Allianz Field to host its first musical event, a two-day dance music festival in June

Ross Raihala, Pioneer Press
Updated ·2 min read
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Five years after it opened to the public, St. Paul’s Allianz Field will finally host its first musical event in June.

Breakaway Minnesota, a two-day electronic dance music festival, will take place June 28 and 29 on the lawn outside the soccer stadium in the Midway. Illenium, Kaskade, Slander and Knock2 will headline the 24-act lineup, which also includes Minnesotans Caiked Up, Jkatz, Spirit Motel and Timetwofly. Tickets are priced from $999 to $70 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday via breakawayfestival.com.

Stadium officials “had a lot of good momentum” toward booking musical acts after opening in 2019, said Zacharia Litzelswope, director of events and guest experience.

“And then COVID happened,” Litzelswope said. “That put a damper on our efforts.”

While soccer will always be the main focus at Allianz Field, officials are eager to bring music into the mix. To that end, they’ve been working with the California-based company Terrapin Station Entertainment, which helps 10 Major League Soccer teams around the country book live music in their venues.

“They’ve been helpful in building key relationships to get into the music space,” Litzelswope said. That includes helping facilitate Breakaway Minnesota.

“We’re excited to host a really awesome event that’s had success around the country,” he said. “We’re always looking for new and engaging content.”

The Breakaway festival brand began in Ohio in 2016 and has since expanded into multiple cities across the country. This year will stand as Breakaway’s biggest to date, with festivals in 10 cities, two of which are also new markets alongside St. Paul. More than 100,000 fans attended Breakaway events in 2023.

Dr. Bill McGuire, owner of Minnesota United, has positioned himself as lead developer for the land around Allianz Field. He recently told community residents that it was in his own financial interest to boost activity in and around the stadium.

Plans call for the installation of a giant loon sculpture this summer at the corner of Snelling and University avenues, as well as putting finishing touches on an all-abilities playground to the stadium’s immediate east.

Beyond that, McGuire hopes to install a hotel, parking ramp, office building and two food pavilions in the months ahead, provided he can nail down financing.

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