Minnesota United home game not on Apple TV due to Allianz Field strike

Allianz Field in-house gameday staff picketed outside and struck seeking their first collectively bargained contract.

October 8, 2023 at 12:34AM
Fans fill the stadium before the start of the match between Minnesota United and Toronto FC Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. ]
Allianz Field broadcasting staff began a strike before Saturday’s game against LA Galaxy. (Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Minnesota United's final regular-season home game was not carried on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass coverage Saturday after Allianz Field in-house production staff picketed outside and struck seeking their first collectively bargained contract.

A livestream of the game was available on MLSsoccer.com and highlights and commentary were on MLS Season Pass' 360 studio commentary.

The game also was broadcast on the club's 1500 ESPN Radio.

About 30 union members set up a picket line several hours before the night's kickoff against LA Galaxy. Workers who run cameras, replays, music and more wrote on X — the social media platform formerly known as Twitter — on the account @MnufcUnion: "Today we strike. For seven months, we have bargained with MNUFC for our first contract. The team has repeatedly stalled and shown no interest in bargaining a fair deal. We feel we have not been taken seriously."

The Loons released a pregame statement that said, "A group of non-MNUFC employees who are responsible for key elements of broadcast production at Allianz Stadium have chosen not to work tonight's game. The decision by these individuals will impact several areas of live production capabilities. Therefore, our match against the LA Galaxy will not be broadcast on MLS Season Pass."

The statement apologized to our fans and viewers "for the inconvenience."

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about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Star Tribune.

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