among the most state-of-the-art soccer stadiums in North America, and a place where members of the Twin Cities community can gather for a variety of events, ranging from MLS and global exhibition matches to youth soccer and community celebrations.
“As a global company with a long tradition of stadium sponsorship and strong connection to soccer around the world, Allianz is proud to join Minnesota United FC in bringing this facility to soccer fans in our great state,” said Allianz Life President and CEO Walter White. “Allianz Field provides us with an opportunity to connect with audiences both new and old, share our passion for soccer and reinforce our ongoing commitment to supporting our community.”
Dr. Bill McGuire, speaking on behalf of the ownership group and the team, added: “Allianz is a great Minnesota company that also has tremendous connections with soccer throughout the world. From our inception, Minnesota United has moved forward because of the participation and support of those who are committed to our community and all that it stands for, as well as the love of this great sport that is truly the world’s game. We are proud to partner with Allianz, a dynamic local company that contributes so much to Minnesota and beyond.”
Allianz Field will feature 19,400 seats at opening with the ability to expand to nearly 25,000 in capacity in the future. The stadium will have a translucent PTFE laminate mesh skin and features LED lighting technology similar to Allianz Arena in Munich, which allows the stadium to change colors in response to different events and activities. The stadium will feature modern amenities and advanced technology, and is specifically designed to positively address sustainability while minimizing environmental impact and energy usage. Allianz Field is designed by Kansas City-based Populous, a world leader in stadium architecture, with construction by Minneapolis-based Mortenson Construction, one of the leading construction firms in the United States. The club’s ownership group will finance the estimated $200 million stadium, which will be given to the city of St. Paul once construction is complete.
Stadium highlights include:
- 19,400 total seating capacity for the first year
- Potential expansion to 24,474
- 4 Hospitality Clubs and 22 Suites
- An intimate relationship between fans and players, with the farthest seat from the pitch at just 125 feet and the closest seat at 17 feet
- The stadium will have a low profile at 78 feet tall at its tallest point and 660 feet along its longest dimension. It will be built across 346,000 gross square feet of space.
- The stadium will feature a FIFA-compliant, natural grass, heated playing surface measuring 120 yards (110m) long by 75 yards (69m) wide
- A standing supporters section of 2,800 with a sharp rake that creates the most imposing wall of support in MLS
The stadium is a fitting complement to the great venues throughout the world that carry the Allianz name — iconic stadiums in Munich, Germany; Turin, Italy; Nice, France; London, England; Vienna, Austria; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Sydney, Australia. Allianz also partners with a diverse array of sports teams, including two of the most successful clubs in global soccer — FC Bayern München (since 2000) and FC Barcelona (since 2010). These partnerships are focused on community and business relevance as Allianz strives to forge relationships with partners who share common values and commitments.
In anticipation of matches at Allianz Field in 2019, current season ticket holders will be able to renew their tickets for the 2018 season until August 5. Becoming a season ticket holder now is the surest path for fans to guarantee themselves a spot for the inaugural season at Allianz Field. Fans interested in becoming season ticket holders for next season will be able to place deposits beginning on July 26. For more information, visit MNUFC.COM or call 763.4SOCCER.
