More than 8,000 season ticket deposits have been sold for Minnesota United FC's inaugural season as a Major League Soccer franchise, the team announced Thursday.

The team's widely expected move to MLS was announced a month ago at CHS Field in St. Paul. The team will play its home games at TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota while its its new 20,000-seat stadium is being built in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul.

"The overwhelming support we have received since officially announcing our entry into Major League Soccer has been amazing," Minnesota United President Nick Rogers said in a statement. "It's hugely gratifying to be a part of bringing MLS to Minnesota. The passion from our current fans and the incredible interest from our newest fans is very rewarding for everyone throughout our organization."

The team, in a nod to the state's "Land of 10,000 Lakes'' nickname, is offering seat selection priority to the first 11,842 fans placing 2017 deposits. Those fans, equal to the state's actual count of lakes, will be "memorialized'' in the new stadium as well, the statement said.

The Loons are playing their final season in the North American Soccer League with home games at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The team has 5,457 season ticket-holders and has an average attendance of 9,066 per game.

David La Vaque • 612-673-7574