Minnesota United FC History
Minnesota United Football Club is an American professional Major League Soccer team based in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota. Known by fans as the Loons, Minnesota United were founded in 2015 as an expansion team and joined MLS as part of the Western Conference in 2017. Ike Opara was named 2019 MLS Defender of the Year and it's the second time he won the award (previously won in 2017).
As energy rises with the newfound popularity of MLS in the United States, Minnesota United is taking advantage of the momentum. The Loons have two recognized supporters' groups with active memberships: the Dark Clouds and True North Elite, and their best-known currently unofficial group is called Wolf's Head.
Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field
Allianz Field, the brand-new home of the Loons, is owned and operated by Minnesota United and is built specifically for soccer. The venue opened in 2019 in the Midway Park neighborhood of Saint Paul, which is easily accessible by transit from the downtowns of both Twin Cities. The Snelling Avenue Station, adjacent to Allianz, is served by both the Green Line and the A Line from METRO.
Although the team, the affiliation, and the stadium are all new, Minnesota and the Twin Cities have a long and loving relationship with the sport of soccer. It started with fandom of the North American Soccer League in 1968 and later came with the formation of the Minnesota Kicks from 1976-1981, the Minnesota Thunder from 1990-2009, and the Minnesota Stars in 2010. PK the Loon joined the team as the mascot in 2014.
Under NASL, the Minnesota Stars made the playoffs in 2011 and advanced from the No. 6 seed all the way to the finals, where they beat the Fort Lauderdale Strikers to win the Soccer Bowl.
