This is awesome news for the Dark Clouds, all Stars fans and fans of lower division soccer. I am very happy to hear the deal was reached and I look forward to learning more about the ownership group in the coming weeks.
He's worth 1.6ish billion at the moment from what I've heard - and he's eager enough to be part of the community that he came to a fan event without giving the FO heads up he'd be stopping by. He straight up just wanted to hang out with us. Pretty cool of him. Sounds like the big hangup is relocating the team to Minneapolis. I know that was what held them up for a few days, hopefully this means they've found a resolution, but even if they didn't it's great the paper has been inked! I can't wait for our existing squad to be reimbursed fairly. Having to live in dorms near the stadium is a ********ing travesty. Filling out some holes for the team will also be really great.
1) Keep the Stars name, or take the Thunder name back. Don't reset AGAIN. 2) Invest in NSC. Either complete the stadium in place, or build a new complex closer to town. 3) MARKETING, MARKETING, MARKETING!!! Money is no longer an issue, at least in the near term of the next few years. Reload the team, market the Hell out of its accomplishments the past couple years, and see if this can work at last.
I agree, I hope they keep the stars name. No interest in going back to Thunder. Past is past. And really no interest in Kicks. If we had a cool old NASL name and logo that would be one thing but that does nothing for me. Shine On Stars!
The Stars' badge is one of the sharpest in all of American soccer, not just the NASL. Their blue and gold colors are very bold. Would be kind of dumb to ditch an identity that has a bit of a cult following to it. If the new owner can build on that base, maybe soccer will find some success in Minnesota.
Congrads, I am happy to see you guys not only got a owner, but a owner that has a ton of money. I am curious to see how the plan unfolds. Stadium in Minneapolis/St. Paul or stay in Blaine. Bigger budget for advertising and for signing/resigning. Maybe an academy. Congrads.
Add me to the list of people, "Keep the name!" Our new owners have ensured that we get to keep the Stars, so we should probably keep the Stars. As for a stadium, I think that the team has got to take the long view. I know that at one point the league had looked at the Dome and at an area near Loring Park, but I hope that for the time being they realize what they've got in the NSC. It's not ideal, but they have supported the team through thick and thin, and with some marketing dollars, we may yet get more fans up to see the team in Blaine. I don't think Blaine should be the long-term home of the team, but we as fans should also realize that it's not in the team's immediate best interest to move.
IMO, the outgoing commissioner did a great job with the flegdling NASL over the last 2 years. Saving the Stars by finding a local owner was a monumental feat that I did not think was possible and will certainly rank as one the more memorable things he accomplished - in addition to obtaining sanctioning by USSF as the only D2 league among other things.
http://mnstarsfc.com/2012/11/stars-exercise-13-options-for-2013/ Mitch Hildebrandt Matt VanOekel Justin Davis Brian Kallman Connor Tobin Ernest Tchoupe Kentaro Takada Miguel Ibarra Michael Reed Edi Buro Kevin Venegas Travis Wall Nate Polak So they had 28 players? 13 resigned. 5 cut. 1 signed with EFC. 9 still unsigned.
Yes good for Travis. Frankly I would have rather seen Crew sign him as HG over Horton. At least he graduated from OWU but Horton needed $$ so he could drop out of L-ville. Wonder if they are making about same $$?
ARGUEZ SIGNING WITH MINNESOTA Former U.S. Under-20 and Under-23 national team pool player Bryan Arguez never did manage to break through with the Montreal Impact last year, and is heading back to the NASL to try and kick start his career. Arguez is set to sign with the Minnesota Stars, sources confirmed to SBI on Wednesday. Arguez, who turns 24 later this month, signed with the Impact a year ago but failed to see playing time with the expansion club.
Justin Davis on trial with RSL http://www.realsaltlake.com/blog/post/2013/01/31/rsl-irvine-day-1-notebook
Stars fans should definitely bookmark this blog if they haven't yet. Jon Marthaler has really stepped up to help fill in one of the holes left from the end of IMS. Yesterdays run down on seven of the non-ster invitees was informative.