Chart: Minnesota United FC projected income
Estimated Revenues
MLS gate: 18,500 regular seats (96 percent capacity) at $30 for 18 games$9,500,000
Club seats: 1,000 club seats at $1250 per season$1,250,000
Premium seats: 30 suites at $40,000 per season$1,200,000
Concessions: $20 per cap for 17,750 fans (18,500 x 96 percent) for 18 games$6,300,000
Parking: $20 per 105,000 cars$2,000,000
TV deal: eight years, $720 million = $90 million/24 clubs in 2018$3,750,000
Non-MLS rent and sponsorships$1,000,000
Total revenues$25,000,000
Estimated Operating Expenses
Stadium operations$6,000,000
Player sosts (Salary cap $3 million) 28 players at $150,000 MLS average$4,200,000
General and adminstrative expenses$2,300,000
Stadium property taxes*$4,000,000
Total operating expenses$16,500,000
Operating Profit (Private ownership) $8,500,000
Projected $150m private soccer specific stadium (SSS) with 19,500 capacity.
*Assumes private ownership of stadium.
$8.675 million would payoff $150 million in 30 years at taxable corporate rate of 4 percent
*City ownership of stadium team makes muni-bond payments instead of taxes
$7.653 million would payoff $150 million in 30 years at tax-free muni rate of 3 percent
Value of MLS club is about 4 x revenues: 4 x $25m = $100 million expansion fee
Source: John Vrooman, Vanderbilt University
about the writer
The Minnesota Frost are getting production from newcomers and their established vets, with notable improvement on special teams.