Minnesota United's New Stadium Will Be Called Allianz Field

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's a big day for Minnesota United FC and its fans.

It isn't finished yet, but on Tuesday it was announced that Minnesota United's brand-new soccer stadium now has a name.

The estimated $200 million stadium in St. Paul will be known as Allianz Field, named after the retirement and life insurance company. The company was founded in Germany and has a location in Golden Valley.

The stadium will feature almost 20,000 seats in its first year and will have LED lighting technology that allows the stadium to change colors. Other highlights include potential expansion to 24,474 seats, four hospitality clubs and 22 suites, and a FIFA-compliant natural grass heated playing surface.

It is currently being built in St. Paul's Midway neighborhood. Construction started last year.

Officials would not disclose the numbers behind the naming deal, but the new stadium is being privately paid for and will be the first stadium in Minnesota without a direct public subsidy.

The new St. Paul stadium will join other venues that have the Allianz name in cities like Munich, Germany; London, England; Sao Paulo, Brazil and Sydney, Australia.

The new stadium is scheduled to be all done by the start of the 2019 season. Until then, the Loons will play at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.

The earlier estimate of the new stadium was reported as $150 million, but a Minnesota United spokesman says "costs went up as we continued to develop the project, interior amenities, development of the exterior grounds."