New Stadium?

Discussion in 'Minnesota United FC' started by Goforthekill, Nov 27, 2011.

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  1. Goforthekill

    Goforthekill Member

    Aug 13, 2011
    Minnesota
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Blaine is way out in the middle of nowhere. are there any plans to build a stadium closer to downtown?
     
  2. NORML

    NORML Member+

    Aug 9, 2002
    Lake Wobegon, MN
    Club:
    NSC Minnesota Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  3. Zathras

    Zathras Member

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minneapolis
    nuf said.
     
  4. CliffBastin

    CliffBastin New Member

    Dec 23, 2011
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    How about a new name? National Sports Center Minnesota Stars just doesn't
    work for me!

    What the heck happened to the Thunder anyway? I move away for three years and
    When I come back MN's soccer team has moved to Blaine and has that crap name.
    I heard the owners ran the thunder into the ground. Hadn't they just bought the team?
     
  5. NORML

    NORML Member+

    Aug 9, 2002
    Lake Wobegon, MN
    Club:
    NSC Minnesota Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Word is they will be known as Minnesota Stars next year. Me I will just call the team Nessie Stars since I believe in Scottich Lake Monster. :D

    The bogus owners wouldn't give up the name without payment. Which the NSC was never gonna pay since the bogus owners owed them some money. Really the name was kind of ruined by the bogus owners since along with not paying the NSC they didn't a pay a bunch of bills around town. A real bummer for those of us whose only connection to a pro-soccer team here was the Thunder. Of course Nessie is off to a pretty good start.
     
  6. msilverstein47

    msilverstein47 Member+

    Jan 11, 1999
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Then how about maybe a change of venue on a permanent basis?

    The Minnesota Stars will kick off the 2012 season indoors in a match that pits the 2011 North American Soccer League champions against the league’s 2011 regular season champions, the Carolina RailHawks. The teams will square off in downtown Minneapolis at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 7, 2012.

    The Stars’ home opener pits them against a RailHawks team with whom they’ve developed a competitive rivalry over the past two seasons. The RailHawks knocked the Stars out of the playoffs in 2010, and the Stars returned the favor by beating Carolina in the 2011 NASL semifinals.

    “We want to be front-and-center in the Twin Cities’ sports scene, and opening our season at the Metrodome against a great team like Carolina will give new fans a great first stepping stone into our team and the NASL,” Stars CEO Djorn Buchholz said. “We’re excited to be bringing the pro game back to downtown after the sport had success there earlier in the decade.”

    The Stars will release ticket information for the game in January. The opener at the Metrodome will be included as a flex ticket in all season ticket packages.

    The 2012 home opener will be the first home game the Stars have played outside NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn. The Minnesota Strikers of the original NASL played home games at the stadium in 1984, and the Minnesota Thunder used the game for regular season openers and select US Open Cup matches from 2003 to 2005. A 2007 exhibition game at the Metrodome between the Thunder and Los Angeles Galaxy drew more than 22,000 fans.
     
  7. mntiburon

    mntiburon Member

    Jun 25, 2009
    Fairfax County, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I wish they would play more games in the Dome. I remember going to Thunder games at Mac in the 90's and that was nice. If the fans put enough pressure on the FO I'm sure they would start exploring fields in the city (Mac, Augsburg, etc.)
     
  8. NORML

    NORML Member+

    Aug 9, 2002
    Lake Wobegon, MN
    Club:
    NSC Minnesota Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I hate being the bringer of bad news about playing in a more central location cause I totally agree it would be for the better of the team but its not really an option right now.

    *Macalaster won't work cause the community around the stadium weren't keen to the idea of having more events at the stadium when the Thunder looked at it as a spot.

    *Augsburg is not big enough

    *The Jimmy is way too narrow and is an actual detractor on bringing in players.

    *TCF Bank cost

    *Parade Stadium size, neighborhood

    *The dome would not financially work. I actually bet the team had to go to the League for a extra bump in advertising/office funding to host the first game there. Thankfully the one Dome game is gonna be early and won't be too hot outside. I've been to Dome games before where even 3000 people, strong Spring Sun and no AC has made for a hot, stuffy unenjoyable experience.

    *Additionally on the financial side any stadium option would have to be just as good or better of a deal than what the club has now with NSC. A deal that along with being financial sound would also provide what the NSC does; the right for the club to serve beer, no football lines, and no track seperating the field from the stands.

    I know the team/FO knows that we all would prefer the team to be centrally located but there really is no good option. Even the league knows it would be for the better but they too see no option that works financially or otherwise.

    I'm not gonna make any speech about how if you love soccer you would make the drive up to Blaine or any of that BS; that is pointless, stupid, insulting, and counter productive at trying to get people out to a game. What I will say though is that the team doesn't play out at the NSC to stick it to anyone or to favor one community over another. Nope, they play up there cause it is the best option they have to financially make a go at it, to attract talent to the club, and to put on a pro-soccer game at a level they feel is respectable to the paying customer.
     
    2 people repped this.
  9. Joktar

    Joktar New Member

    Apr 9, 2008
    Living in the SW suburbs it's a bit of a drive to the NSC but it's not terrible. The stadium is actually quite nice and a much nicer place to be than the Jimmie.

    Really looking forward to the start of another fantastic season.
     
  10. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What was the best season avg for the Thunder? I seem to remember that it was around 5k. I know they have drawn well for some big games in the past and finals. Just thinking they still have a good size market potential to draw from.
     
  11. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    4,101 in 2003.
     
  12. Goforthekill

    Goforthekill Member

    Aug 13, 2011
    Minnesota
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I know that the Stars have low attendance. but seriously, who's going to drive half and hour to go to a second tier soccer game. it's amazing that 4,500 went for the championship game.
     
  13. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Half an hour.

    [​IMG]

    The horror.
     
    1 person likes this.
  14. fireman451

    fireman451 Member+

    Jun 26, 2002
    The Midwest
    Club:
    --other--

    Millions travel more than half an hour to watch second tier football . . . NCAA football.

    Minnesota fans and supporters are awesome. Skol to Twinkie Town.
     
  15. mntiburon

    mntiburon Member

    Jun 25, 2009
    Fairfax County, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm definitely hitting up some Stars matches when I move back to MN later this year. Defending champs!!!
     
  16. placount

    placount Member

    Oct 25, 2007
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's not quite as bad as people make it out to be. The drive is an easy one and the stadium/atmosphere is very nice. I live in uptown, and it takes like 20 minutes to go to NSC. Only problems are drinking at the game and getting a ride home. Wish it was in town here so I could just cycle or bus to and from the games.

    I have minor gripes with it, but it's a good time on a Saturday night no matter how you spin it.
     
  17. ceezmad

    ceezmad Member+

    Mar 4, 2010
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Red Stars
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  18. Goforthekill

    Goforthekill Member

    Aug 13, 2011
    Minnesota
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    NCAA football is different. technically it's first tier. people, barely not including me, live and die for it, and it's football. would you want to travel half and hour to see a second tier soccer game at a crappy stadium? put you self in the mind of a casual fan.
     
  19. Goforthekill

    Goforthekill Member

    Aug 13, 2011
    Minnesota
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Of the NASL
     
  20. mntiburon

    mntiburon Member

    Jun 25, 2009
    Fairfax County, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What else could we be champions of? I suppose we could win the US Open Cup, but that's not very likely considering the talent pool we're stuck with.
     
  21. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Don't know you? You're not supposed to support whatever level of soccer you have, you're supposed to wait and not go near your local team (especially if you have to drive a whole thirty minutes! to get to it) until it plays at the highest level there is.

    So sayeth anonymous internet Europhiles.
     
  22. jw07

    jw07 Member

    May 19, 2008
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Kenn which D1 market still holds the record for the highest average attendance?
     
  23. JamieMCFC

    JamieMCFC Member

    Jan 26, 2006
    Minnesota United FC
    Club:
    Manchester City FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well I will be making the 40 minute drive to the games this year. Finally made the decision to support my local team and bought season tickets. As far as Gopher football goes it really is 3rd rate. But that's coming from someone that got to see 2 years of SEC football live.
     
    1 person likes this.
  24. mntiburon

    mntiburon Member

    Jun 25, 2009
    Fairfax County, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    How much are season tickets btw? I'll be back in Minny in 2013 and I'd like to see some live soccer. Been kind of spoiled here in DC.

    PS- How sweet was it to see ManU slip up yesterday against Wigan? I don't have a favorite EPL club but I'd like to see it go down to the wire. The Manchester derby is coming up soon right?
     
    1 person likes this.
  25. NorthernWall

    NorthernWall Member

    Mar 1, 2012
    As little as 140 dollars.
     

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