Construction recently completed on Alllianz Field, the soccer stadium that will be the new home to Minnesota United who plays their first game on April 13th against NYCFC. 

Designed by the Kansas-city sports architecture firm Populous, Allianz Field draws its distinction from an exterior custom-tailored to the Twin Cities. Blending parametric design with old school steel-working techniques, the firm gave the 19,400-seat stadium an iconic skin inspired by Minnesota's abundant waters. 

Through many trials and tribulations, the firm was able to get the desired effect by taking 88,000 square feet of transparent and laminated fabric and stretching it over the structure's steel ribs. To give it a glow that recalls the Northern Lights (which fill the northern state's skies from late fall to winter), the mesh exterior has been backlight with 1,700 LED lights. 

Having built arenas such as Yankee Stadium and the London Olympics Stadium, Populous is well-versed in executing bold visions. "All of our partners committed themselves to creating a stunning soccer stadium," says Populous project designer Phil Kolbo. "In the process, we’ve pushed the envelope of the Major League Soccer experience."

Populous, who handled everything from the wayfinding to the landscape design, transformed a once-contaminated and vacant plot into a $250 million facility that the city is hoping will be a catalyst to reinvigorating St. Paul's historic Midway neighborhood. "All of our hard work has led to these pivotal moments," says Kolbo. "The proof will be there, visible to all in attendance on opening day."