Dive Brief:
- Vikings stadium builder Mortenson Construction has been selected to build the $120 million, 20,000-seat Minnesota United soccer stadium in St. Paul, MN, according to MPR News.
- Mortenson will team with Kansas City-based architect Populous once again after several projects together, including the Xcel Energy Center, the Atlanta Braves stadium and a remodel of the Tampa Bay Lightning arena.
- Minnesota United currently plays in the North American Soccer League, but was awarded a Major League Soccer franchise earlier this year.
Dive Insight:
Mortenson is considered a sports facilities specialist. In addition to the Vikings stadium and Xcel Energy Center for the Minnesota Wild NHL team, the contractor has built the Target Center for the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA team and Target Field for the Minnesota Twins MLB team.
"We are very pleased and fortunate to have Mortenson Construction as our partner as we build a new, world-class soccer stadium and begin a larger re-development of Midway area," Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire said in a statement. "Mortenson is a Minnesota company that is internationally recognized as builders of great sports facilities. That experience — coupled with their ongoing focus on innovation, technology and quality — will benefit our team and fans, the sport of soccer, the neighborhoods around the new facility, and our entire state."
McGuire has said the team will build the stadium with private funds, thus giving them the option to pick the builder and architect.
Mortenson is currently locked in a $15 million change order dispute with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority for its work at the new $1.1 billion Vikings stadium. The two unsuccessfully negotiated for a year over bills for the extra work, and the issue is now in mediation.
Mortenson has also been in the spotlight recently for its move into the energy storage market. The company's large-scale battery business is in addition to Mortenson’s 148 wind projects — worth $343 million last year — and 57 solar projects completed or under construction.
