Comments on: MN Thunder Owner Dean Johnson Speaks about the Future of the Team http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:13:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jeff Wolter http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2121 Jeff Wolter Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:53:15 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2121 Dean mentioned to me at one game that he would like another Comfort Lounge type area on the other side of the north goal. Maybe that would be the area for corporate sponsors... As long as they remember to keep their eyes on the field when the ball is in that end, we wouldn't want some corporate big wig to get hit with a hard shot off target, would we? :) Dean mentioned to me at one game that he would like another Comfort Lounge type area on the other side of the north goal. Maybe that would be the area for corporate sponsors… As long as they remember to keep their eyes on the field when the ball is in that end, we wouldn’t want some corporate big wig to get hit with a hard shot off target, would we? :)

]]> By: Aaron Frederickson http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2115 Aaron Frederickson Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:37:47 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2115 I like the NSC location becuase I can leave my house 15 minutes before KO, and still have time to grab a beer before the match starts. I like the NSC location becuase I can leave my house 15 minutes before KO, and still have time to grab a beer before the match starts.

]]> By: Super Rookie http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2107 Super Rookie Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:30:33 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2107 You didn't ask Dean the most important question of all: "Have you yet to receive a job application from jackass/fan of the year, The Super Rookie? And, as a follow up, are you prepared to offer the 5 figure salary?" You didn’t ask Dean the most important question of all: “Have you yet to receive a job application from jackass/fan of the year, The Super Rookie? And, as a follow up, are you prepared to offer the 5 figure salary?”

]]> By: MA http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2103 MA Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:55:16 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2103 When all is said and done people need to remember that Dean has contributed significantly more money to the Minnesota soccer scene than any other single person in MN history; from increased player budgets to NSC renovation re-branding efforts to $25K donations to needy youth soccer families. He's done it for the game and for the state, and that is easy to overlook when times get tough. When all is said and done people need to remember that Dean has contributed significantly more money to the Minnesota soccer scene than any other single person in MN history; from increased player budgets to NSC renovation re-branding efforts to $25K donations to needy youth soccer families. He’s done it for the game and for the state, and that is easy to overlook when times get tough.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2102 Brian Quarstad Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:46:46 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2102 Very true and when the team moved back to Blaine there were plenty of these debates. Still.... Twins, Wild, Timber Wolves and Vikings....all in the heart of the city. Very true and when the team moved back to Blaine there were plenty of these debates. Still…. Twins, Wild, Timber Wolves and Vikings….all in the heart of the city.

]]> By: Ric http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2100 Ric Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:46:30 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2100 And I never went to any games in St. Paul but have begun attending again since they came back to Blaine. I guess it all depends on where one lives and what they are willing to put up with inorder to attend. And I never went to any games in St. Paul but have begun attending again since they came back to Blaine. I guess it all depends on where one lives and what they are willing to put up with inorder to attend.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2099 Brian Quarstad Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:45:29 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2099 I'm a St. Paul guy and even more a city guy. I think thats where the game belongs as many MLS teams have found after accepting good deals on land and stadiums from 2nd tier suburbs. Dean definitely wants to bring soccer back to the city and preferably to St. Paul. But if the city of St. Paul doesn't help him make that happen he will go where someone will help him to make that happen. But I do believe we are still a number of years away before those plans start to move forward. Dean is an urban guy and thats where he wants his stadium. I’m a St. Paul guy and even more a city guy. I think thats where the game belongs as many MLS teams have found after accepting good deals on land and stadiums from 2nd tier suburbs. Dean definitely wants to bring soccer back to the city and preferably to St. Paul. But if the city of St. Paul doesn’t help him make that happen he will go where someone will help him to make that happen. But I do believe we are still a number of years away before those plans start to move forward. Dean is an urban guy and thats where he wants his stadium.

]]> By: Chris http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2098 Chris Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:40:37 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2098 I loved it when the Team was in St.Paul. I went to 5-7 games those years. Blaine is nice, but not convenient for more fans. Has there been any more talk of a new stadium? I loved it when the Team was in St.Paul. I went to 5-7 games those years. Blaine is nice, but not convenient for more fans. Has there been any more talk of a new stadium?

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2092 Brian Quarstad Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:17:02 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2092 Ohhh, one of the things Peter Johns had done was make a VIP area at the end of the stadium at James Griffin. Something like that could be done adjacent to the Thunder Lounge and where the Stand du Nord was earlier in the year. That might work as well. Ohhh, one of the things Peter Johns had done was make a VIP area at the end of the stadium at James Griffin. Something like that could be done adjacent to the Thunder Lounge and where the Stand du Nord was earlier in the year. That might work as well.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/10/14/mn-thunder-soccer-owner-dean-johnson-speaks-concerning-the-future-of-the-team/#comment-2091 Brian Quarstad Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:14:23 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=10291#comment-2091 OFS, no he didn't. He did talk about the tents that were between the beer garden and the stands and how that really is not very adequate. I did notice they did have some events there towards the end of the season. Early in the season they took the tents down because they were never used. Also, in the Thunders corporate promo stuff for 2009, they were going to use the top two rooms at the Schwans Center with the deck as a possible corporate area but that never flew either. I wouldn't think it would be too expensive to build a nicer tented area where the current one is. NSC also needs to do improvements to the stadium in a few areas where it is crumbling and to the red crushed rock path to the Thunder Lounge. That was a law suite waiting to happen at the end of the season. OFS, no he didn’t. He did talk about the tents that were between the beer garden and the stands and how that really is not very adequate. I did notice they did have some events there towards the end of the season. Early in the season they took the tents down because they were never used.

Also, in the Thunders corporate promo stuff for 2009, they were going to use the top two rooms at the Schwans Center with the deck as a possible corporate area but that never flew either. I wouldn’t think it would be too expensive to build a nicer tented area where the current one is.

NSC also needs to do improvements to the stadium in a few areas where it is crumbling and to the red crushed rock path to the Thunder Lounge. That was a law suite waiting to happen at the end of the season.

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