FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (or Frequently Heard Guffaws):

Can you explain the whole MLS exclusivity clause?

First let’s look at the language of the bill:

The authority shall, for five years after the first NFL team home game is played in the stadium, grant the NFL team the exclusive right to
establish major league soccer at the stadium. The authority and the NFL team may enter  into an agreement providing the terms and conditions of such an arrangement, provided: (1) if any of the NFL team owners whose family owns at least three percent of  the NFL team purchases full or partial ownership in a major league soccer franchise,  such franchise may play in the stadium under a use agreement with similar terms as are
applicable to the NFL team which shall include rent based on market conditions but not  less than a provision of payment of game-day costs and reasonable marginal costs incurred  by the authority as a result of the major league soccer team; and (2) capital improvements required by a major league soccer franchise must be  financed by the owners of the major league soccer team, unless otherwise agreed to by the authority.

The key part here is that anyone with 3% stake in the Vikings has the right to try to bring an MLS team to the new stadium for the five years after the first NFL game. Essentially, then, they have until 2021. That’s a long time.

How much is the franchise fee? Lester Bagley keeps saying $30-40 million.

This is far too low. Commissioner Garber has said the 20th team will likely need to pay over $70 million for a franchise.

Why Minnesota and no [insert random city]?

Let’s face it, New York is getting the 20th team. Garber has said that repeatedly. So, the question is, will MLS move a struggling franchise (Chivas USA… sorry Chivas fans) or will they go to 24 teams. I think both could happen.

Zygi Wilf wasn’t serious. This was all just part of Wilf’s big bluff to get the Vikings Stadium.

Prove it.

This is a serious response to MLS4MN. In fact, it’s something we need to consider. If the Vikings are serious about MLS, then the 5 year exclusivity clause is great. No one else has seriously talked about bringing a team here and this gives them the incentive to do so. However, what if they aren’t serious? What if they think it’s not worth the investment? I don’t want to be apocalyptic, but this could be the end of professional soccer in Minnesota.

Yeah, that was apocalyptic. I mean, don’t we have that soccer team, what are they called?

They’re called Minnesota Stars FC and they won the Division 2 championship last year, thank you very much. This is where it gets apocalyptic though: the Stars need an owner very, very soon. The exclusivity clause means that nobody will want to buy a soccer team in Minnesota if they think the Wilfs are going to bring an MLS team here. So, imagine that the Wilfs say no. That means professional soccer in Minnesota will be gone. It’s apocalyptic, but a very real possibility.

The Twin Cities don’t have the legendary support of soccer the way Seattle and Toronto did.

1. The Kicks brought in a ton of soccer fans (but that was a long time ago, a different world perhaps).
2. Take a look at the attendance figures for Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, etc… when they were in the USL and Minnesota has always been at the same level (in particular before the end days of the Thunder).

MLS wants soccer specific stadiums, you dolts, not huge football stadiums!

That is somewhat true, but you have to remember that MLS wants teams that will succeed. That is criteria #1. That means a stable ownership group, a good soccer environment, and a plan for profit. This last part is where the stadium comes in. The new stadium could be done poorly and the franchise could end up like New England or it could be done well and it could end up like Seattle.

Seattle? Oh, come on, you’re dreaming.

Would Minnesota have the 36k figures of Seattle, I doubt it. However, even Seattle cuts down their huge football stadium to make it feel more intimate. A version of this could be done with the new stadium.

What can we do?

Here’s what you can do. The easiest thing is to sign up for the mailing list and “like” MLS4MN on facebook. More importantly, you can support soccer in Minnesota. That means driving your lazy self up to Blaine and screaming like a crazy person for the Stars. Tradition is not adopted, it is built with nails and a punk rock spirit. And yeah, sometimes it’s built in Blaine.