Minnesota United FC unveils St. Paul stadium renderings

Professional soccer team Minnesota United FC unveiled stadium renderings Wednesday for its proposed 20,000-seat St. Paul stadium .

The stadium, which will be privately funded and is set to open March 2018, will be in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul between Snelling Avenue and Pascal Street.

During the afternoon announcement, United team owner Bill McGuire showed stadium renderings created by sports architecture firm, Populous, while detailing the club's vision.

"The conceptual idea was to bring a facility to the community that could stand up to what anyone thought was a great and wonderful facility: elegant, descriptive of the sport, forward looking."

To craft that vision, Minnesota United showed a stadium that features plenty of green space (there will be between 5-8 acres), an open design, and commitment to an estimated "150 or more million dollars project," according to McGuire.

As for specific stadium features, polymer mesh around the stadium will keep out rain and snow, but let light in. LED lights inside of the venue can change color to better reflect the teams playing inside, whether that be the blue of United, red, white, and blue of the United States men's national soccer team, or FC Bayern Munich's iconic burgundy.

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUnitedFC) February 24, 2016

Players will go toe to toe on natural grass, while an oval roof aims to push light into the stadium and keep the chanting from soccer fans within, and also away from Interstate 94, which the stadium overlooks.

To encourage an energetic crowd, a supporter's stand — featuring standing room only for 3,000 fans — will be a key part of the stadium. Including this section, McGuire said the stadium should hold close to 23,500 people.

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUnitedFC) February 24, 2016

No matter where fans sit or stand, the farthest any will be from the actual playing field is 125 feet.

McGuire added, "This design is built to reflect not only soccer at a worldwide level, but our state, our community," by utilizing a concept that was inspired by the flow of Minnesota's rivers and lakes, and other natural elements.

Some hurdles still remain.

The Metropolitan Council is scheduled to vote on lease negotiations for the 10-acre site where the stadium will stand with the city of St. Paul on Wednesday.

St. Paul City Council will also need to review the stadium development agreement and draft ground lease. That is scheduled to take place on March 2.

One final hurdle: The Minnesota Legislature will make a decision on whether it will grant the stadium property tax exemptions, an exemption on construction sales tax, and a liquor license.

Infrastructure cost was not available.

Watch Minnesota United FC's videos of the event here:  https://www.periscope.tv/MNUnitedFC/1DXxyzpZwdnKM .