MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings executives on Monday unveiled plans in which the new Vikings stadium can be a first-class, state of the art venue for soccer matches.

The stadium, which is scheduled to open in July 2016, can have a soccer specific seating arrangement for about 25,000 through a house reduction system that could implement a stylistic curtain system with soccer specific logos and décor.

The plan was announced at the New Stadium Preview Center, which is located across the street from the construction site that is nearly a third complete on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the site's groundbreaking.

The Vikings ownership group is participating in the bidding process for a Major League Soccer expansion franchise, and has emphasized the stadium's capability of being a soccer-specific venue for the sport's impassioned fans, the interest in the sport in the Twin Cities market, and the passionate commitment that Vikings Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf have for professional sports.

ESPN soccer analyst Taylor Twellman, a native of Apple Valley whose father played professionally for the Minnesota Kicks, delivered the keynote speech. Twellman, a former MLS MVP and player on the U.S. National Men's Team also visited Vikings headquarters at Winter Park Monday.