MINNEAPOLIS - The Super Bowl has been secured. Now the Minnesota Vikings have set their sights on soccer. With construction underway on their new stadium, the Vikings have intensified their pursuit of a Major League Soccer franchise for the NFL facility that team owners designed in hopes of accommodating both sports. Co-owner Mark Wilf met this week with MLS officials, the latest dialogue between the two parties. The Vikings also announced a partnership with promoter Relevent Sports, a major player in the soccer world that is helping sell an international tournament game between two European teams to be played at the University of Minnesota in August. "We like to go to new markets," Revelant Sports CEO Charlie Stillitano said Wednesday. "It seems like wherever we go an MLS team follows, and I think its a good thing." Most MLS teams, 15 of the current 19, play in soccer-specific stadiums for around 20,000 fans in a more intimate setting, but the Vikings have been touting their plan to classily cover the upper bowl of their new venue and reduce capacity from 65,000 to between 20,000 and 25,000. The translucent roof and five pivoting glass doors on the front of the building -- plus seats and suites close to the action -- give the facility a more vibrant feel. "Theres a real opportunity there, and we really have a lot of respect and admiration for the ownership group," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said earlier this year. Atlanta will begin play in 2017 at that citys new retractable roof NFL stadium to be built for the Falcons, whose owner Arthur Blank acquired the soccer club. Plans there will convert the 71,000-seat football facility to a soccer capacity of 29,000 by only using the lower bowl. With the regular season starting in March and the MLS Cup held in December, a roof would be ideal for a team in Minnesota. When Sporting KC won the championship game outside last year, the game-time temperature in Kansas City was 22 degrees with a wind chill of 12 that plummeted as the sun set. The MLS has added five teams in the last five years with a goal of 24, and New York City and Orlando will make 21 next season. Miami has also granted a franchise to former star David Beckham, contingent on a soccer-specific stadium being built there. That only leaves one spot left, and Garber said earlier this year Sacramento, California, San Antonio and San Diego are also under consideration. MLS executive vice-president for communications Dan Courtemanche said theres no specific deadline for awarding the next franchise. "There is no shortage of demand for future MLS expansion teams, and many markets and potential ownership groups have contacted the league office to inquire," he said. Criteria for MLS expansion include a committed local viable ownership group with a comprehensive stadium plan it controls, in an appropriate market attractive to sponsors and television networks with a history of strong fan support. The Twin Cities area currently has a team, Minnesota United FC, in the North American Soccer League, a level below the MLS. "We think our stadium is the perfect fit for MLS. We also think that Minneapolis-St. Paul has tremendous potential for MLS," Vikings vice-president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said. The legislation authorizing funding for the stadium included a five-year window from the opening during which the Wilfs have exclusive rights to bring an MLS franchise to the venue. That doesnt mean another group couldnt beat them to it at another site. Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire, the former CEO of United Health Group, has been linked with Minnesota Twins owner Jim Pohlad as potential partners in an MLS franchise. But that would require money for and construction of yet another new sports facility in a crowded market. Vikings officials will use the Aug. 2 match between Manchester City FC and Olympiacos FC, part of the Guinness Cup tournament, as an opportunity to gain more knowledge of and grassroots support for the sport. About 20,000 tickets have been sold so far, Stillitano said. Cheap Asics Shoes Free Shipping . -- Ben Bishop had a milestone game against one of the NHLs greatest goalies. Cheap Asics Running Shoes . Minutes before the final whistle of Sporting Kansas Citys 3-0 victory over a shorthanded Montreal Impact squad on Saturday afternoon, Saputo tweeted: "Our fans deserve better. http://www.wholesaleasics.com/ . Klose has a bruised pelvic bone and abdominal muscle problems but team doctors are trying to get him fit in time for the match. Bender has a hamstring injury. Germany is already without half-dozen players, due to injury or bad form. Discount Asics Shoes .com) - There may be a debate in Philadelphia about who should be the starting quarterback of the Eagles. Asics Shoes Clearance . - Houston defensive end J.The City of Winnipeg has a stomach flu going around and I caught it. That made training a little difficult. I lost a lot of ground but gained a new understanding of just what it means when athletes get the flu, even a week before a big game or fight. I have been useless. Cardio was cut in half and I instantly dripped sweat. My technical skills hitting the heavy bag had no rhythm, and looked horrible. Im not looking to get into an MMA match, and I cant imagine what it must be like to go into one with a flu, having been part of the last one or two weeks of a fight camp. Its an official excuse in my books. However, training must go on, also, work and all things media related. This is the beauty of my career. Like most up and coming MMA fighters, I have a full time job to fit training around. I also do a lot of media work to promote my One Fit City movement. There are no days off trying to get the Nation of Canada healthier, One Fit City at a time. Fighters have to train, work, and promote themselves. There is no one who will make them stars; they need to do it themselves. It all takes time and energy. This week, after returning to something that resembled training Thursday, the plan is going to involve a lot of plyometrics and heavy lifts. This is where you, the fan at home can try adding to your workout. There is a lot of disconnect with fighters, fans, and strength coaches. Most fighters have media at their workouts for the last 10 days. Thats when the conditioning and power circuits are in place. Strength coaches usually are not well spoken or very interesting people so they dont get to come on and explain the science or the buildiing of a program.ddddddddddddSo fans think fighters do nothing but circuits. Early on, if an athlete needs to tune up their power, we use big power movements. Elite Performance is one of those gyms where you can drop weights, Olympic lift, and bend bars with weights. In fact, Jeff Fisher demands it. So for me, old, frail, retired, radio show, blogging, me, its going to be rough getting back to this next week for real. If you are a fan looking to try some of this stuff, you may want to consider one of two things. First, invest and go see and use a gym that trains pro athletes. Across the Nation there are some amazing gyms that have popped up. You can get the assistance from a professional strength coach and train in a facility that has real pro athletes getting better. Second, visit the local University. Same concept as a private facility, less cost, but there are usually a lot less options for when you can train. So this week, add into your training regime two days, preferably Monday and Thursday, that have big strength and plyo lifts. Im going to be doing something like this - 3 Warm up front squats x 8-10 - 5 sets of back squat x 6 super set with 4 max medicine ball jumps - 5 sets of dead lift x 6 super set with 6 single leg skate jumps Then I have a super-secret set of plyos and various balance/isolating leg exercises. They are just exercises I pick that day based on how Im feeling and whats needing more work, lateral jumping or vertical. Have fun, add some heavy strength creating work to your plan. Make some changes that you will notice in your lifting. Then, think about trying some conditioning classes. Give kickboxing a try. Wholesale HoodiesNFL Shirts OutletJerseys NFL WholesaleCheap NFL Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale Jerseys CheapCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '