Comments on: Dean Johnson and the Minnesota Thunder, are they in Financial Peril? http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:13:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2369 Anonymous Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:41:59 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2369 It is true - players have been instructed that they are free to look for other teams. It is not true that the staff has been released - everyone who has left has done so by choice. It is true – players have been instructed that they are free to look for other teams.
It is not true that the staff has been released – everyone who has left has done so by choice.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2367 Brian Quarstad Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:26:06 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2367 Wayne, I hope your not correct on that but I will check and see. Norm, I totally agree although my kids are adults. This is really tough to watch. Wayne, I hope your not correct on that but I will check and see.

Norm, I totally agree although my kids are adults. This is really tough to watch.

]]> By: Norm Orstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2366 Norm Orstad Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:51:51 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2366 This is a real bummer to read. I have been following the Thunder since I was in Jr. High. Now it looks like I will have to travel to Bridgeviewe, Il to watch professional soccer with my kids. This hurts development of soccer at all levels. This is a real bummer to read. I have been following the Thunder since I was in Jr. High. Now it looks like I will have to travel to Bridgeviewe, Il to watch professional soccer with my kids. This hurts development of soccer at all levels.

]]> By: Wayne Hill http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2364 Wayne Hill Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:19:01 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2364 I have followed your articles and podcasts closely. Great job. I was a season ticket holder for the Rhinos when they started go thru this. The owners there owned the Rhinos and the Rochester Americans, an AHL team. They ended up owing creditors over $10 million. They were way over their heads. Fortunately, a soccer specific stadium was built and a white knight appeared. They were bailed out. I hope that happens here but I have my doubts. I spoke to some soccer people today in MN. (I live here now) Word is the players were let go on Tuesday of this week and the remaining employees were let go. I have no independent verification for this. I purchased Thunder season tickets this past year. They were tough to watch but improved at the end of the season. Hopefully, the PDL team can survive. What happens to Carolina now that it appears there is no more Thunder or Miami FC? I have followed your articles and podcasts closely. Great job.

I was a season ticket holder for the Rhinos when they started go thru this. The owners there owned the Rhinos and the Rochester Americans, an AHL team. They ended up owing creditors over $10 million. They were way over their heads. Fortunately, a soccer specific stadium was built and a white knight appeared. They were bailed out. I hope that happens here but I have my doubts.

I spoke to some soccer people today in MN. (I live here now) Word is the players were let go on Tuesday of this week and the remaining employees were let go. I have no independent verification for this.

I purchased Thunder season tickets this past year. They were tough to watch but improved at the end of the season. Hopefully, the PDL team can survive. What happens to Carolina now that it appears there is no more Thunder or Miami FC?

]]> By: Brick Pint Dex http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2360 Brick Pint Dex Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:13:44 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2360 I love the Thunder! This is definitely not the "cat's meow" I love the Thunder!
This is definitely not the “cat’s meow”

]]> By: Neal http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2359 Neal Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:40:45 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2359 I’m sorry to say that this expose' could not come at a more inopportune time. Earlier in the week, after reading the article at http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/380020.html where the USL-1 owners met with Nike to discuss the future of the league, I thought the USL were beginning to address the core issues of the TOA ... then maybe the TOA would be able to mend the broken fences, burned bridges, and come back into the fold. I do hope that ALL the parties involved can come to the table and overcome the posturing that has been taking place both in private behind the scenes, and in the public blogosphere and to a much lesser extent the mainstream media. While I lament the exposing of the teams financial laundry, I have deep compassion for the players and staff that have been affected by the situation. I'm know that it was gutting for BQ to write this story about a team and people that are very dear to him. I’m sorry to say that this expose’ could not come at a more inopportune time.
Earlier in the week, after reading the article at http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/380020.html where the USL-1 owners met with Nike to discuss the future of the league, I thought the USL were beginning to address the core issues of the TOA … then maybe the TOA would be able to mend the broken fences, burned bridges, and come back into the fold.
I do hope that ALL the parties involved can come to the table and overcome the posturing that has been taking place both in private behind the scenes, and in the public blogosphere and to a much lesser extent the mainstream media.
While I lament the exposing of the teams financial laundry, I have deep compassion for the players and staff that have been affected by the situation.
I’m know that it was gutting for BQ to write this story about a team and people that are very dear to him.

]]> By: Justin http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2358 Justin Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:11:57 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2358 Thanks Brian, I'd like to think if the area sports sections were relevant, they could do as good a job as you have on this story and on the TOA issues. I'll be really disappointed if the team has to fold this winter. Thanks Brian,

I’d like to think if the area sports sections were relevant, they could do as good a job as you have on this story and on the TOA issues.

I’ll be really disappointed if the team has to fold this winter.

]]> By: Aaron Frederickson http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2357 Aaron Frederickson Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:45:33 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2357 Say it ain't so! Say it ain’t so!

]]> By: Aaron http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2356 Aaron Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:32:47 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2356 Brian, well written but tough to read. Having been on staff at the highest point back in 99 and volunteering for another 6 seasons, it's extremely tough to see an organization that I felt I poured my heart and soul into take such a precipitous dive so quickly. Hopefully they find a way to right the ship and soon. Brian, well written but tough to read. Having been on staff at the highest point back in 99 and volunteering for another 6 seasons, it’s extremely tough to see an organization that I felt I poured my heart and soul into take such a precipitous dive so quickly. Hopefully they find a way to right the ship and soon.

]]> By: Greg http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/11/06/dean-johnson-and-the-minnesota-thunder-are-they-in-financial-peril/#comment-2353 Greg Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:32:07 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=11579#comment-2353 Nice work BQ. As hard as it was to read, thanks for writing it. It's information that has to be known. We can only hope and wait. Nice work BQ. As hard as it was to read, thanks for writing it. It’s information that has to be known. We can only hope and wait.

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