St. Paul Council Voting On Plans For Soccer Stadium

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The St. Paul City Council is set to vote on a few issues pertaining to bringing major league soccer to the city.

The first issue is whether to adopt a long-term master plan for the Snelling-Midway area. The second focuses on a site plan specific to the stadium itself.

Jonathan Sage-Martinson, city planning and economic director, said shovels could hit the ground sooner than later if all goes according to plan.

"Once that site plan is approved, the team from a technical standpoint will need the complete design based on that site design, and then they can pull a permit from the city of St. Paul here and begin construction," he said.

Still unresolved is a proposed property tax break for the stadium project. That item was included in the tax bill vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton. It could potentially resurface in the event of a special session.

The Minnesota United FC's entrance in the MLS is expected to be announced Friday at CHS Field. The team is likely to start playing next spring at TCF Bank Stadium until the new stadium is finished.