BLAINE, Minn. – (Oct. 30, 2015) – With Minnesota United FC set to build a 19,000 seat stadium in St. Paul for their move to Major League Soccer what does that mean for there current home, the National Sports Center in Blaine?
The sports center has been a vocal supporter of the MLS bid and of an urban stadium for the future team, but that does not mean that they expect to lose their affiliation with the team.
“Our hope, and the best thing that the National Sports Center wants out of this deal, is that we want to be the training location and therefore the home of the team.” said Barclay Kruse, chief communications officer for the National Sports Center.
While nothing is official at this point both the team and the National Sports Center have been discussing keeping the training home of the team in Blaine. But, it is clear that a facility upgrade will be needed in order for that to happen. “The big difference will be that the facilities and the amenities for the team will be undoubtedly improved. The locker room that they have right now and the offices that they have here now are not Major League Soccer, they are not of that status. They for sure want nicer facilities and so do we” said Kruse.
Discussions have not advanced to a point where a price tag has been put on potential upgrades and the question remains who will pay for the upgrades. If the team were to call Blaine its training home Barclay sees the potential for a positive economic impact in the city. “The City of Blaine will be able to brag that Blaine is the home of a Major League Soccer team, and there will be truth to that.”
While the crowds of 10,000 soccer fans would no longer trek to Blaine with a new St. Paul MLS stadium the National Sports Center would still have a relationship with professional soccer, which is exactly what they want. “What we think will happen is exactly what the National Sports Center has wanted all along. We don’t think we are losing a team at all, we are gaining a team because this will be there home.”
