Allianz Field, home of Minnesota United FC, is hosting the 2022 MLS All-Star Game on August 10, as a week of festivities is planned for Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The 2022 MLS All-Star Game will be the culmination of a week-long series of events across Minneapolis and Saint Paul, including community initiatives, concerts, parties, the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge and more.
When Allianz Field opened in 2019, we hailed it as a state-of-the-art facility, and while some impressive new facilities have opened in Cincinnati and Columbus, it remains a leading venue across all sports, not just pro soccer. Its distinctive look comes from a unique exterior: 88,000 square feet of transparent and laminated Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mesh fabric wrapping the stadium. That fabric was stretched over a steel skeleton surrounding Allianz Field, backed by 1,700 emotive LED lights. By day, the PTFE mesh allows in light; at night, the LEDs can be programmed. But they’ll display only a single color, so the stadium won’t be a distraction to freeway drivers. Inside, the stadium is really a set of discrete neighborhoods, where different offerings appeal to different kinds of fans. That includes a 2,920-capacity safe-seating section designed for the team’s supporters. Dubbed the Wonderwall (shown above; so named after the Oasis hit sung by supporters after a victory), the general-admission section has handrails and cupholders to accommodate the hardcore fans that add so much color and passion to the beautiful game. (That passion will be amplified by the aluminum floor.) It also features foldable seats, which will be raised when Allianz Field hosts international play: they were required as part of FIFA standards. At the back of the supporters section: a 2,552-square-foot videoboard from Daktronics. We toured the stadium with Populous’s Bruce Miller and highlighted its many unique features; we’d recommend another read.
“We are proud to bring the 2022 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target to Minnesota,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement announcing the event. “Since the club began play in the league in 2017, Minnesota United and their incredible fan base have played a key role in the continued rise of MLS and growth of our sport throughout the U.S. As the eyes of the soccer world turn to Allianz Field next August 10, the people of Minnesota will be fantastic hosts and the supporters and ‘Wonderwall’ will create a memorable atmosphere for our marquee summer event.”
“We are all extremely excited and honored to see the premier event for soccer in North America coming to the Twin Cities and our state,” said Bill McGuire, the managing partner for Minnesota United FC. “Led by Target and supported by other great Minnesota businesses and our unparalleled fans, this will be an extraordinary event built around a week of wonderful activities for everyone. Soccer is indeed the world’s game, and we look forward to sharing with everyone all that it represents and what makes Allianz Field and the Twin Cities such a great place to experience all that it offers.”
The opponent for Major League Soccer’s showcase event will be announced at a later date.
Target will once again be the presenting sponsor for the MLS All-Star Game, but this will undoubtedly be a little more special for the Minnesota-based retailer.