Art, skating rink, and flower garden coming to Allianz site

United Village at the Allianz Field MLS soccer stadium has a flurry of activity with an office building and two new restaurants going up. Public art by local and international known artists, a covered ice rink and a flower garden park are upcoming highlights.
Minnesota United owner Dr. Bill McGuire unveiled new ideas at an Oct. 9, 2025 community update meeting. Ward 1 Council Member Anika Bowie, Union Park District Council and Hamline Midway Coalition hosted the update. About 40 people attended, with many taking part in a wide-ranging discussion that even included the vacant CVS site kitty-corner from United Village.
The ice rink, which would be near Pascal Street, and the flower garden park could open as soon as next year. That park would be developed along University just east of the loon sculpture. Newport-based Bailey Nurseries is involved in the flower garden park.
Buildings under construction will be the first physical structures to open their doors in the superblock since Allianz Field opened in 2019.
The structures will share space next summer with the Breakaway Music Festival, which returns to Allianz Field the last weekend of June 2026.
During his presentation McGuire was emphatic about his goal for United Village to be an “interesting and exciting place.” His travels have informed concepts for public spaces and businesses.
Another point he made is the need to take advantage of visibility at Snelling and University avenues. “No other place in the state has this kind of traffic flow,” he said.
One issue raised is how the developments could in turn spark change in the surrounding neighborhood. That includes the CVS site and Midway Marketplace, where Cub Foods recently closed. He’d like to see private commercial development there, in contrast to some neighborhood residents’ calls for a community center or public facility.
One point he made is that redevelopment needs careful planning and should not be done simply for the sake of development. But city licensing, permitting and planning staff have caused delays that frustrate McGuire. One example he gave is delays in getting trees planted around The Calling, the large loon sculpture.
The Apostrophe ice skating rink would be near Pascal Street, south of a potential music and event venue at the Pascal-University Avenue corner. McGuire said the 160 by 120-foot rink area could be used for farmers’ markets, small festivals and other events. He envisions it as a skating rink, not a venue for hockey.
The flower garden park, which is just more than an acre in size, will be along University just east of Snelling Avenue and the loon sculpture.
The park will have sculptures by Korean artist Kim Kyung-Min.
Public art was a theme throughout the presentation. While he kept names of business partners to himself, McGuire touted the artists he’ll be working with. The two restaurants, which are going up north of the stadium, will be connected by an open area. One will be a diner, and the other an old-school Italian pizzeria with Chianti wine served from wicker baskets.
“They’re going to be really cool, they’re going to be really unique,” McGuire said of the restaurants.
Art will be prominent everywhere, including a large outdoor mural by local artists Ta-Coumba Aiken and Seitu Jones.
Other artists on aspects of the development including New York City-based muralist Timothy Curtis, sculptor Jorge Jiménez Martínez and KAWS, the professional name of sculptor Brian Donnelly.
The four-story office building on the western side of the development will have a bank and French-style Boulangerie bakery among its main floor tenants.
Future plans include a 158-room hotel and parking ramp along University, which could start construction in 2027 if not sooner. This building will include a 4,000-square-foot room that can be used for community events.
Longer-term ideas include the music and arts venue, housing and possibly a day care center.
Some at the meeting asked about housing. But housing isn’t first on his property list, McGuire said. He wants something different than the multi-family buildings going up in the area. He showed images akin to European row-houses, organized around courtyards.