National Sports Center Blog

Schwan's USA CUP staff well practiced at weather alerts

By Lizzy Snell

Media Intern

A brief lightning suspension hit the Schwan’s USA CUP Wednesday morning, but in tournament headquarters, everything was calm.

Minnesota is known for unpredictable and at times, dangerous weather. During SCHWAN’S USA CUP, presented by PUMA, the staff takes this into account and uses the latest technology to help monitor the weather in order to keep everyone safe.

“We use WeatherSentry to monitor the weather and see bad weather approaching,” said tournament scheduler Kara Radeke. “The system identifies cloud-to-ground lightning and cloud-to-cloud lighting along with storm speed and projected radar.”

Through WeatherSentry, Schwan’s USA CUP staff can select which types of weather they want to monitor – lightning, wind, rain – and have it appear on the radar on the computer screen.

Matt Koehn, also a tournament scheduler, said it is a collective decision when it comes to suspending play of games.

“Several of [tournament staff] meets together in person to hash it out,” he said. “We discuss what needs to be done, how to communicate it to everyone and how to proceed afterwards.”

A Weather Issues Decision Group monitors WeatherSentry, determines the status of games – if games are deemed complete or if they will restart – and then creates a printed public document that tournament staff follows to restart the tournament.

The public document will explain when the all clear was issued, what games are deemed complete, what games will re-start and if there are any field changes.

“Lightning is the most common reason to suspend games,” Radeke said. “It averages about once [during the tournament] but in a 10-day span it will happen at least once.”

Koehn explained that once a decision is made to suspend play, field managers are utilized to help inform everyone on what to do. 

“We use them to communicate to teams, referees and fans,” Koehn said. “We will use the radios to communicate to everyone and every channel – concessions, maintenance, headquarters, medical, security…everyone. The same thing is done when the all clear call is made.”

Schwan’s USA CUP tournament director Teri Vogt said the combination of people spotting weather along with technology has served to be very reliable.

“We suspend games when there is a lightning strike within 10 miles,” she said. “Then we wait until 30 minutes after the expiration of the last strike to resume games.”

Yesterday morning, games were suspended for about 20 minutes after two lightning strikes were seen simultaneously.

Sometimes visual sightings of lightning are not a reliable measure of a storm’s threat.

“If people didn’t see those two strikes, it seemed like [the suspension] was for nothing,” Vogt said.

Vogt said the safety and well-being of the entire event needs to be taken into consideration.

Left: As storm clouds threaten on the edge of the National Sports Center Campus, the team from the Higher Ground Academy, in Minnesota waits for the game to start. Play was suspended later.

No experience necessary: Schwan’s USA CUP attracts volunteers with non-soccer backgrounds

By Lizzy Snell

Media Intern

The largest youth soccer tournament in the Western hemisphere owes a great deal of its success to people who work from dawn to well past dark and do not even get paid to work during the nine day event.

Over 1,000 volunteers are involved in the 24th annual SCHWAN’S USA CUP, presented by PUMA. Volunteers work all over the vast National Sports Center campus; from checking tickets in the cafeteria to working as a field manager.

Paul Terry has been volunteering at the tournament for 15 years and has been in charge of radio operations for the last five years.

“Mark Gamm, who works in field services first got me involved,” Terry said. “I started out as a field manager.”

Terry said he did not come from a soccer family and that he played baseball when he was younger.

“It’s a lot of fun, you come and hang out with your friends for a week and a half. We’ve met people from all over the world.”

Nancy Terry, Paul’s wife, has been a part of USA CUP for the past 11 years and also works in radio operations.

“I sort of married into it,” she said with a smile. “It’s definitely a fun place to meet and talk to different people.”

Paul Terry agreed and said he and his wife want to stay involved in the tournament as long as they can.

“They’re going to have to drag us out of here kicking and screaming,” he said.

  Left: Nancy and Paul Terry working hard in the radio operations room.

Another aspect to Schwan’s USA CUP is the homestay program, devoted to placing international teams with Minnesota families during the tournament.

Mike and Jo Klubberud are homestaying two 12-year-old boys from Ecuador. The Klubberud’s have two girls of their own, ages two and seven, but do not have a child playing in the tournament.

“We got involved through our neighbors,” Mike Klubberud said. “It’s been great fun. The kids have been having a great time.”

Jo Klubberud said her daughters have become attached to their new “older brothers.”

“They’ve fallen in love with the boys,” she said. “I’m afraid that when they have to leave they’ll say ‘Where are my boys?’”

Right: Ignacio Chiri, #4, and Santiago Hall, #3, listen to their head coach, William Vallejo Tivan after their Wednesday afternoon game. Both boys are staying with the Klubberud family.

Jo Klubberud added that it has been nice to get to know the boys and learn about a new culture.

Left: Mike Klubberud, Ignacio Chiri, Santiago Hall and Jo Klubberud: a new family formed through the homestay program.  

Gina Flak is another parent involved in homestay for the first time. Flak grew up in Blaine, Minn. and even played youth soccer. But she stopped playing one year before the NSC opened and never got the chance to play on the fields herself.

“I’ve known about the tournament since the beginning,” Flak said. “My girls play, my husband and I coach and I play in an adult co-rec league. But my daughter isn’t playing in the tournament this year so we decided to volunteer.”

Flak is hosting five players from the U16 boys’ team, TMG, hailing from Denmark. With the Denmark players and her own children, Flak has a total of nine kids under her roof.

“It’s been great,” she said. “The boys have all been so polite; they play soccer with my kids, they play poker with them. We definitely want to stay involved and we want them back if they return to the tournament.”

Flak has been taking photos during Denmark’s stay and uploading them onto a Facebook group created by the team. That way, she said, the boys’ parents back home can stay involved and see what is going on.

Sales of Schwan’s USA CUP coffee benefits scholarship fund

By Barclay Kruse, Schwan's USA CUP Media Director

Everyone knows you can stop by the PUMA World Store in the Sports Hall to buy Schwan’s USA CUP shirts, PUMA jerseys and shoes and various soccer pins. But this is the first year, players and fans can service their caffeine addition.

No, the store employees are not brewing lattes, but they are selling coffee. Schwan’s USA CUP coffee to be specific.

For the first time, Schwan’s USA CUP commissioned a special labeled coffee to be sold at the tournament. The coffee is being sold at the PUMA Store, and also at Tournament Headquarters in the Schwan Center. The coffee is priced at $8 for 10 ounces.

Schwan’s USA CUP coffee is made from100 percent Arabica beans imported by the Danny Panama Coffee Company, which is located in Winona, Minn., using beans produced in Panama. All profits from Schwan’s USA CUP coffee sales go directly to the Friends of the USA CUP scholarship fund, that helps economically disadvantaged players attend the tournament.

The Danny Panama Coffee Company buys "Fair Trade" coffee beans whenever possible. In addition, Danny Panama considers social responsibility in local coffee communities in Panama and donates to schools, orphanages, and other worthy community projects.

International referee praises Schwan's USA CUP

By Lizzy Snell

Media Intern

Brazilian referee, Ramon Rodrigues laughed when asked about the heat on a sunny and steamy Tuesday afternoon at the National Sports Center.

“It’s not hot for me because in Brazil this weather is normal,” he said. “Our winters have no snow, so for me it’s good, it’s very very nice.”

Rodrigues has been reffing games at Schwan’s USA CUP for thirteen years and has worked at the Brazilian National level for sixteen years.

“I prefer coming here than my national tournament because at USA CUP I meet a lot of people – referees from other cultures,” he said. “I learn [from them] and enjoy the tournament because it’s very fun. Everybody has respect [for others] and they have a good game.”

Rodrigues said he may retire when he turns 45 years old but until then he plans to keep reffing.

On average, Rodrigues said he works between 30 and 40 games during the ten days of the combined Schwan’s USA CUP Weekend and Week tournaments.

“There is more respect here by the fans and the players and everything,” Rodrigues said. “When you go to the fields in Brazil before you ref a game, everybody says bad words and don’t respect us. Here, it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, everybody cheers for you and shakes your hand.”

In 2001 Rodrigues won the Best Out of Country referee award for Schwan’s USA CUP.

Bill Roll, the National Sports Center referee coordinator said Rodrigues has been very loyal to the tournament.

“He often times arrives early and stays late to visit with the many friends he has made in Minnesota,” Roll said. “Ramon has been a great ambassador for the country of Brazil and the game of soccer.”

At an international tournament like Schwan’s USA CUP, with numerous international teams, Roll said it is very important to have equal representation amongst the referees. 

“The international referees bring an added sense of camaraderie to the tournament,” he said. “The majority of our international referees stay in the on-site residence hall and spend the majority of their time off sharing stories and game experiences which one another.  The international referees provide memorable moments for their fellow referees as well as the teams they officiate.”

Roll said athletes of all nationalities can benefit from having international referees call their games.

“International referees bring a different perspective to the game,” he said. “While the rules of soccer are universal, they do leave room for judgment calls which can be interpreted differently in different countries and styles of soccer.  This can be a challenging yet rewarding experience for the players who have these officials on their matches.”

Mayfield boys proud to be lone representative of England at Schwan's USA CUP

By Lizzy Snell

Media Intern

When Burnley FC took the field last night there was one section of fans in the National Sports Center Stadium who could sympathize with the English team’s long flight across the Atlantic.

The U16 boys’ team, Mayfield Sefton FC, from Liverpool, is the lone English team participating in this year’s SCHWAN’S USA CUP, presented by PUMA.

The Mayfield boys admitted that Burnley is not their favorite pro soccer team, as Burnley is close to 60 miles away from Liverpool. But they still plan to cheer them on.

“Our favorite is Everton Football Club, from Liverpool,” said Jack Webster, 16, a midfielder for Mayfield. “But I’m still backing [Burnley]. I’d like to see how they cope with the heat and the grass. It’ll be hard [for Burnley] to be what we are, but they’ll do well,” he added with a smile.   

Webster called Monday night’s Opening Ceremony an “amazing and euphoric” experience.

“We’re proud to represent England,” he said.

Many of the players agreed that the Opening Ceremony was their favorite event so far.

“There were a lot of pretty girls to be quite honest,” Webster said. “The ratio was good.”

On the field, the Mayfield players have noticed a big difference in style between American and English soccer.

“We just need to keep playing our game of football,” Webster said. “Play as a team, as a unit. Keep the ball on the floor, keep it moving up on the fence. Play ‘liquid football’ – free flowing. ”

“The difference is you can’t tackle,” said Connor Millington, a 16-year-old midfielder. “It’s more non-contact (in the U.S.)”

Head coach Ryan Durkin said he thinks it is great having Burnley playing in at SCHWAN’S USA CUP.

“It will really be interesting to see how they’re going to cope with the football and the ground and we’re excited to see it.”

Durkin said he had heard that SCHWAN’S USA CUP was “one of the best in the world” so they had to come out and participate in it.

“Hopefully people that we’re talking to, people from everywhere, hopefully they’ll come over to England and play with us,” he said.

Mayfield played the Bermuda Gombey Warriors, from Bermuda, in their first round of pool play games on Tuesday. They tied 1-1.

Connor Millington scored Mayfield’s lone goal in the 25th minute.

“I got a free kick about 50 yards out,” he said. “I tried to put it on the keeper, put him in danger and I lobbed it [and it] went in the goal.

“The game went well [overall], we played as a team, made long distance shots with good results. We should have won; if we play like that we can beat anyone.”

They also played in the Weekend Tournament, finishing with a 1-2 record and missing the playoffs.

“We really need to step our game up now,” Durkin said about beginning the week tournament. “The weekend had a big learning curve but we need to step our game up. [We] just got to let the ball do the work rather than just sprinting around, pass the ball around and we can easily win.”

The match up against Bermuda was one that Durkin and his team were excited about.

“How many other teams have played against Bermuda? These lads can go home and say they played against Bermuda, and that’s just fantastic, that’s what USA CUP can do for you,” he said.

“Opening Ceremonies was great,” added Durkin. “Just seeing these boys have the time of their life, just their enjoyment…it’s amazing the amount of people and it was great to see these lads enjoying themselves.”

Durkin said that his Mayfield team has already talked about wanting to return to SCHWAN’S USA CUP, and hopefully return as defending champions.

“Yeah, they’ve said they want to come back and it’s not even over yet. [Winning is] the plan. Yeah, that’s what we’re here for."

Left to right: Jordan Edwards, Jack Webster and Connor Millington of the Mayfield F.C. from Liverpool are already looking forward to a future return trip to Schwan's USA CUP.

Brazilian boys win U15 weekend championship, Chicago learns lesson in defeat

By Lizzy Snell

Media Intern

The Sao Paulo F.C. defeated the Chicago Kickers on Sunday afternoon, 5-2, to take home the U15 boys’ weekend championship. And even in losing, the Kickers took away some valuable soccer lessons.

“We scored two goals on [Brazil] and no other team did that in the tournament,” said Kickers’ head coach, Joe Mueller. “Obviously we couldn’t hold them back but all in all it was a great game and a good team. We fought to the last minute and I’m proud of them.”

Mueller added that he wanted his players to see from the Brazilian squad how important practice is in order for a team to play well together.

“You can see that the other team, they play all the time and I stress to the kids all the time you have to practice on your own and not just come to practice and practice,” Mueller said. “And that goes for all the kids in the United States - if you’re going to compete against the rest of the world they need to play all the time – at the park and with their friends.”

Double zeros were on the board until the 34th minute of the first half when Cyro Barreto, 14, from Brazil broke the deadlock with a hard shot across the left side of the goal.

“I was passing with my friend Lucas and after two passes I was in front of the goal, the pass came inside and I scored,” Barreto said with a smile.    

Baretto said the first half was very intense and he was tired at halftime.

“The first games [we played] were 30 minutes and now we’re playing 40 but I’m happy because we scored,”

Baretto would go on to score another goal in the 57th minute, putting Sao Paulo ahead 3-0.

Thalles Silva, 14, also scored two goals for Brazil, his first one coming from a place kick just minutes into the second half.

“The final game was tough,” Silva said. “All finals were tough and the team was very good…the competition [here] is really good and the tournament is perfect and excellent.”

Luca Stroeter, 15, also scored for Brazil, going back to back with Silva’s second goal in the final minutes of the game.

Gaspari Roque, head coach for Brazil said the beginning of the game was really tough and difficult as the Kickers were good and played very well.

“I would like to come back and bring back other age groups of the club,” he said.

When asked about defending the U15 title next year he smiled and said that it’s not just him but the entire group has a title to defend.

The Kickers, a soccer club based out of Lakeville, Illinois went 11-0 this past season in their home league and took second place in the 2008 University of Wisconsin Parkside Puma Classic.

Michael Bottcher, 15, scored first for the Kickers in the final fifteen minutes.

“[I] just went to find the open spot and hope there’s no one there to cover me and put it in the corner,” said the Johnsburg, Illinois native.

“I think we played really good,” Bottcher said of his team’s performance. “We’ve had some better days but I think overall the team played really well. It’s great to see so many players and how good they are; it definitely lets you see how big soccer is outside of the U.S.”

Nick Mueller, 15, shot a penalty kick for the Kickers to make it 5-2 in the final minutes.

“Well I don’t really look at the [goalie],” Mueller said of his goal. “I look at one side and hope he goes to that side and I try to put it in the net in the corner…and it worked.”

When asked what his favorite part of the tournament was, Mueller said meeting new people and making friends with them.

“I’m having the time of my life with all my friends here,” he said. “I definitely want to come back and go for first.”

Joe Mueller said the last minute goal in the first half changed the tone of the game.

“I think initially we held them in the first half,” Mueller said. “We played very aggressive and the game could have gone either way. Overall our kids never stopped hustling; they just didn’t have any gas left in the tank in the end.” 

“I thought we played pretty good since it was our first time here and [Brazil] was good but I thought we held our own.”

Ethan Zohn is in the house

By Barclay Kruse, Schwan's USA CUP Media Director

Ethan Zohn, winner of the popular CBS reality show, Survivor: Africa, arrived at Schwan's USA CUP this afternoon. Zohn, along with Samuel Eto'o and Leslie Osborne, are three of the major celebrities who will be visiting Schwan's USA CUP this week.

Zohn was a soccer goalkeeper in college and played professionally with several teams, including the Cape Cod Crusaders of the United Soccer Leagues. He donated some of the winnings from Survivor to start Grassroot Soccer, an organization that uses African soccer stars to spread awareness and education about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa.

On Sunday afternoon, the Minnesota Thunder, Minnesota's pro soccer team was training on the NSC campus. They invited Zohn, now retired, to step into goal and take a few shots. We sent Schwan's USA CUP photographer Taylor Kruse out to capture some of the action:

Ethan has a busy schedule in the coming days. He will be a featured speaker at the Opening Ceremony Monday night at 7:45 pm. On Tuesday, he will team with Eto'o for a soccer demonstration at 10:40 am in the NSC Stadium. At 1:00 pm he will host an autograph session in the PUMA Lounge. That will be followed by a presentation about Grassroot Soccer at 2:00 pm, also in the PUMA Lounge.

You'll also be able to see Ethan on several segments of Kick TV,the video journal of Schwan's USA CUP, in the coming week.

Azalea girls double as soccer and singing stars

By Lizzy Snell

Media Intern

The Azalea girls’ U15 and U14 teams, the Azalea Passion and the Azalea Joy, hailing from Sweden, are not only talented soccer teams, but a talented singing group as well.

Azalea wrote, produced and published their own CD: a six song set, with different variations of their song, “Fotboll i mitt hjärta,” meaning, football in my heart.

The song can even be found online for purchase, and the Schwan’s USA CUP Opening Ceremony production staff plans to add it to the soundtrack that will be played during the parade of teams.

Azalea has also been keeping a blog, about their trip to the United States: www.fotbollimitthjarta.blogspot.com

“We feel happy to have made this record because it’s a collection of all the group,” said head coach Anders Hansson. “[It’s a] feeling that we share, that football is a joyous game and you have it in your heart - and your feet of course, and your head, but if you don’t have it in your heart it’s no use.”

Emilia Slättberg, 15, is one of two girls who wrote the song and also sings the solo. She said she does not have a favorite between music and soccer – she enjoys them both.

“I don’t want to be a professional player,” she said. “I think I want to be a trainer or a ref or a teacher.”

Slättberg said her favorite parts of Schwan’s USA CUP so far were staying in university dorm rooms and playing soccer. Enjoying the warm, sunny weather was also at the top of her list.

“It’s very warm here so you [turn] brown, you can [get some] sun.”

Sofia Hagman, 15, has been playing soccer for eight years and said playing in Schwan’s USA CUP weekend was fun, but she is also looking forward to playing in the week tournament.

“Yeah I’m very excited,” Hagman said. “The [weekend] cup was a warm-up.”

Hagman added that she would like to eventually play professionally, on the IFK Göteborg team, based in Gothenburg, Sweden.

“It’s the best league in Sweden…in the world,” she said with a smile.

The girls agreed that one major Minnesotan landmark they want to see is the Mall of America. They also would like to improve on their American English speaking skills.

One way for them to improve on “speaking American” is to talk to one of their own players – a guest player.

Julianna DePoister, 13, joined Azalea through Schwan’s USA CUP guest player program, a way for individual players to find teams or for coaches to fill empty roster slots.

DePoister hails from Aurora, Illinois and said she is not Swedish at all.

“[Azalea] contacted my whole club and they asked the girls on my team and I chose to do it,” she said. “Its fun and a new experience. They play different and it’s fun to hear Swedish.”

DePoister admitted that sometimes it can be confusing on the field when everyone is speaking Swedish but it helps that the Azalea girls speak English too.

Along with DePoister there are five other American players and three Brazillian players from the guest player program.

Head coach Anders Hansson, has led Azalea since 2000 and said he has enjoyed watching the girls grow up. He said the experience at Schwan’s USA CUP is a joyride and “everything is superb.”

When asked which team would be difficult competition Hansson replied that any team could be.

“We regard all teams as good competition and that’s the best thing to do actually.”

Both Azalea teams finished up their weekend tournament Saturday by missing the cut for the playoffs, but the teams begin play again on Tuesday, when Schwan’s USA CUP weeklong tournament begins.

“Everybody is so nice,” Hansson said about the tournament. “Everything is very well-organized, the food is absolutely fantastic. We’re so happy to make this journey and it lives up to all of our expectations. We are so happy to be here and nothing has compared to this for us.”

Hansson said he heard about Schwan’s USA CUP two years ago when the teams were playing at a cup in Denmark and thought that Schwan’s USA CUP would be a good experience.

“[Soccer] is a game that’s meant to be joyful for them,” Hansson said. “Our motto is Passion and Joy, and if all our girls can experience the passion of playing football and the joy of meeting people that also love to play football – not for the result but for the experience of taking part in a good game. You always find friends with a football under your arm, and here in Minneapolis we find friends.”

Left: Several of the Azalea girls with their head coach, Anders Hansson

PUMA Shoe Demo Program is hot spot on a hot day at PUMA Lab

By Barclay Kruse, Schwan's USA CUP Media Director

On a hot, windy Friday afternoon, you would think the busiest place at the PUMA Lab would be the air-conditioned, wind-sheltered PUMA Lounge. And it's not like the Lounge wasn't hopping. But the action spot on a hot afternoon was the PUMA Shoe Demo Booth, where a steady stream of players was coming up to borrow high-end PUMA footwear to try during a Schwan's USA CUP game.

Various models are available for loan, priced from $125 to $195. Players can try the shoes for free, after dropping off credit card information. When they return the shoes, they're asked to fill out a short survey, and then are awarded a discount certificate to purchase the shoes.

At 16:00 on Friday afternoon, over 70 pairs of shoes were out on loan.

Tanner Viedenkamp, of the Spencer Fire 14 boys team from Iowa, was returning a pair of PUMA Kings, retail price: $125. He gave the shoes high marks.

Below: Jay Gjestvang, of West Fargo, N.D., tries on a pair of PUMA V-Konstruct shoes at the PUMA Shoe Demo booth.

 

"This is a shoe where the leather forms to your foot," he explained. "The touch was excellent, so was the bounce off the ball. It was a very quick shoe, a great cleat."

But was he ready to fork over the money to buy the shoes on the spot?

"Not today; maybe when I'm older."

On the nearby fitting bench, Jay Gjestvang of the Red River Ajax 19 boys team, was trying on a pair of V-Konstruckts. He planned to wear them in his team's 7:50 game Saturday against the Mahtomedi Strikers.

After tightening the laces and flexing his foot, he looked up. The verdict?

"They're perfect, actually."

The PUMA Shoe Demo Booth is just one part of the PUMA Lab. Next door, the PUMA Lounge features gaming stations with the latest XBOX 360 games and daily contests. There are six laptops to check email, upload photos, or to check out the Schwan's USA CUP's new social networking site, http://www.usacupplayers.com/. You can also pick up a custom photo with your image inserted into PUMA's futuristic ad campaign, get an airbrushed tattoo, or just relax and soak up the music in air-conditioned comfort.

The PUMA Lab is the location for the PUMA Tent Rental Program, where teams can borrow a pop-up tent for their games. The price is very attractive -- free.

The PUMA Lap is also the hub for the PUMA transportation system, eight carts that constantly circulate around the campus -- at your service to carry you and your equipment to and from a game. 

Thunder players and fans give thumbs up to reconfigured stadium

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.