Season Countdown: #MLSisBack in 1 day! One new stadium in 2019

The wait is almost over: We are just 1 day from #MLSisBack (!!!), with one new stadium set to open in 2019.

In 2019 one new stadium will open in Major League Soccer, and what a ground it'll be.

Minnesota United are ready to call Allianz Field their new home, with construction officially done by the end of February ahead of their home opener on April 13. The $250 million, 19,400-seated project was designed by Populous, brought to life by Mortenson in less than two years of construction.

Based on photos and video, it looks immaculate. By personal accounts, it's even better than that.

When the Loons walk out for their first match on the grass, it'll be a moment years in the making for the club. MNUFC owner Dr. Bill McGuire told MLSsoccer.com this week that the stadium is a paradigm shift for the Loons in the abstract, while raving about Allianz Field in the concrete.

“It’s a stadium built and designed for soccer, for watching soccer," McGuire said. "It’s focused on that, not anything else. Within that, it’s an intimate stadium — there are no bad seats. It’s quite exceptional. It’s very tight, a lot of efforts have gone into holding the sound within the stadium and it’s aesthetically very beautiful.”

“Allianz Field truly represents the next generation of MLS stadiums,” Bruce Miller, senior architect at Populous, added in a statement released by MNUFC. “From the elegant glow of the translucent exterior skin to the complete seating bowl enclosure and 360-degree canopy, this stadium sets the bar as one of the most intimate and intimidating atmospheres in soccer around the globe.”

With LED lights, the exterior looks phenomenal. They already teased the possibilities with a test run over the holidays. 

It's Year Three of the club's three-year plan and the front office have been aggressive in improving the roster for 2019. Veterans Ozzie Alonso and Ike Opara were acquired, the Loons used their third Designated Player slot on Jan Gregus while also adding Ligue 1-experienced right back Romain Metanire and Premier League veteran goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

The time is now for the club. 

Before their home opener, the Loons play five consecutive games on the road. Minnesota United will look to start the season strong so momentum is built ahead of the first match in their new home.