Minnesota United today announced a 10-year partnership with Bell Bank forged on a shared commitment to the greater good of the community. The foundation of this First Team Partnership will be the naming of the southwest gate at Allianz Field as Bell Bank Gate. The partnership will be brought to life in the stadium and in the community through both the Man of the Match and the recently launched L’Etoile Du Nord platforms.

“For any professional sports team, partnerships are the bedrock of business operations,” said MNUFC CEO Chris Wright. “In seeking out First Team Partners for Allianz Field, we wanted another level of synergy between our companies. The more we met with Mike Solberg and his staff, the more we felt a complete alignment with the mission and vision of Bell Bank. We want to work hand in hand with Bell Bank to further a shared commitment to the same core values.”

Bell Bank Gate is the first Landmark Partnership to be announced following the naming of Allianz Field. The gate will showcase the Bell Bank brand, tie in various aspects of the Man of the Match and L’Etoile du Nord platforms, and highlight the partnership’s impact on the community.

The Man of the Match entitlement is inspired by Bell Bank’s own “Pay It Forward” initiative, which provides $1,000 each year for every employee to give back to their communities across Minnesota, North and South Dakotas and Arizona. As an extension of the “Pay It Forward” platform, each Minnesota United player who wins Man of the Match – at every home and away match – will receive $1,000 to donate to a charity of their choice. Additionally, the program will kick off with a $10,000 donation to goalkeeper Matt Lampson’s LampStrong Foundation, which supports children fighting cancer.

“The success of our bank’s partnership with Minnesota United will be measured not by wins and losses, but by the people we impact along the way,” said Michael Solberg, president and CEO of Bell Bank. “Together, we plan to find even more ways to have that positive impact.”

The recently launched L’Etoile Du Nord program recognizes community members who embody the core values of the club. MNUFC is resilient, inclusive and dedicated, and values passion, teamwork and respect. Through this program, the club hopes to highlight people embodying those values and making a difference in their communities by honoring them at halftime of every home match this season. Bell Bank will become the program’s title partner as a way to recognize community members who have made an extraordinary impact on their local community.

Bell Bank joins Allianz Life, Target and Allina Health as First Team Partners of Minnesota United FC.