MLS backs St. Paul soccer stadium site for Minnesota United

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber said Monday that he likes St.

Don Garber, the league’s commissioner, said he likes the Metropolitan Council’s former “bus barn” property in St.

But after United’s request for property tax relief — among other tax concessions — was rebuffed by state lawmakers in May, Coleman stepped into the breach with an aggressive campaign for the Midway site, a vacant, 10-acre lot where Metro Transit once parked its buses.

Aerial shots of the bus barn site, possible home of a major league soccer stadium, at the intersection of Snelling Avenue (running vertically on left side Aerial shots of the bus barn site, possible home of a major league soccer stadium, at the intersection of Snelling Avenue (running vertically on left side of photo) and I-94, with the north direction at top of the frame, photographed on Thursday, August 20, 2015.

“We just think soccer is strong right now, and I can’t think of anything better than to have soccer at the Midway site,” said Coleman, who appeared at the same media event as Garber.

Paul City Council has already passed a nonbinding resolution signaling its support for a stadium in St.

Paul would need legislative approval to exempt the site from local property taxes, as well as exemptions for taxes on construction equipment and materials.

Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber appeared at a news conference Monday at Mears Park in St.

Garber expressed the league’s preference for the old Midway “bus barn” for the proposed new Minnesota United FC soccer stadium.