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. Custom Pittsburgh Penguins Jerseys . He could have transferred when academic sanctions barred the Huskies from the NCAA tournament his junior season. Penguins Jerseys 2020 . - Josh Sterk scored twice to lead the Oshawa Generals to a 7-1 rout of the Ottawa 67s in Mondays Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.cheappenguinsjersey.com/. A little more than one year after missing a last-second tip-in that would have given the Wolverines a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, the 6-foot-8 forward scored on a layup with 7. Cheap Penguins Jerseys . Mired in an offensive slump, Lowry - the NBAs leader in taking charges this season - did what he has learned to do best, standing his ground and drawing a crucial offensive foul on the Cavaliers all-star point guard. Fast forward 30 seconds to the Cavs next possession, with the home team still trailing by three, Spencer Hawes - one of the leagues best passing big men - threw an interception, intended for Tyler Zeller and picked off by DeMar DeRozan. Pittsburgh Penguins Pro Shop . Playing in his 19th career final, the second-seeded Tsonga was favourite to win the Open 13 for the third time and to secure an 11th career title, but he struggled with Gulbis attacking approach.Norman, OK (SportsNetwork.com) - Devin Chafin and Shock Linwood both ran for two touchdowns as 10th-ranked Baylor posted an impressive 48-14 win over No. 16 Oklahoma on Saturday. Bryce Petty set a career high with 32 completions and finished with 387 passing yards and one touchdown for the Bears (8-1, 5-1 Big 12), who scored the final 45 points en route to posting the programs first-ever win in 12 trips to Norman. Corey Coleman caught 15 passes for 224 yards, the second-highest totals in a game in Baylor history, and scored two touchdowns. Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight completed 12- of-27 passes for 146 yards with two touchdowns and one interception before being forced out of the game on a fourth-quarter sack. Knight was placed on a backboard and pointed to the sky as he was being removed on a cart. Alex Ross amassed 71 yards on six carries for Oklahoma (6-3, 3-3), which had produced at least 30 points in 12 straight games. Final Score: (12) Ole Miss 48, Presbyterian 0 Oxford, MS (SportsNetwork.com) - Following tough losses against two SEC West foes, Ole Miss let off some steam against an FCS opponent. Bo Wallace passed for 140 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half, and the No. 12 Rebels rolled to a 48-0 win over Presbyterian on Saturday. Wallace threw touchdown passes of 66 and 23 yards to Vince Sanders in the first quarter and rushed for a score during a 21-point second quarter as the Rebels (8-2) shook off losses to LSU and Auburn with their first win since Oct. 18. Mark Dodson rushed for 128 yards for the Rebels in the first half, almost all of it coming on touchdown carries of 65 and 62 yards in the second quarter. Jordan Wilkins added 10 carries for 171 yards, including a 73-yard touchdown. Heys McMath was 9-of-17 passing for 59 yards for Presbyterian (5-5) and Ed Britt intercepted Wallace in the second quarter. Final Score: (17) Georgia 63, Kentucky 31 Lexington, KY (SportsNetwork.com) - Isaiah McKenzie returned the games opening kickoff for a touchdown and scored on a punt return as No. 17 Georgia blasted Kentucky 63-31 on SSaturday.dddddddddddd Hutson Mason threw a career-high four touchdown passes despite not playing one snap in the fourth quarter for Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC), which rebounded from last weeks 38-20 loss to Florida. Mason was 13-of-16 for 174 yards, and Nick Chubb rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown in the bounce-back win. The Bulldogs had a three- touchdown lead just over 10 minutes into the game. Patrick Towles totaled 139 yards with a touchdown pass and ran for another score for the Wildcats (5-5, 2-5), who suffered their fourth straight loss. Towles completed 16- of-31 passes with one interception and added 60 yards on the ground. Final Score: (25) Wisconsin 34, Purdue 16 West Lafayette, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - Melvin Gordon rushed for 205 yards and a touchdown and No. 25 Wisconsin beat Purdue 34-16 on Saturday. Joel Stave passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns in the win, most of it in the first half as the Badgers (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) played their first game as a ranked team in over a month. They overcame a shaky start to the second half, which included Gordons fumble and failed fourth-down run and a near-onside kick recovery by the Boilermakers after Austin Applebys 79-yard touchdown pass to Akeem Hunt got them within 24-16. Appleby passed for 204 yards for Purdue (3-7, 1-5), which has lost three in a row. Paul Griggs kicked three field goals in the loss, including two over 50 yards. Final Score: (22) Duke 27, Syracuse 10 Syracuse, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Jamison Crowder scored on a 52-yard punt return to break a tie and spark a big fourth quarter that lifted No. 22 Duke to a 27-10 win over Syracuse on Saturday. Anthony Boone passed for 161 yards with two touchdown throws to Issac Blakeney and the Blue Devils (8-1, 4-1 ACC) scored 17 unanswered points in the last 12:45 of the game to finish off their fourth straight win. They moved to 16-1 in their last 17 regular-season games. The Orange (3-7, 1-5) have lost three in a row. It was the first football game between the two traditional basketball powerhouses since 1939. ' ' '