By Lizzy Snell
Media Intern
The Minnesota Thunder made their big debut back at the National Sports Center Stadium last night. After a five year hiatus playing at James Griffin Stadium in Saint Paul, the Thunder returned to a newly reconfigured stadium in Blaine.
The Thunder had called the NSC home for 14 years, from 1990 to 2003, before moving to Griffin Stadium in 2004. Since then, the squad occassionally played home games at the Blaine facility during the NSC's youth soccer tournaments.
Renovations began in late May and were finished by the first day of Schwan's USA CUP, presented by PUMA yesterday. The field was moved 80 feet closer to the main grandstand and bleachers were moved to enclose the field on all four sides.
"We are incredibly excited to play our first game here," said Minnesota Thunder president Manny Lagos. "We're excited to be back. This is the first, I consider soccer specific stadium in the state of Minnesota that is appropriate for professional level soccer."
Dean Johnson, one of the Thunder owners said making the multi-purpose stadium soccer specific for the Thunder was one of the goals they had for the team.
"As we move from where we are now to a Tier One level organization we have a facility that will be adequate for our aspirations," he said.
"We are looking to increase the amount of seats in the stadium to 15,000 where we will then be looking to in about a four year horizon to do something larger up to 20,000 seats."
Johnson said the Thunder will always keep a presence at the NSC, using and expanding the facility to their purposes.
The Thunder players are also excited to play on the new field.
Dan O'Brien, #25, a midfielder for the Thunder said playing at the NSC is completely different than Griffin Stadium.
"The ball bounces truer on real grass," said the Shoreview native. "It's easier on your body. Most places agree that natural surface is the best and this is pretty much as good as you can get."
Tighe Dombrowski, #24, a midfielder from Milwaukee, WI said he enjoyed the atmosphere with the fans being closer to the field because it will be easier for them to be involved in the game.
"It makes it tough on opponents," Dombrowski said. "Other teams will like it and be intimidated. All soccer specific stadiums make it a little more difficult to play on with the fans being that close. It's good to be one of those places."
Brian Kallman, #19, a defender hailing from Woodbury said he noticed the difference in the new field at the Thunder practice on Thursday.
"I played here two years ago and I grew up in Minnesota so I had played here before, and yesterday at practice was the best that I've ever seen it."
Thunder fans are also happy with the move. A fan club known as the Dark Clouds said the new stadium looks great.
"I'm glad they did it," said Tom Donovan, a Thunder fan since 1989. "It's much better for soccer than playing on a high school football field."
Drew Johnson, a Saint Paul native, had slightly mixed feelings, but only because the move puts Thunder home games further away.
"It will be a good opportunity for the Thunder to bring in new fans. The challenge will be to get the old fans up here as well."
Left: The Thunder fan club, the Dark Clouds, gives the new stadium an enthusiastic thumbs up during Friday night's game against the Carolina Railhawks.
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