With Friday's announcement that Minnesota United FC will begin play in MLS in the 2017 season, it's time to get familiar with the league's newest expansion team. Here are a few facts about MLS's 22nd team:
Crest and Colors
The crest, which will largely stay the same as Minnesota join MLS, prominently features the loon, the animal most closely associated with Minnesota. The blue stripe represents the Mississippi River, while the gray color is a nod to the rough material of the state’s Iron Range. The upward pointing crest and the North Star were inspired by “L’Étoile du Nord," which is the state motto.
The one noticeable difference in the new MLS version of the crest is that the full team name which previously appeared, will now be replaced by the acronym "MNUFC."
The colors in the palette are pulled straight from Minnesota itself. Black and red from the loon, blue from the Mississippi River, and the gray from the state’s Iron Range.
Name
The word “United” reflects the club's mission to bring together a wide range of fans from across interests, ethnicities, and backgrounds, and also represents the club's goal to bring together both the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul behind one team.
Nickname
Minnesota United FC supporters first began calling the team "the Loons," and the club adopted the nickname because of the way it came about organically. The name is a nod to Minnesota's state bird – the prominent figure in the club's crest design.
