WHEN DID MINNESOTA UNITED FC JOIN THE MLS? 

Minnesota was without a top-division soccer team for almost 40 years. We had a rotating cast of minor league teams, but none managed to enter the ranks of Major League Soccer until 2017, when Minnesota United FC made the jump from expansion team to fully fledged MLS franchise and kicked off the next chapter of professional soccer in Minnesota.

To say the United joining MLS was exciting for soccer fans is an understatement on par with saying Minnesota has “a couple decent lakes” or that the Mississippi River is “a bit long, come to think of it.”

WHAT'S IT LIKE WATCHING A MINNESOTA UNITED FC GAME?

Excitement pulses through the entire crowd on game days, but it’s most visible (and audible) in the stadium’s official supporters’ section, the Wonderwall, which takes its name from the Oasis song fans sing to celebrate a home turf win.

The steep, standing-room-only (plus ADA-compliant wheelchair area) supporters’ section is where official fan groups like the Dark Clouds and True North Elite swing their scarves, chant and sing fight songs during the match — but you don’t need to be a member to join the fun. Tickets to the Wonderwall are available and affordable to anyone with a desire to revel in sportsmanlike camaraderie and yell until your throat is sore.

For fans outside the Wonderwall, the game day experience isn’t quite as intense, but it’s just as exciting. Because no matter where you’re seated, the crowd’s scarf-spinning passion and enthusiastic chants are nothing less than electrifying.

HOW DO YOU GET TO ALLIANZ FIELD?

One of the best things about Allianz Field is its central location in St. Paul, but getting 20,000 people to a stadium in the middle of Minnesota’s capital city will take a little extra planning. Fortunately, the field is served by the Green Line light rail, numerous bus routes and — on game days, at least — park-and-rides from across the region.

Metro Transit

The Green Line runs from downtown Minneapolis all the way to downtown St. Paul, with a stop at Allianz Field right in the middle. If you’re driving to the train, park on either end of the line and ride until you reach the Snelling Avenue station. Numerous bus lines also go to or near the stadium, including the A Line rapid bus service that runs between South Minneapolis and Rosedale Center in neighboring Roseville. Download the Metro Transit app to plan your trip and check out some related park-and-ride options here.

Bike

With over 400 bike parking spots available, biking to Allianz Field is another great way to get there. The team already published a list of preferred bike routes near the stadium, so the only thing left to do is turn those cranks and make it happen. Just remember to secure your helmet with your bike — helmets are not allowed into the stadium.

WHAT KIND OF FOOD CAN YOU GET AT ALLIANZ FIELD? 

Local and diverse food options are the name of the game at Allianz Field. Loons fans can enjoy cheese curds dusted with a Doritos-like Cry Baby Craig's coating, vegan-friendly comfort food via J. Selby's and The Herbivorous Butcher, brisket and elote nachos from local snack brand Old Dutch, and rotating salad specials from the St. Paul-based youth program Roots For the Home Team.  Guest chefs often swing by a special booth near section 30 as well — everyone from local restaurants like Soul Bowl and Nixta to the social media sensation Saturday Dumpling Club. 

If you're looking for local beers, Grand Casino's Brew Hall is a full service pub with Castle Danger, Lupulin and Lift Bridge on tap, ladles of hot wild rice soup, and a door that opens towards the field for an open-air feel. There are plenty of televisions to catch other soccer matches or challenge your friends to a foosball game on tables that are modeled after the stadium.

Check out a complete rundown of current F&B offerings here

WHERE ELSE CAN YOU EAT AND DRINK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? 

Whether you’re celebrating a big Minnesota United win, trying to catch an international match from the comfort of a bar stool or looking for the best drag shows in St. Paul, The Black Hart of Saint Paul is your one-stop-shop for all three. 

In late 2018, Black Hart opened inside the former Town House Bar, formerly the oldest gay bar in St. Paul. But rather than leaving that legacy and community behind, Black Hart decided to remain an LGBTQ+ bar and, as they put it, to also become “the new spiritual home for soccer in the Twin Cities.”

Other neighborhood bars in Midway include Burning Brothers, a gluten-free brewery and taproom a few blocks northwest of the stadium; and the Turf Club, a mid-sized music venue and bar with a windowless Clown Lounge (just trust us on this one) in the basement.

If you’re in the mood for food, Midway is also home to some of the entire region’s best and most diverse dining options, from the Eritrean-Ethiopian-American diner fare at Snelling Cafe to the much-loved Thai curries at On’s Kitchen, traditional Turkish tastes at Black Sea, spicy Szechuan plates at Peking Garden, traditional Korean food at Sole Cafe and design-your-own pies at Checker Board Pizza.

For even more options, you’re just a short walk, bus or bike ride away from the cluster of restaurants and cafes at Snelling and Selby avenues. Standouts in the neighborhood include fast-casual Middle Eastern food at Zait & Za’atar and decadent pastries at Rose Street Patisserie.

And of course, you can always hop on the Green Line and head east a few stops for more tasty choices. The cluster of restaurants between the Victoria Street and Western Avenue stations is part of the curiously named Frogtown neighborhood, a long-time haven for immigrants and refugees in the Twin Cities that’s now home to some of the best Vietnamese, Thai, Latino and Soul Food restaurants in Minnesota. 

Take a look at the many other sports you can see in Minnesota.