TEAM HISTORY
Minnesota United FC is an American professional soccer club based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that plays in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer. The club began play in 2017 as the league's 22nd club, and replaced the North American Soccer League (NASL) franchise of the same name.
Minnesota United FC's ownership is led by Bill McGuire, former CEO of United Health Group, and includes other Minnesota sports owners: the Pohlad family, owners of the Twins; Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor; former Wild investor Glen Nelson, and his daughter Wendy Carlson Nelson of the Carlson hospitality company.
On March 25, 2015, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber announced Minnesota United as the league's 22nd club and awarded the franchise to a group led by Bill McGuire. Minnesota United moved up from the North American Soccer League, becoming the sixth MLS expansion team to join from a lower division. On October 23, 2015, team owners announced that Minnesota United would build a stadium on the 35-acre St. Paul bus barn site. The club played its home games at TCF Bank Stadium, on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, for its first two seasons in MLS play. Once completed in 2019, Allianz Field Stadium seated approximately 19,400 and was privately financed for $200 million.
The team played their inaugural Major League Soccer match on March 3, 2017, a 5–1 away defeat to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park. The following weekend they played their home opener which drew 35,043 fans on a snow-filled 19-degree day against fellow expansion team Atlanta United FC.
The Minnesota United nickname is “The Loons,” a nod to Minnesota’s state bird which is also featured in their logo. The two main supporter groups of Minnesota United FC are Dark Clouds and True North Elite, although the overarching organization "MNWonderwall" includes affiliated groups the Red Loons and Dark Glitterati as well. In early 2019, Wonderwall founded "THUNDERWALL", a coalition drumline permanently affixed in Allianz Field that provides percussion to support chants in the Wonderwall section during match days.
Fans of Minnesota United sing the Oasis song "Wonderwall" after all home victories.
