Workers raise the first steel column. (Photo courtesy of Minnesota United)

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota United Tuesday hosted a steel column raising ceremony at the Allianz Field stadium site.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, St. Paul City Councilmember Dai Thao and Representative Rena Moran, along with United managing partner Dr. Bill McGuire, spoke to assembled media and partners, provided a stadium update and commemorated the construction milestone by signing a structural steel column.

The arrival of structural steel is a major milestone in the construction process for Allianz Field.

On Monday, 50 tons of structural steel columns and beams arrived at the future home of United. More than 440 tons of driver tube material, 1,500 tons of steel canopy and 2,400 tons of structural steel columns and beams will arrive later, making for more than 4,500 tons of steel in the building. There will be more than 7,940 main structural steel pieces that will make up the stadium structure.

The steel was fabricated by Merrill Iron & Steel, from Schofield, Wisc., and will be erected on site by Danny’s Construction Company, who are headquartered out of Shakopee, Minn.

Allianz Field, Minnesota United’s privately financed, soccer-specific stadium, which began construction in June, will seat 19,400, including 2,800 supporters in the safe-standing area. The stadium will feature a 115 x 75-yard natural-grass playing surface, with the farthest fan seated 125 feet from the field.

The stadium is scheduled to open in Spring 2019.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.