Dr. Bill McGuire isn’t sure he wants to pursue a new soccer stadium for Minnesota if state lawmakers don’t help with his plan. He also told Sports Headliners Wednesday Major League Soccer (MLS) may not allow him to start and operate a franchise in 2017 without the promise of a new stadium within a couple of years.
McGuire and St. Paul officials want to see the construction of a soccer stadium in the city’s Midway district. The facility could be the home for a MLS franchise by 2018 if the Minnesota Legislature approves an ongoing exemption from property taxes and a one-year exemption on sales tax for stadium construction materials. The stadium is to be privately financed but McGuire and St. Paul officials insist tax exemptions are necessary to make the facility a reality. Speculation has been the best chance for legislative approval will come by including the initiative in an omnibus tax bill but even that is uncertain so late in the session.
McGuire owns the Minnesota United franchise that currently operates in the (lower level) North American Soccer League. McGuire has invested considerable time and money working on a stadium and a move to the MLS. With no legislative approval yet and lawmakers adjourning Monday, McGuire was asked what happens to his aspirations if the St. Paul stadium deal isn’t approved.
“That would become very problematic on retaining the franchise for Minnesota,” he answered. “I think there would be a significant issue on that …”
The MLS, operating with 20 teams this season, has plans to add Atlanta and Minnesota in 2017. If the league sees no action from Minnesota for a new stadium, that could open the way for Sacramento to join the MLS with Atlanta next year, McGuire said.
The former UnitedHealth Group executive who bought the United soccer franchise in 2012 said the MLS “wants to bring teams in in pairs” and believes the league could drop Minnesota. McGuire said “I don’t know about that” when asked if he would pursue a stadium in the Twin Cities if no approval comes from the state before adjournment Monday.
If Minnesota does have a MLS franchise next year, McGuire will decide whether to have the team play at TCF Bank Stadium or Target Field. Because of so many Twins games, he said it’s more likely his club will play at TCF Bank Stadium, the home of Gophers football.
But that temporary home in 2017 is tied to the future of a new soccer stadium in St. Paul. McGuire said if the MLS isn’t in his future, he will continue with the NASL. The United plays its games this year at the National Sports Center in Blaine.
Worth Noting
Congratulations to Jay Pfaender who was honored at a Recognition Reception Tuesday at Drake Bank in St. Paul. The banking executive and former Mankato State tennis player has been a booster of volunteer organizations and a strong advocate for the city of St. Paul. The city proclaimed Tuesday “Jay Pfaender Mr. St. Paul Day.”
Timberwolves president Chris Wright said the franchise has sold about 350 full season tickets since announcing last month Tom Thibodeau will be the new head coach. The .647 winning percentage he compiled when he was the Bulls head coach ranks seventh in NBA history (minimum 200 games).
You can be sure a lot of University of Minnesota loyalists are upset that administrators at the school didn’t offer Jerry Kill a high-level position in the Athletic Department mentoring coaches and student-athletes. Instead, it was announced this week Kill will be working for the Kansas State Athletic Department as an associate athletic director. Former Gophers football captain Jim Carter emailed friends with critical words for the U including this: “Jerry Kill took a job with Kansas State. … The best thing that happened to Gopher football since Murray Warmath just headed off to Kansas!”
Joe Christensen reported in the Star Tribune Monday that Gophers redshirt junior Ryan Santoso will replace the departed Peter Mortell as the team’s punter. Santoso averaged 39.26 yards per punt as a high school senior in Pace, Florida. The 6-6, 245-pound Santoso was Minnesota’s field goal specialist last season.
Pete Najarian, the CNBC TV personality and former Gophers linebacker from Minneapolis who still makes his home in Minnesota, rearranged his schedule to speak to the CORES group last week in Bloomington. Among those in attendance were his parents and daughter Alexis who is on the track team at Nebraska.
CORES emcee Dick Jonckowski and wife Arlene celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary April 30.
Although the final date hasn’t previously been announced, a high school all-star football game featuring some of the state’s best seniors will start at 3 p.m. December 3 in U.S. Bank Stadium. A youth football clinic will precede the game. The game will be the first of its kind in the new stadium and is organized by the Minnesota Football Coaches Association. The group is also sponsoring its annual all-star game in St. Cloud June 25, with participants who were prep football seniors last fall.
WCHA men’s commissioner Bill Robertson, whose career experiences include working for teams in Major League Baseball, the NBA and NHL, is someone new Gophers athletic director Mark Coyle should consider for a staff leadership position. Robertson, a St. Paul native, not only has an exceptional communications and marketing skill-set, but he also has extensive relationships in this area.
The 36th annual Hobey Baker banquet will be June 2 in St. Paul at 317 on Rice Park. The event will recognize 2016 Hobey Baker winner Jimmy Vesey of Harvard, and Legend of College Hockey award recipient Bill Selman. The banquet date was moved from May 26 to June 2 because the May date conflicted with Vesey’s graduation from Harvard.
Vesey has scored more goals, 56, than anyone in college hockey during the last two years. Selman is the only man to coach four different Division I college hockey programs (North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, St. Louis University and Lake Superior State).
Several past Hobey Baker winners will attend the June 2 banquet including past Harvard winners Mark Fusco,1983; Scott Fusco, 1986; and Lane MacDonald, 1989. Also attending will be former winners Brian Bonin, 1996; Jack Eichel, 2015; Jordan Leopold, 2002; Andy Miele, 2011; Marty Sertich, 2005; and Bill Watson, 1985.
Birthdays: Ex-Vikings coach Bud Grant is 89 today. Former Twin Justin Morneau was 35 last Sunday and current Twins second baseman Brian Dozier turned 29 that day. John Anderson, who won his 1,200th game as Gophers coach earlier this month, was 61 Monday.
Canterbury Park’s live horse racing season begins tonight with an estimated $14.2 million in purses at stake this year, the most ever for horsemen at the Shakopee track. The live meet, 69 days in total, runs through September 17.
The Tapemark Charity Pro-Am June 10-12 at Southview Country Club in West St. Paul expects several past champions to compete next month. The field includes last year’s champion Ryan Helminen who three times has won the tournament. Seven-time champ Don Berry and four-time winner Dave Tentis will also play. Other past champions expected to participate are Craig Brischke, Gophers golf coach John Carlson, and Jeff Sorenson. Sammy Schmitz, who played in the Masters last month, will also be at Southview for the tournament. (See the ad on the right-hand side of this page for a link to more Tapemark information including the women’s event where two-time titlist Martha Nause is playing.)