Photos by James Hillchen and Lloyd Brown, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.00
Allianz Field 400 Snelling Ave N St. Paul, MN 55104
Year Opened: 2019 Capacity: 19,400
United in Minnesota
Opened in 2019 at a cost of $200 million, Allianz Field is a soccer-specific stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota. Home to Minnesota United FC and Minnesota Untied FC 2, the stadium holds a capacity of 19,400.
Though relatively new, Allianz Field has become known as one of the premier soccer stadiums in the country. The stadium has hosted CONCACAF Gold Cup games, a World Cup qualifier, and most recently hosted the 2022 MLS All-Star game.
Among the features at Allianz Field are an 88,000 square foot translucent stadium skin, a 360-degree canopy, and a heated playing surface. For cycling purists, there are accommodations for 400 bikes to be parked should you choose to ride to the game. There are also 280 seats for ADA guests and their companions.
Food & Beverage 5
NOTE: Like many other stadiums have done, Allianz Field does not accept cash, so bring a card when attending a game here.
There is no shortage of whatever food you are looking for here. It would take forever to list what it on the menu. All the basics are covered, but among the other items available are: chicken masala bowls, chicken tinga, beef or chicken kafta, Swedish meatballs, and much more.
The layout allows you to easily find whatever you are looking for and one of the nice features here is that if you don’t want to wait in any potential line for an entrée, they have what are basically small convenience stores where you can buy drinks, candy, etc.
Pepsi is the soda of choice here. As for adult beverages, wine, mixed drinks, and domestic, import, and craft brews are available with a litany of different choices. For the widest choice, head over to the north side of the stadium and go in the Brew Hall.
Atmosphere 5
There is a clear bag policy in effect here.
The stadium is situated nicely and upon entering from any gate (there are gates at all four corners of the stadium), you immediately see the pitch. There are two main seating levels and all seats are easy to get to and sections are clearly marked. Concession areas surround the entire field with restrooms also interspersed throughout.
Both ends of the stadium have scoreboards, with one being a manual board (north) and the south side having a video board. Ribbon board runs throughout and it’s easy to find the score and time from anywhere.
As the fans gather, chanting begins in the supporter’s section, which is on the south side of the stadium. For those that haven’t attended an MLS game, the atmosphere is different than the “big 4” sports in that the fans are constantly chanting and making noise. It’s quite a fun event to attend.
Neighborhood 3
The stadium is located in a business/retail area. As such, your main restaurants in the area are relegated to fast food and pizza with a few exceptions. For fans of Thai food, On’s Kitchen is a few blocks north on Snelling at University. A couple more options north on Snelling include an Ethiopian spot and a Checker Board Pizza.
A few other places worth visiting while in the area include both the Bell Museum, which is Minnesota’s official natural history museum and planetarium. A few miles east of the stadium is the Minnesota Transportation Museum which is a great option for those interested in locomotives.
There are numerous lodging options a few miles east of the stadium in downtown St Paul. We stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton. The hotel was clean and the rates were reasonable.
Fans 5
Minnesota United fans are a passionate bunch. They arrive early and are engaged throughout. The chanting only stops during halftime and even then, there is generally singing going on. This team has one of the best fan bases I’ve seen in my years of stadium traveling.
Access 3
The stadium is located just off I-94. Parking here is less than ideal as there simply aren’t many places to do so without a little walk. I’d highly recommend purchasing a parking pass far in advance, or taking public transportation, which includes options of the Green Line light rail, A line bus rapid transit, or the city bus.
Getting through security and ticket scanning is a quick process. Once inside, the concourses are generally sufficient to get easily. At halftime, they may become congested but still flow without too many issues. There is plenty of ADA seating available.
Return on Investment 4
The average ticket price to a game is $49, but you can find tickets for as low as $17. Parking will run anywhere from $10 up and concessions are around the going rate for professional sports or a little below. There aren’t any bad seats, so there’s no need to break the bank to get in. All things considered; Allianz Field gives you a really good bang for your buck.
Extras 3
Be sure and check out the team store. The Black & Blue store has everything a soccer fan would want.
Allianz Field was built to be as eco-friendly as possible. The Great Lawn on the north side of the stadium is the primarily watered with rainwater captured by the stadium’s roof. This can add up to 2 million gallons per year.
Final point simply goes to the overall experience of attending a game here. The staff is great, and the atmosphere is something to experience.
Final Thoughts
This stadium was the author’s first foray into MLS soccer. While I didn’t expect much, I came away knowing I will return to future MLS games. Allianz Field is a great venue to watch a game. It’s very comfortable, easy to get around, and well worth a visit.
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