By Ben Nicholson
February 24 – Minnesota United FC are rumoured to be facing the possibility of changing their name because the MLS is concerned about the presence of three ‘Uniteds’ in the league.
Minnesota United FC were granted an expansion franchise in 2015. Later that year, Atlanta announced that its expansion franchise, which was granted in 2014, would be called Atlanta United FC. Add to this the pre-existing DC United and then three is a crowd.
Supporters of Minnesota United FC are less than impressed by the potential forced name change, and have reacted by creating a petition to “Allow Minnesota United FC to keep their name or make Atlanta United FC change theirs” on change.org.
The petition is addressed to Don Garber and the MLS, and within 5 days has generated 905 supporters. The description of the petition makes the argument that Minnesota is more “United” than Atlanta because it is “uniting fan support from both of the Twin Cities around a single soccer team.”
There is fighting talk too, as Atlanta is described as “a single metro area, with a single center city, in a single state… There is nothing “united” about Atlanta’s story.”
Owner of Minnesota United FC, Bill McGuire, chose “United” because he wanted to bring together the multicultural communities in the area, while simultaneously pooling the support of the teams – the Stars, Kicks and Thunder – who had operated in the region previously.
Alternative names mooted are the ‘Minnesota Loons’ on account of the state bird appearing on the club’s crest.
Whatever is decided Minnesota and the league would do well to decide early so that the branding, or rebranding, can build up steam for a potential inaugural season in 2017.
Although the privately funded stadium will not be ready until 2018, the club is apparently hoping to start play in 2017 at a temporary home.
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