Brooklyn Park Fans Show Off Minnesota United Fun
Minnesota’s professional soccer team is based in Golden Valley, but soccer fans from all over the metro flock to see the team play in Minneapolis. Season ticket holders from Brooklyn Park show us why the team keeps attracting fans.
A temporary home for Minnesota United at TCF Bank Stadium
It’s a chance to see the world’s most popular sport without spending too much or traveling too far.
“We’re going to unite and we’re going to inspire this community,” said Minnesota United’s CEO Chris Wright. “We’re going to bring them all together around the great game of soccer.”
Major League Soccer is trending up. The Minnesota United continues to grow its fan base.
“What’s different between our sport and every other sport is it’s organic,” Wright said. “It’s led by the fans and it’s really not game operations. It’s not things that are orchestrated.”
Brooklyn Park season ticket holder Wyatt Ping has Minnesota United season tickets.
“It’s a great game,” Ping said. “It’s a beautiful game. There’s so much action.”
Ping and his soccer playing kids get their kicks by watching the Loons play on the pitch.
“It’s a lot better than some of the other sports with a lot of stop and start,” Ping said. “It’s just constant action the whole time. The creativity on the field is amazing to watch.”
Ping brings his kids along too.
“It’s really, really fun,” said Riley Ping, who plays for the Force Soccer club in the Northwest metro. “It kind of gets you jumping off your seat a little bit.”
For the Pings, the short trip to TCF Bank Stadium is worth every penny they spend.
“It’s a great atmosphere,” says Wyatt Ping. “It’s a great team. They’re up and coming with a lot of exciting new players.”
“Dark Clouds bring enthusiasm…and noise
The most vocal fans at a Minnesota United match are the hard core fans called the Dark Clouds. They bring incredible energy and passion from their location in the closed end of the facility. These fanatics wave flags, they constantly chant, and they never sit down.
“No, no,” said Dalton Gillen, who is part of the Dark Clouds. “My legs are hurting from standing up here.”
The “Dark Clouds” have unwavering Loons loyalty – even when it comes to game-day attire.
“It’s 80 degrees and we’re all wearing scarves,” Gillen said. “Where else do you get a sport like that?”
On a recent sun-drenched Sunday, a crowd of 22,739 had plenty to cheer as Minnesota United cruised to a 5-1 win over LAFC.
“You just have to be here,” Gillen said. “Come and sit down and you’ll be an instant fan.”
Looking to a future facility in St. Paul
Minnesota United, which is based in Golden Valley, views the Northwest burbs as fertile soccer territory because of its youth participation and immigrant population.
“I just want this to be a melting pot,” said Wright. “I want it to be for people of all ethnicity. It’s an incredibly diverse marketplace. It doesn’t matter where you’re from.”
Things get even better next season when the Loons move into Allianz Field, a new soccer specific venue located in the St. Paul Midway.
“It’s going to be fantastic,” Wyatt Ping said. “I’m so excited about the new facility.”
Minnesota United draws just north of 21,000 fans per match which is close to the league average for attendance.
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