The Allianz Field effect has already had a massive impact on Minnesota United’s operation.



Much of the past two seasons have been spent building up to the grand opening of the league’s newest soccer-specific stadium. A year ago, team CEO Chris Wright promised that Allianz Field was “going to be the cathedral for soccer in the United States.” The stadium has lived up to every rendering, promising a massive aesthetic upgrade over their previous temporary venue at TCF Bank Stadium.



Unfortunately for Loons fans, the stadium’s grand opening won’t take place until April 13. The additional five weeks of waiting may torment supporters, but the decision was very intentional.



“Obviously from a team perspective, opening the season with five games on the road is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination,” Wright told The Athletic on Tuesday. “We felt in the end it was the right thing to do on multiple levels,...