Just three seasons after creating the Minnesota United FC brand, local professional soccer seems headed for a name reboot.
“Minnesota FC” is the name Major League Soccer registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 18, according to the Empire of Soccer blog. The filing occurred one day after a Sports Illustrated report that MLS did not want expansion franchises Atlanta and Minnesota entering the league with the same nickname used by its D.C. United franchise.
The moniker “United” is common in England. But until Atlanta’s announcement, D.C. United was the sole MLS team using the name.
Atlanta begins MLS play in 2017. Minnesota’s entry date has not been confirmed. The league did not return a phone message Tuesday.
Minnesota United FC spokesman Eric Durkee said, “There is absolutely nothing official,” and the team has received “no word from MLS on any changes.”
Durkee said the team hopes its entry date to MLS, either 2017 or 2018, and venue will be determined by the end of March. Announcement of that information would include any change to the team’s name, Durkee said.
Officials from MLS have looked at Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, and TCF Bank Stadium. On June 25, Minnesota will host top-flight Mexican league team Club Leon in the first soccer match to be played at Target Field.
Team Owner Bill McGuire, formerly the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, had previously said calling the soccer team United was about bringing the soccer communities of Minnesota together.
Previous Minnesota professional soccer teams were known as the Kicks, Strikers, Thunder and Stars.
