When airplane wheels got off the ground Thursday, members from both Minnesota groups vying for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise could recline their seats in satisfaction over their presentations to MLS leaders in New York.

Members from Minnesota United FC, the Vikings and groups from Sacramento and Las Vegas each presented their individual cases at league headquarters. MLS, currently with 19 teams, has awarded four teams with the goal of adding another one by 2020.

“We had productive expansion meetings with representatives from Las Vegas, Minneapolis and Sacramento,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “We were impressed with the presentations made by each group.”

The Vikings and United both reciprocated MLS’ positive response.

“We think the presentation was well received,” said Lester Bagley, the Vikings’ executive vice president of public affairs and stadium development. “We’ve been working hard on MLS for a long time.”

In the Legislature’s passage of a new stadium bill, the Vikings received five-year exclusive rights to host an MLS team within its $1 billion stadium. If MLS comes to Minnesota but the franchise plays elsewhere, the Vikings have no rights of ownership.

“We have strong ownership (Zygi and Mark Wilf) who are passionate about and committed to MLS,” Bagley said. “We have momentum building for MLS in a growing soccer market.”

United’s presentation focused on how the franchise has grown soccer in Minnesota. Attendance now averages more than 5,000 at the team’s current home, the National Sports Center in Blaine. The Loons advanced this season to the North American Soccer League semifinals. They have developed midfielder Miguel Ibarra, who has earned two call-ups to the U.S. men’s national team.

“It was a great conversation,” club president Nick Rogers said. “It was part presentation, part dialogue.”

The presentation also included details on United’s local ties, from former UnitedHealth Group leader Bill McGuire to other prominent partners. A source has said those partners include Twins owner Jim Pohlad and Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor.

“We talked about having local people involved in this kind of project (being) essential,” Rogers said.

McGuire is exploring options to build a new soccer-specific stadium in the area near Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. The team doesn’t have stadium deal done, Rogers said, but “there are some attractive options out there.”

“We think the future of pro soccer in Minnesota is ultimately going to be best served by having a pro team playing in a soccer-specific stadium,” Rogers said. “That is what the MLS has seen as being very successful.”

Soccer-specific stadiums include 25,000 seats or fewer. The Vikings’ new stadium will have more than 60,000 seats; there are plans to curtain off the upper decks to make it soccer-ready.

MLS has circled its board of governors meeting Dec. 6 as the next date of action.

“We will provide an update on the expansion process and timeline,” Garber said.

Bagley said MLS indicated “they are working to move this forward as efficiently as they can.”

Added Rogers, “I think this will be a good start of a dialogue that will continue.”

Follow Andy Greder at twitter.com/andygreder.