After touring the Allianz Field construction site Thursday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said Minnesota United's new St. Paul stadium will be a showcase for top-level games after it opens in spring 2019.
"I know we will undoubtedly host lots of games here outside of league games, whether those are all-star games or whether that is CONCACAF Gold Cup matches or other international matches, U.S. men's and women's national team games," Garber said.
"(It's) very centrally located. Lots of great things in and around it and perfectly sized and lots of amenities and revenue-generating opportunities. I think the future is going to be really bright."
United already is working to host an MLS all-star game, CONCAFAC Gold Cup matches and U.S. national team contests in the $200 million stadium going up at corner of Snelling Avenue and Interstate 94.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber during a news conference with Mayor Chris Coleman at Mears Park in downtown St. Paul on Monday, September 21, 2015. Garber expressed the league's preference for the old Midway bus barn for the proposed new Minnesota United Soccer Stadium. (Pioneer Press: John Autey) Garber was in Minnesota Thursday as part of his annual visits to all 23 MLS clubs. He met with owner Bill McGuire, received a quick tour of the Loons' refurbished training grounds at the National Sports Center in Blaine and had lunch with United sporting director Manny Lagos and coach Adrian Heath, among others.
"These are my favorite days as commissioner, where you can really soak in the contributions that our owners make to truly build a foundation for our league and the sport of soccer in North America," he said.
By the time Allianz Field opens for the 2019 season, Garber said, 20 new MLS stadiums will have come on line in his 19 years at the helm, including Banc of California for Los Angeles FC this weekend, and Audi Field for DC United later this summer.
Garber said he has probably seen 100 renderings of different stadium, and Allianz Field, which is more than 50 percent complete, fulfills those images. "Spectacular," he said. "I can't wait for its opening next year. It represents everything that ownership said it would be."
The Loons entered MLS a year ago, and last December, the 23-year-old league increased the amount of Target Allocation Money from $1.2 million to $2.8 million in both 2018 and 2019, an increase based on each club's willingness to spend. One of the goals of the increased funding for higher-level players is to compete with Mexico's Liga MX.
In the CONCACAF Champions League final Wednesday, MLS Cup champion Toronto FC lost to Chivas Guadalajara in penalty kicks. Mexico has won the past 13 championships between clubs in North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
"Although they had a heartbreaker last night in Guadalajara, just the immediate impact of the TAM investment is (making) our clubs … very, very competitive with Mexican teams," Garber said. "There was a time when it was unthinkable to win games in Mexico, and now we go down there thinking we could win against any of the top Liga MX clubs. We got so close last night."
Garber said the solution hasn't been to just spend more money to compete for talent; potential spending increases must come in the context of the collective bargaining agreement that expires at the end of the 2019 season, plus media rights deals that need to be renewed before 2022.
"We said we need to spend more money strategically and bring in players that can make a difference," the commissioner said. "… We don't look at investment in the player pool independent of all the other things that we're trying to do to make the league more relevant, more important, more connected with our fans."
OMSBERG TO TULSA
United has loaned rookie center back Wyatt Omsberg to the Tulsa Roughnecks of the United Soccer League, the team announced. The 15th pick in January's MLS SuperDraft played 90 minutes against the New York Red Bulls on March 24, his only appearance this season.
"He needs to get minutes to get match-fit and match-sharp," Lagos said in a statement. "Wyatt is a player we believe in and he has a lot of potential. This will be a great chance for him to play at a professional level and get some professional games to continue to develop into the player we believe he can be."
The Loons can recall Omsberg, 22, any time during his loan to play with Minnesota.
United's other two rookies have played more regularly this season. Forward Mason Toye has an assist in 60 minutes across five appearances. Fullback Carter Manley has an assist in 225 minutes and three games; he made his second start last week in the 3-1 loss to Seattle Sounders.
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