Minnesota United FC of the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced plans to build a soccer specific stadium centrally located between St. Paul and Minneapolis as the organization will join Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2017 or 2018 as an expansion franchise.

The stadium will be completed in 2018 with 20,000 seats and an all-natural grass surface. The US$120 million project will be built on vacant property owned by the Metropolitan Council, and stadium construction will be privately funded and then publicly owned after construction is complete.

“We have waited years for the right stimulus to help drive redevelopment of this area into a more vibrant part of a highly progressive community,” said Richard Birdoff of RK Midway, the owner of the 25-acres that surround the historic bus barn site where the stadium will be centered. “The MLS stadium provides us the catalyst to move ahead and help create something that will further enhance this area in ways that will be a source of pride for everyone.”

New soccer specific stadiums have now been announced in Washington, D.C.; Minnesota; and Los Angeles in recent weeks in addition to Orlando’s soccer stadium that is already under construction. Don’t be surprised to read about David Beckham’s plan in Miami in the near future, as well.

Smaller soccer specific stadiums with estimated seating capacities in the 5,000 – 10,000 range will also be developed in the coming years as the United Soccer League (USL) launched a stadium development initiatives with HOK to have all USL clubs in soccer specific stadiums by 2020. Click here to read more about that initiative.

(Image: Facebook)

These are selected news articles that showed up in our inboxes on Monday morning that we want to pass along to you.

Convention Center CEO Retires (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
“Carol Wallace, CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corp., announced Wednesday [October 21] that she will leave her position at the end of this year but will stay on as a consultant for one more year, ending what will be a 25-year tenure at the bayfront facility.”

Chicago Stadiums Shift Toward Making Concessions Greener (RedEye Chicago)
“The Green Sports Alliance, a nonprofit group of which many of Chicago’s teams and stadiums are members, assembled in Chicago earlier this year to highlight nationwide efforts to make game day greener.”

Inside the F1 Race ‘s Data Center (Fortune)
“As for why a car race might need its own portable data center with 130 tons of gear, F1 is arguably the most data-driven sport out there.”

Convention Centers Must Evolve with Technology (VEGAS INC)
“In an industry where no two events are the same and each event has its unique needs, the traditional telecommunication model does not apply.”

First Virtual Reality Broadcast In College Basketball Is Coming Via Mark Cuban’s Sports Media And Technology Center (SportTechie)
“As of now with virtual reality, there is no running to get popcorn during halftime or commenting to the stranger next to you.”

Jason Aldean on Playing Some of Sports’ Most Iconic Stadiums: ‘It’s So Weird’ (ESPN)
“Growing up in Macon, Georgia, Aldean could have hardly dreamed of scoring a ticket to sit in the highest reaches of Fenway Park or Wrigley Field or the Rose Bowl. Now, the country music star can’t get used to the concept of folks spending hard-earned, not-so-expendable income buying those seats to see him.”

The IAVM Foundation Legacy Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Trustees to an individual or organization who, in the opinion of the IAVM Foundation has made a significant financial and/or non-financial contribution to benefit the mission and objectives of the IAVM Foundation. The Foundation executive director will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Legacy Award nominees:

1. The nominee may be from any membership category of IAVM or from outside of the Association in a related field.
2. Any current or past contributor to the IAVM Foundation may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, specific examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to the IAVM Foundation.
3. At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination.
4. No Chair of IAVM or Chair of the IAVM Foundation is eligible for consideration until the third VenueConnect following his/her term of office.
5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).
6. Nominations must be submitted to the Director of Governance and Operations no later than Nov. 16, 2015.
7. The award may be given posthumously.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Vicki Hawarden, CMP, IAVM Foundation Executive Director and submitted to me, Rosanne Duke, electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 16, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Rogers at (972) 538-1009 or me at (972) 538-1025.

LiveLike VR is a San Francisco start-up that wants fans to watch games via a virtual reality (VR) stadium.

“Sports is not about being ‘on the field’ for the whole game, it’s about being able to hang with your friends, doing stuff while there’s a two-minute timeout, seeing replays, stats, and more,” Andre Lorenceau, CEO and founder of LiveLike VR, told FORTUNE. “We are also focused on infrastructure, with building the capabilities to connect with friends or strangers, multiple ‘channels’ to watch from, statistical interfaces. There’s a whole system that needs to be created before we watch sports in VR, and we’re getting close to finalizing that.”

The company is working with Manchester City to create a VR version of its stadium. Users would be able to download the app and get a custom VR suite where they can invite friends (avatar friends, that is) to watch the game.

“Lorenceau says his team is building a platform that will eventually allow users to invite friends from Facebook directly into their suite,” John Gaudiosi reported for FORTUNE. “Each avatar will have a lipsynched voice that sounds like it’s coming from the couch next to you. Future in-game features will include a table hologram where stats can be mapped over NFL players and highlights from past games can instantly be called up.”

Check out the FORTUNE article to learn more about LiveLike VR and its future plans for the app.

(Image: LiveLike VR)

The Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguish Allied Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Directors to an individual currently or previously employed by a firm which is or was an Allied Member in good standing. The president and CEO will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Anzivino Award nominees:

1. The nominee must have been an IAVM member for at least ten (10) years total, which need not be consecutive.
2. Any member may make a nomination, which must provide a minimum of three examples of the nominee’s exemplary service and contributions to IAVM and/or the industry (for example: leadership, accomplishments, professional service/activities, projects/results).
3. The nominee must have served IAVM by: 1) Attendance at no fewer than six Annual Conferences (VenueConnect); 2) Attendance at no fewer than 10 Region Meetings; 3) Being chair of at least two IAVM committees or sub-committees; 4) Being a member of IAVM Board of Directors, IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees, Board of Regents, or Board of Governors during the member’s tenure with IAVM; 5) Being a member of an IAVM program, campaign, or task force/committee.
4. No Chair of the Allied Committee is eligible for consideration until the second Annual Conference (VenueConnect) following his/her term of office.
5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).
6. The award may be given posthumously.
7. Selection of recipients will be made by an 80 percent vote of the Board of Directors. Recommendations to the Board of Directors for nominees shall be made by the Allied Committee.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to Vicki Hawarden, CMP, IAVM president and CEO, and submitted to me, Rosanne Duke, electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 16, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact me at (972) 538-1025.