Minnesota gets MLS Franchise

[dbackjon]

http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/go ... ise-032515" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Local soccer diehards best grab their favorite scarf and a vuvuzela. Casual fan, be sure to bring some earplugs. And for anyone who once scoffed at the idea of major, modern-day professional soccer in the Twin Cities, well, Mr. Don Garber and Dr. Bill McGuire have a message for you.

It's coming.

After more than a year of behind-the-scenes discussion and public speculation, Major League Soccer and local pro franchise Minnesota United FC made their accord official at a news conference Wednesday morning at Target Field. The McGuire-owned club becomes the league's 23rd confirmed franchise -- part of commissioner Garber's master plan to have at least 24 teams by the year 2020.

Minnesota will begin play in 2018.

[93henfan]

Wow, this is exciting.

[clenz]

Was just coming to bump the post where you got upset that many of us don't support an MLS team.

I now have my MLS team.

I'm pumped for this!

[Ivytalk]

I don't get it. Will Minnesota get on the NASCAR circuit next?

[clenz]

I don't get it. Will Minnesota get on the NASCAR circuit next?

Why not?

[Grizalltheway]

Was just coming to bump the post where you got upset that many of us don't support an MLS team.

I now have my MLS team.

I'm pumped for this!

Aren't the Chicago Fire just as close to you?

[Ibanez]

Was just coming to bump the post where you got upset that many of us don't support an MLS team.

I now have my MLS team.

I'm pumped for this!

That'd be exciting. We have a minor league (is that the term?) and occasionally they'll play a MLS team. They are usually fun to watch.

[Gil Dobie]

They might catch on here, being the major 4 sports and Gophers, are so expensive.

[clenz]

Was just coming to bump the post where you got upset that many of us don't support an MLS team.

I now have my MLS team.

I'm pumped for this!

Aren't the Chicago Fire just as close to you?

More or less...

From my house to the stadium in Chicago is 224 miles
From my house to the farmer's market in Minneapolis is 277

Thanks to Illinois's tolls it's essentially the same time to get to Minneapolis though

You also have to remember I grew up a Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves fan...I can't bring myself to like anything Chicago.

[clenz]

Was just coming to bump the post where you got upset that many of us don't support an MLS team.

I now have my MLS team.

I'm pumped for this!

That'd be exciting. We have a minor league (is that the term?) and occasionally they'll play a MLS team. They are usually fun to watch.

NASL?

That's what Minnesota was/is

[93henfan]

More or less...

From my house to the stadium in Chicago is 224 miles
From my house to the farmer's market in Minneapolis is 277

So that would be less. I don't know everything, but trust me on this one.

[clenz]

More or less...

From my house to the stadium in Chicago is 224 miles
From my house to the farmer's market in Minneapolis is 277

So that would be less. I don't know everything, but trust me on this one.

Miles...yes.
Time...it's essentially the same.

[AZGrizFan]

They might catch on here, being the major 4 sports and Gophers, are so expensive.

And being that the major four sports and Gophers.....suck.

[93henfan]

What if you get stuck behind a tractor?

Not making fun of Iowa. That shit happens to me here.

[89Hen]

You also have to remember I grew up a Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves fan...I can't bring myself to like anything Chicago.

I thought about this the other day. I've always lived in a four sport town... kinda. When I moved to DC the Nats weren't here, but everyone followed the O's. The Colts had already left town, so there wan't much animosity for B'more from most DC folks. I was wondering what it's like to live in an area that doesn't have all four sports and having to pick up on another city that maybe you would otherwise hate. Are people in Indiana Cubs, Cards or Reds fans? Do folks in Pittsburgh root for the Cavaliers?

[93henfan]

You also have to remember I grew up a Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves fan...I can't bring myself to like anything Chicago.

I thought about this the other day. I've always lived in a four sport town... kinda. When I moved to DC the Nats weren't here, but everyone followed the O's. The Colts had already left town, so there wan't much animosity for B'more from most DC folks. I was wondering what it's like to live in an area that doesn't have all four sports and having to pick up on another city that maybe you would otherwise hate. Are people in Indiana Cubs, Cards or Reds fans? Do folks in Pittsburgh root for the Cavaliers?

Why would you ask Clenz? You spend time in Slower Delaware. We're triangulated between three major cities. If you go to the WalMart you'll see gear for Eagles, Ravens, Redskins, Steelers, and Cowboys.

[89Hen]

I thought about this the other day. I've always lived in a four sport town... kinda. When I moved to DC the Nats weren't here, but everyone followed the O's. The Colts had already left town, so there wan't much animosity for B'more from most DC folks. I was wondering what it's like to live in an area that doesn't have all four sports and having to pick up on another city that maybe you would otherwise hate. Are people in Indiana Cubs, Cards or Reds fans? Do folks in Pittsburgh root for the Cavaliers?

Why would you ask Clenz? You spend time in Slower Delaware. We're triangulated between three major cities. If you go to the WalMart you'll see gear for Eagles, Ravens, Redskins, Steelers, and Cowboys.

But LSD (oh yes I did) really has no home team as evidenced by the plethora favorites. I'm talking about an area where everyone roots for their hometown teams, but are missing one, or two.

[93henfan]

Why would you ask Clenz? You spend time in Slower Delaware. We're triangulated between three major cities. If you go to the WalMart you'll see gear for Eagles, Ravens, Redskins, Steelers, and Cowboys.

But LSD (oh yes I did) really has no home team as evidenced by the plethora favorites. I'm talking about an area where everyone roots for their hometown teams, but are missing one, or two.

I gave up on the SLD / LSD contention. In fact, I worked LSD into my ham radio call sign because it has become more ubiquitous.

[clenz]

You also have to remember I grew up a Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves fan...I can't bring myself to like anything Chicago.

I thought about this the other day. I've always lived in a four sport town... kinda. When I moved to DC the Nats weren't here, but everyone followed the O's. The Colts had already left town, so there wan't much animosity for B'more from most DC folks. I was wondering what it's like to live in an area that doesn't have all four sports and having to pick up on another city that maybe you would otherwise hate. Are people in Indiana Cubs, Cards or Reds fans? Do folks in Pittsburgh root for the Cavaliers?

Baseball

Green = Primarily Twins
Blue = Primarily Cubs
Light Blue = Primarily Royals
Red = Primarily Cards
Yellow = 50/50 Cubs/Cards
There is actually a surprising amount of Braves fans in Iowa, thanks to TBS in the 90s. There is almost zero White Sox fans outside of right on the Illinois boarder.It's almost impossible to be more than a stones throw away from a Cubs fan through most of Iowa.

NBA

Red = Bulls
Blue = Timberwolves
Green = Bucks
A decent number of Laker/Knicks/Mavs/Spurs fans...but the Bulls own 99% of this state except right on the MN/WI boarders


NFL

Purple = Vikings
Green = Packers
Blue = Bears
Yellow = roughly equal mix of Packers, Bears and Vikings depending what part of the yellow you're in
Orange = Broncos
Red = Chiefs
Black = I don't think there is a clear cut favorite.
The Packers, Bears and Vikings make up probably 96% of NFL fans in Iowa and if you add the Chiefs and Broncos in we'd probably be at 99%. The Chiefs and Broncos get almost every single game on CBS in western part of Iowa. The Cowboys and Steelers are probably next in line. There's not much after that.


Iowa has no pro franchises but is bordered on 3 sides by pro franchises. It's probably very similar to LSD, as you put it.

[clenz]

To more accurately answer your question...

Along the northern edge of the state is pretty much all Minnesota teams. The Bulls are the exception but you'll be hard pressed to find someone with the standard Minnesota rooting interests every pulling for a Chicago team in a sport we don't have of our own - see Minnesota with MLS or the NHL pre Minnesota Wild.

I will never pull for a Chicago or Wisconsin team of any sport. I'd say that's fairly common around here. It very much becomes a "territory" thing.

Honestly, the same can be said for any other area of the country. Most will just ignore the sport, or not follow a specific team, if they like the sport but don't have a team in their "territory"...much like myself and MLS or most of Minnesota/northern Iowa with the NHL post North Stars and pre Wild.

The MLS has done nothing to draw me to them with their level of play, nor have they done anything to push me away in the past but by adding a Minnesota team I am now a MLS guy because there's a team that is in my "territory". No matter where I live I will always been in the "Minnesota territory" of sports fandom and unless I have a team there I can call my own I won't actively pull for anyone else. I could live in Brownsville, TX and still be in the Minnesota mindset of teams

[89Hen]

Iowa and LSD are pretty much the same thing. No real teams of their own.

[AZGrizFan]

You also have to remember I grew up a Vikings, Twins and Timberwolves fan...I can't bring myself to like anything Chicago.

I thought about this the other day. I've always lived in a four sport town... kinda. When I moved to DC the Nats weren't here, but everyone followed the O's. The Colts had already left town, so there wan't much animosity for B'more from most DC folks. I was wondering what it's like to live in an area that doesn't have all four sports and having to pick up on another city that maybe you would otherwise hate. Are people in Indiana Cubs, Cards or Reds fans? Do folks in Pittsburgh root for the Cavaliers?

Having moved to San Antonio (a ONE sport town, with the exception of the semi-pro soccer team), I can tell you the amount of Cowboys gear here is absolutely disgusting. It also appears to be a Rangers town, not an Astros town...and I dont' think anyone gives a shit about hockey (big surprise).

[Ivytalk]

I thought about this the other day. I've always lived in a four sport town... kinda. When I moved to DC the Nats weren't here, but everyone followed the O's. The Colts had already left town, so there wan't much animosity for B'more from most DC folks. I was wondering what it's like to live in an area that doesn't have all four sports and having to pick up on another city that maybe you would otherwise hate. Are people in Indiana Cubs, Cards or Reds fans? Do folks in Pittsburgh root for the Cavaliers?

Baseball

Green = Primarily Twins
Blue = Primarily Cubs
Light Blue = Primarily Royals
Red = Primarily Cards
Yellow = 50/50 Cubs/Cards
There is actually a surprising amount of Braves fans in Iowa, thanks to TBS in the 90s. There is almost zero White Sox fans outside of right on the Illinois boarder.It's almost impossible to be more than a stones throw away from a Cubs fan through most of Iowa.

NBA

Red = Bulls
Blue = Timberwolves
Green = Bucks
A decent number of Laker/Knicks/Mavs/Spurs fans...but the Bulls own 99% of this state except right on the MN/WI boarders


NFL

Purple = Vikings
Green = Packers
Blue = Bears
Yellow = roughly equal mix of Packers, Bears and Vikings depending what part of the yellow you're in
Orange = Broncos
Red = Chiefs
Black = I don't think there is a clear cut favorite.
The Packers, Bears and Vikings make up probably 96% of NFL fans in Iowa and if you add the Chiefs and Broncos in we'd probably be at 99%. The Chiefs and Broncos get almost every single game on CBS in western part of Iowa. The Cowboys and Steelers are probably next in line. There's not much after that.


Iowa has no pro franchises but is bordered on 3 sides by pro franchises. It's probably very similar to LSD, as you put it.

Who needs Analjelly? YOU ARE DA GRAPHMAN!!!

[SDHornet]

http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/go ... ise-032515

Local soccer diehards best grab their favorite scarf and a vuvuzela. Casual fan, be sure to bring some earplugs. And for anyone who once scoffed at the idea of major, modern-day professional soccer in the Twin Cities, well, Mr. Don Garber and Dr. Bill McGuire have a message for you.

It's coming.

After more than a year of behind-the-scenes discussion and public speculation, Major League Soccer and local pro franchise Minnesota United FC made their accord official at a news conference Wednesday morning at Target Field. The McGuire-owned club becomes the league's 23rd confirmed franchise -- part of commissioner Garber's master plan to have at least 24 teams by the year 2020.

Minnesota will begin play in 2018.

Interesting move. I know Sac made a hard run at the bid and have a good shot at the 24th team given the minor league team support in its inaugural season last year.

[clenz]

http://www.foxsports.com/north/story/go ... ise-032515

Local soccer diehards best grab their favorite scarf and a vuvuzela. Casual fan, be sure to bring some earplugs. And for anyone who once scoffed at the idea of major, modern-day professional soccer in the Twin Cities, well, Mr. Don Garber and Dr. Bill McGuire have a message for you.

It's coming.

After more than a year of behind-the-scenes discussion and public speculation, Major League Soccer and local pro franchise Minnesota United FC made their accord official at a news conference Wednesday morning at Target Field. The McGuire-owned club becomes the league's 23rd confirmed franchise -- part of commissioner Garber's master plan to have at least 24 teams by the year 2020.

Minnesota will begin play in 2018.

Interesting move. I know Sac made a hard run at the bid and have a good shot at the 24th team given the minor league team support in its inaugural season last year.

I have a feeling the mls is going to pick a second LA team... Chivas redoux if you will... Rather than a smart choice