Thunder Announces 2009 Regular Season Schedule

In a press release of Friday, the Minnesota Thunder announced their 2009, USL-1 Schedule. The team had released the home schedule on Thursday though the two primary papers of the Twin Cities, the Pioneer Press and Star Tribune. It was announced in the Pioneer Press that the full schedule would be released by the team on Monday. However, Thunder supporters were glad to see the schedule released on Friday as the Thunders USL supporters board was busy with posts after the the announcement.

The schedule looks to be a very favorable one for the team in both home and away matches. As reported here yesterday, nine of the Thunder’s 15 home games are on Saturdays, two are on Fridays, two on Sundays and two more on Thursdays. The team were able to work the schedule to coincide with 4 NSC tournaments and it has a July 4th date as well. I know where I’ll be spending that evening. I wonder if we will see a return of the fireworks after the game. I remember taking my family to this event several times when my kids were young.

Also, Fox Soccer Channel will return to Minnesota for the first time in four years to nationally televise home games on Friday, July 24 and Friday, September 4. The Thunder will also be on FSC for two road games on June 19 at the Portland Timbers and August 14 at Miami FC.

The team will play 30 matches with three against each opponent. Games held Thursday through Saturday will start at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday games start at 5:05 p.m. The match on June 27 will begin at 7:35 p.m.

According to USL.com, the biggest change will be the expansion of the two-leg, aggregate score series format, used in earlier rounds in USL-1 since 2000, to the USL First Division Championship. It will mark the first time the format will be used for a top-level US-based league since the North American Soccer League’s 1970 season.

THUNDER SCHEDULE

APRIL
Saturday April 11 Minnesota Thunder @ Carolina RailHawks 6:00 PM
Saturday April 18 Minnesota Thunder @ Austin Aztex 7:30 PM
Friday April 24 Minnesota Thunder @ Charleston Battery 6:30 PM
Sunday April 26 Minnesota Thunder @ Carolina RailHawks 1:00 PM

MAY
Saturday May 2 Vancouver Whitecaps @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Saturday May 16 Cleveland City Stars @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Saturday May 23 Miami FC Blues @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Sunday May 31 Puerto Rico Islanders @ Minnesota Thunder 5:05 PM

JUNE
Saturday June 6 Minnesota Thunder @ Rochester Rhinos 6:35 PM
Saturday June 13 Carolina RailHawks @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Friday June 19 Minnesota Thunder @ Portland Timbers 10:00 PM [FSC]
Saturday June 27 Rochester Rhinos @ Minnesota Thunder 7:35 PM

JULY
Saturday July 4 Portland Timbers @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Thursday July 9 Minnesota Thunder @ Vancouver Whitecaps 9:30 PM
Saturday July 11 Montreal Impact @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Saturday July 18 Austin Aztex @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Friday July 24 Miami FC Blues @ Minnesota Thunder 7:00 PM [FSC]

AUGUST
Saturday August 1 Portland Timbers @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Sunday August 9 Minnesota Thunder @ Montreal Impact 2:45 PM
Friday August 14 Minnesota Thunder @ Miami FC Blues 7:00 PM [FSC]
Sunday August 16 Minnesota Thunder @ Austin Aztex 6:00 PM
Wednesday August 19 Minnesota Thunder @ Rochester Rhinos 6:00 PM
Saturday August 22 Minnesota Thunder @ Cleveland City Stars 6:00 PM
Thursday August 27 Cleveland City Stars @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Saturday August 29 Minnesota Thunder @ Puerto Rico Islanders 6:00 PM

SEPTEMBER
Friday September 4 Vancouver Whitecaps @ Minnesota Thunder 7:00 PM [FSC]
Sunday September 6 Minnesota Thunder @ Charleston Battery 5:00 PM
Thursday September 10 Puerto Rico Islanders @ Minnesota Thunder 7:05 PM
Sunday September 13 Minnesota Thunder @ Montreal Impact 2:45 PM
Sunday September 20 Charleston Battery @ Minnesota Thunder 5:05 PM

For the entire Thunder Press release click below

ST. PAUL, Minn. (Friday, January 23, 2009) – The Minnesota Thunder men’s professional soccer team announced its 2009 regular season schedule today. The Thunder’s home opener will be on Saturday, May 2 at the National Sports Center against the defending USL First Division Champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps, at 7:05 p.m.

The USL First Division which is set to kick off with 11 teams, including the expansion Austin Aztex and promoted Cleveland City Stars, on April 11, will again see each team play 30 matches with three against each opponent. The season will come to a close September 20 with seven teams advancing to the postseason. Not returning to the USL First Division are the Seattle Sounders (MLS expansion) and the Atlanta Silverbacks.

“We are extremely excited to continue building the great atmosphere at the National Sports Center,” said Thunder president Manny Lagos. “We ended last season on such a high note after creating what is truly an intimate soccer stadium at the NSC. We’re looking forward to seeing our fan base continue to grow as we bring high level soccer and a great atmosphere to Minnesota.”

The biggest change in the league will be the expansion of the two-leg, aggregate score series format, used in earlier rounds in USL-1 since 2000, to the USL First Division Championship. It will mark the first time the format will be used for a top-level US-based league since the North American Soccer League’s 1970 season.

“The advancement in the quality of teams on and off the field in the USL First Division has given us the opportunity to bring this great format to the league, allowing fans of both teams to experience the championship,” said USL First Division Senior Director Chris Economides. “We’ve seen numerous thrillers in the aggregate series format in the past eight years and we look forward to a captivating USL-1 Championship in 2009.”

The Commissioner’s Cup winners as regular season champions will automatically be seeded into the Semifinals with the remaining six sides squaring off in the First Round. The teams will be paired in the Semifinals with the lowest remaining seed playing the regular season champion.

Fox Soccer Channel will return to Minnesota in 2009 for the first time in four seasons with nationally televised home games on Friday, July 24 and Friday, September 4. The Thunder will also be on Fox Soccer Channel for two road games on June 19 at the Portland Timbers and August 14 at Miami FC.

“With the new professional venue at the National Sports Center, we are thrilled to have Fox Soccer Channel return to Minnesota,” said Thunder general manager Djorn Buchholz. “We are excited to show the country what truly special and passionate fans we have in Minnesota.”

“I think our schedule is fantastic this season,” said head coach Donny Gramenz. “We have very few multiple game road trips, and should have plenty of rest for the guys between games. This should help us get the results we are expecting, but also leaves us no excuses to get the job done.”

Flexible and regular season ticket packages as well as discounted group tickets to all 15 home games are currently on sale at www.mnthunder.com or by calling the Thunder office at (651) 917-TEAM (8326). Single-game tickets will go on sale in the spring.

Other Thunder schedule highlights include:

-9 home games are on Saturdays, 2 on Thursdays, 2 of Fridays, and 2 on Sundays

-The defending league champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps, will visit the Thunder on May 2 and September 4.

-Games held Thursday through Saturday will start at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday games start at 5:05 p.m. The match on June 27 will begin at 7:35 p.m.

The Thunder have and will continue to schedule a number of exhibition games that could include a Major League Soccer (MLS) opponent, an international opponent, a school day event, a Kids’ Day game and US Open Cup matches.

The Thunder’s complete schedule will be listed on the website on Monday, January 26, 2009.

To view the entire schedule, please click HERE