The Minnesota United ownership group was looking to up its game - they wanted to create an experience for MNUFC fans unlike any other MLS stadium and bring international recognition to Minnesota. In a once contaminated and vacant plot in Saint Paul, Populous met the challenge of designing a world-class purpose-built stadium that would serve as an economic driver and catalyst for the community, reflect its regional context and garner international attention.
Allianz Field illustrates innovation, sustainability and thoughtful design from the inside out. The intimate stadium bowl design with an elevated pitch creates an explosive environment like the English Premier League, while the 360-degree canopy reduces light and noise pollution from spilling into nearby neighborhoods. The sustainable design also includes incredible water conservation efforts, including an underground reservoir that collects two million gallons of water to irrigate an urban park. The first-of-its-kind fabric exterior wraps around the structure and is backlit with 1,700 emotive LED lights; when lit, the result is a mesmerizing lightshow reminiscent of flowing water, alluding to the numerous lakes in the region, and mimicking the Northern Lights.
The new 19,400 seat stadium consistently sells out every game as fans flock to this once-neglected Minnesota neighborhood to witness what ESPN dubbed “the best MLS stadium experience.” The winner of the 2019 AIA Kansas City Design Excellence Award for Architecture, Allianz Field draws together the Minnesota United family in a place they can truly call their own.
All the information about how to enter the 2020 WAN Awards is here.
We are very happy to offer support so please don’t hesitate to email Georgia, WAN Awards Event Coordinator with any questions at Georgia.Baily@haymarket.com.
Last year more than 40 countries took part in the WAN Awards with strong showings from Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. And we saw some truly outstanding projects, take a look at the winners from last year here.