Minneapolis has spent all summer showing off — stadium concerts, festival weekends, a State Fair on the way. But quietly, on the other side of I-94, one of the prettiest soccer stadiums in America is gearing up for the home stretch of a milestone season. Minnesota United is celebrating its 10th season in Major League Soccer, and the late-summer home slate at Allianz Field is the kind worth planning a trip around. If you’re coming in for a match, skip the highway hotel. Stay at 300 Clifton, the historic Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion in Loring Park — a National Register landmark where matchday ends in a garden hot tub under the stars.
The Loons’ Late-Summer Home Matches
Here’s what’s coming to Allianz Field, per the club’s official 2026 schedule (all kickoffs 7:30 p.m. CT — worth a double-check close to matchday, as times can shift):
- Wednesday, August 19 — vs. Atlanta United FC. The big one: the club’s official 10th Season Celebration Match, and the first time Atlanta has ever played at Allianz Field. There’s real history here — Atlanta was the very first team the Loons hosted in their MLS era, back in 2017. Expect a full house.
- Saturday, August 29 — vs. Orlando City SC. A Saturday night match that lands on the opening weekend of the Minnesota State Fair — fair by day, football by night is a perfect Twin Cities double.
- Wednesday, September 9 — vs. FC Dallas. Another midweek match (more on why that’s a gift below).
- Saturday, September 19 — vs. LA Galaxy. A marquee visitor to close out summer.
And there’s an extra reason to see this team in person: the roster now features Colombian superstar James Rodríguez, who joined the Loons ahead of this season. Tickets go through mnufc.com/tickets.
Getting to Allianz Field From the Mansion
300 Clifton sits on a quiet residential street at the edge of Loring Park, and Allianz Field is an easy hop — about 15 minutes straight up I-94 to the Snelling Avenue exit in St. Paul’s Midway. One transit note for the Atlanta match: light-rail work has buses replacing Green Line trains through downtown Minneapolis August 16–19, so if you’d rather not drive, check Metro Transit before you go — Route 94 runs between the downtowns with a stop at Snelling.
Wednesday Matches Were Made for a Midweek Escape
Two of these matches — Atlanta on August 19 and FC Dallas on September 9 — fall on Wednesdays, and that’s your cue. Our Midweek Escape takes 15% off Sunday-through-Thursday stays, which means you can watch the Loons under the lights, then sleep in a Gilded Age mansion for less than you’d expect. Come back after the final whistle and keep the night going: rack up a game of pool in the media room, or slip downstairs to Gertrude’s Cistern, our speakeasy-turned-haunted-video-lounge with heated reclining seats — the strangest, coziest place in Minneapolis to replay the match highlights.
Where You’ll Stay
Every room in the Carpenter Mansion has its own story. The Crystal Mansion glitters with chandeliers; the Grand Edwardian is all carved fireplaces and old-world grandeur; the Estate Rooms are a smart pick for a quick overnight. Whichever you choose, the garden hot tub is steps away, bubbling under the stars in every season — and hand-painted murals and English gardens fill the spaces in between.
Make It a Full Minneapolis Weekend
If you’re in town for the August 29 or September 19 Saturday matches, build around them. The Minnesota State Fair runs August 27 through September 7. Baseball more your speed? Our Twins and Vikings getaway guide covers the rest of the local sports calendar. By day, wander Loring Park right outside our door, or see the city the charming way aboard Minneapolis Trolley Tours. For dinner with history, there’s the Pillsbury Club, and if your crew needs a downtown studio for a longer stay, our sister property Oakland’s on 9th has you covered.
A 10th season only happens once. See the Loons make some history at Allianz Field — and give yourself a night in a mansion to remember it by. Book your stay at 300 Clifton before the matchday crowds do.
Planning further out? Gopher football’s home slate opens September 3 — see where to stay for Gopher football at Huntington Bank Stadium.