Minnesota United FC on Tuesday asked state lawmakers for tax relief to help it privately finance a soccer-specific outdoor stadium in downtown Minneapolis that would cost an estimated $150 million.

United FC owners, led by former UnitedHealth Group executive Bill McGuire, shared with Gov. Mark Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, and House Speaker Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, a plan to pay $120 million for construction of an 18,500-seat stadium in downtown Minneapolis and $30 million for about 10 acres across three parcels near Target Field.

The team will pay Major League Soccer a $100 million expansion fee for the franchise officially awarded to Minnesota on March 25.

“I’m surprised that they’re making this kind of investment,” said Bakk, who made it clear he would not support public financing for a stadium as soon as United FC’s winning bid became official last month.

“It’s a tremendous financial investment that these owners are making to bring soccer here,” he said.

The club asked lawmakers for a sales-tax exemption related to construction costs for materials and supplies, a property-tax exemption or relief, and limits on future taxes levied on the stadium and its operations.

Dayton said the ratio of private-to-public financing should make taxpayeres “very, very pleasantly surprised” but added, “I haven’t committed to anything.”

Dayton and Daudt joined Bakk in trying to shoo United FC away from the Capitol, citing “stadium fatigue” after the state and local municipalities chipped in to help build stadiums for the Twins, University of Minnesota football team and Vikings, as well as a renovation to the Timberwolves’ Target Center.

On Tuesday, however, Dayton said he will wait and see before taking a stand on United’s tax requests. The sales tax break on construction materials alone is estimated to be about $3 million.

“I want to hear what the legislative leaders have to say, and we will make that assessment when all the numbers come out,” he said.

Bakk called United’s request “pretty modest when compared to other stadium proposals” but said it’s “unlikely” that a sales-tax exemption would be included in legislation before this year’s session ends in May.

He suggested United seek tax abatement or tax-increment financing from Hennepin County and possibly the City of Minneapolis, which would not require state legislation.

“It’s still a heavy lift, and if the city and county don’t support it, there’s no path,” Bakk said. “People are going to have to take the temperature of the city and county.”

Daudt said he was “encouraged” that United is not asking for direct public money but echoed Bakk’s thoughts on state legislation, calling that plan an “uphill battle.”

“I advised them that their chances around here are not real good this session,” Daudt said.

During MLS’ announcement that a franchise was coming to Minnesota, league commissioner Don Garber made it clear the promise of a stadium was necessary, going so far as to say without a deal by July, the league would have to re-evaluate the deal.

“We are committed to getting this done this year,” McGuire said Tuesday. “This is an extraordinary opportunity for our community to have won the MLS franchise and have it come here. There are a lot of other cities around the country, which you well know, that are very much desirous of this franchise spot that we’ve got.”

Other United owners present were Twins owner Bob Pohlad; Timberwolves president Chris Wright, who was representing owner Glen Taylor; Wendy Carlson Nelson of Carlson Companies; and team president Nick Rogers.

Property-tax exemptions have been granted for the new $1 billion Vikings stadium, the Twins’ Target Field, the Wild’s Xcel Energy Center, the Timberwolves’ Target Center renovations, CHS Field for the St. Paul Saints and the U’s TCF Bank Stadium, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.

In addition, the sales-tax exemption for construction materials was granted for the Vikings stadium, Target Field and TCF Bank Stadium. According to the Department of Revenue, the state otherwise would have collected $22.5 million from the Vikings stadium, $18 million from the Target Field and $5 million from TCF Bank stadium.

However, those stadiums are publicly owned and were built in large part with taxpayer money. United’s stadium will be privately built and owned.

“They (exemptions) are absolutely standard,” McGuire said. “We are not asking for anything new. The unique thing here is, we are putting out the money here to do this.”

United says stadium construction would generate 1,900 jobs and more than $2.5 million in annual state and local taxes. They say they believe the “soccer park” will be an “anchor tenant” in an underdeveloped section of Minneapolis.

Daudt, however, said he is not currently open to extending exemptions.

“They will have to present this to the public and present it to the other members of the Legislature,” Daudt said, “and we will see if they can gain any support.”

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/andygreder.