Minnesota United FC, currently playing Tier 2 professional soccer in the NASL, is expected to share with its fans its worst kept secret next Friday night – it will officially join MLS, along with Atlanta United, starting in 2017. However, don’t expect the “United” label to make the leap with it.
With founding league member D.C. United and Atlanta’s expansion club already in the mix, MLS took the initiative to trademark “Minnesota FC” back in February, much to the dismay of a good portion of United’s fan base. Since 2009, the State of Hockey’s top professional soccer club has gone from being called the Thunder, to Stars, to Minnesota United and now what looks to be a new, if not too different, reincarnation.