At its current pace, construction of Allianz Field should be completed in time for the stadium to begin hosting Minnesota United FC matches in 2019.
United FC is privately financing the construction of the $200 million Allianz Field, which is slated to be part of a larger redevelopment plan in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood. When the club began MLS play in 2017, it did so at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium, its temporary home until the new stadium is complete.
Below-ground work has been taking place at the stadium site in 10-hour, six-day weeks, and the steel structures for the facility are expected to take shape over the coming weeks. Additionally, demolition work recently began on Midway Shopping Center. While project officials had previously hoped that demolition of the shopping center would take place in August, construction is currently proceeding at a pace that should allow United FC to move into Allianz Field in time for the 2019 season. More from The Pioneer Press:
But 17 feet underground on the service level, about 40 percent of the concrete for the new Major League Soccer stadium has been set, and the steel structure will begin to sprout from the ground in the coming weeks.
The first steel piece, signed by some of the people who made the stadium’s private-public construction possible, was moved via crane from the field level and put into place on the the southeast corner of the concourse during a ceremony on Tuesday.
“I hope people can see that this really is happening,” said Bill McGuire, United’s primary owner.
The $200 million stadium going up at the intersection of Snelling Avenue and I-94 is about 25 percent complete and back on target for a February 2019 completion date. It will seat 19,400 and is scheduled to host its first Loons game in March or April 2019.
United FC will play the 2018 season at TCF Bank Stadium.
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