Comments on: Minnesota Becomes Hub of TOA/USL Debate

By: Brian Quarstad

Brian Quarstad — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:57:27 +0000

Read the todays report Q. From what I’ve heard, Mr. Paulson, the owner of the Timbers may not have a very good relationship with some of the folks in the TOA. They are staying put, but…if Rochester is to move, then they may be forced to, even though they only have one more year in the USL before going MLS.

By: Q

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:25:33 +0000

…and the Timbers are to be moving up soon…?

By: Zlatan

Zlatan — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:56:57 +0000

Ok, I was guessing at 500K. Not trying to be a nay-sayer. I want top level professional soccer in MN. I just don’t think that a public run organization, that is only in the black because they have such a large volunteer base (and they are chartered to do so), can successfully navigate the for-profit sports scene in the US. And regardless of what NSC management says, they were part of the failed NPSL fiasco.

But frankly, the previous owners of the Thunder were not able to balance winning, with profit. 3 owners ago, was primarily a love afair with the game, pouring personal money into a paper shredder. Buz made it go, nothing else. 2 owners ago, was a disaster…enough said. And finaly the recent ownership had no idea what they were doing (nor did their management team…Austin is in for a surprise.) Loosing their primary revenue generator (MYSA relationship) by a failed branding exercise with a youth academy.

Something will settle out of all of this. I’m sure semi-pro soccer will be available somewhere in MN next summer. I’m confident that it won’t last, as the two possible options discussed are sure to fail.

Thanks BQ for all of your hardwork to keep the MN soccer fans informed. You do a great job!

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:21:25 +0000

SR,

Lep articulated my thoughts exactly. I’m not tearing it down, but I’m certainly not 100% confident.

If you have the time, I could tell you a tale about an international real estate magnate that took over a little soccer team in Minnesota…

Was it the shoes?

By: thesuperrookie

thesuperrookie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:25:43 +0000

I am serious and dont you dare call me Shirley.

By: leper

leper — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:20:00 +0000

Superrookie – Are you serious? You honestly can’t see the difference between skepticism and “consistent negative attitudes”? Let’s be honest here – running a soccer team in the US is tough. For anyone. And the NSC, for all the success they have had in various ventures, has not run a professional team of any kind before. So – will they be able to do it successfully? It’s certainly possible. But it’s also possible it won’t work, for any number of reasons that people have mentioned here and elsewhere. Pointing that out is not being a “naysayer”, it’s being realistic.

The idea that anything in this whole fiasco is a “slam-dunk proposition” is ridiculous.

By: Super Rookie

Super Rookie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:53:32 +0000

Pat-

My extremely sunny disposition is based in reality and fact. The NSC has proven to be a well-run organization and owner of facilities that are ready for Second Division soccer. The naysayers are basing their arguments on heresay ($500,000 debt owed to the NSC by the Thunder), uneducated thoughts (The NSC can’t own a non-profit soccer team due to public ownership of the MASC etc…) and youth soccer bias (NSC must/can’t have link to MYSA as it will/won’t fail soccer in Minnesota).

Where are the facts that prove the NSC can not and will not be able to save professional soccer in Minnesota?

What I see is a recipe for success as has been proven through the existence of the NSC.

I just don’t get the consistent negative attitudes for any type of change, especially when it is based on rumors, innuendo and bias.

By: Brian Quarstad

Brian Quarstad — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:50 +0000

Ya, was going to address that before. If you didn’t know, the Thunder supporters group is called the Dark Clouds.

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:58:13 +0000

SR, it could be fairly pointed out that you have been extremely positive on every development that has taken place since things started happening. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but you have posted no skepticism about any development in the entire process, despite its many different twists and turns.

Your sunny disposition works great for you, I’m sure. But please don’t slam the people who are nervous about all of this. It’s still an incredibly ambitious undertaking.

And Zlatan, you’re gawd damned right there are Dark Clouds on the horizon. We aren’t going anywhere!

By: thesuperrookie

thesuperrookie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:11:39 +0000

Were do people keep getting these horribly incorrect figures and data about the nsc/thunder/nonprofit regulations?

I feel like I am watching Fox News covering the DNC convention. Never before have I seen people so affraid of a slam-dunk proposition to keep pro soccer alive in this community. Where these same naysayers 20 years ago when peeps were meeting at SPA about the Thunder (one of the longest running professional soccer teams in US history )? My guess is you folks would have cried wolf then too.