National Sports Center in Full Swing to Get Stadium Ready for Home Opener on Saturday
Walking onto the grounds of the National Sports Center Stadium Wednesday afternoon, there was a unmistakable sense of urgency in the air. Golf carts would suddenly appear from around the corner, shoot by with one or two passengers and disappear around another corner as quickly as they came. Lawn mowers were making constant swipes at the turf, never slowing down while turning around or backing up. Painters rolled their bright yellow paint and carpenters laid on big swatches of drywall mud. It seemed everywhere you looked were people working at a fevered pitch.
This Saturday, April 24, at 7:05 p.m., the NSC Minnesota Stars will play their first home game this year. In fact this is more than a home opener. This is the team’s inaugural home game for the new sports franchise. So the employees at the NSC really do feel a sense of urgency as they prepare the stadium for the first ever Minnesota Stars soccer game.
Dave Brown of the NSC was working on the back of the new scoreboard. He says the design was worked out by Brandon Radeke, Facility Operations Manager at the NSC. “Radeke is instrumental in everyone doing their job well,” Brown said as he snipped some electrical wire. Brown takes a lot of pride in the work he’s been involved with on the scoreboard. He says he’s done most of the welding, torching, as well as much of the electrical work for the sign. He shows me where he seamlessly cut, welded and ground down a splice in the metal frame that will house the scoreboard. The seam is almost invisible with the flat black paint covering it. He explains how the printed covering for the scoreboard didn’t make it in on Wednesday but he expected it to arrive Thursday morning. “Well make it in time,” says a confident Brown.
Dave Madsen is another employee of the NSC. You could see Dave from under the cracked open window of the concession stand on the southwest side of the stadium. Madsen was hurriedly cleaning the counters, machines and anything else he could find. Everything was getting cleaned with disinfectant after the room had sat vacant through another long Minnesota winter.
On the beer garden, four carpenters were completing the concession stand on the deck. One tradesman tells me that the structure that was built last year never was completed and wasn’t up to code. The new finishing touches put a ramp around the back side of structure for the handicap. It also finishes off the exterior. The inside is getting drywalled with a paneling placed over that for easy cleanup.
Broadway Pizza’s catering service, called Town and Country, will be running things on the beer garden according to Teresa Bowen, Host Services Director of the NSC. She says there will most likely be 3 beers served amongst other beverages: Bud, Michelob Light and a craft beer. They will also several Bacardi drinks as well as Coke products. Food will change occasionally but for Saturday expect hamburgers and cheeseburgers fresh from the grill. Pork Chop on a Stick will be one of the foods later this summer along with some guest vendors who will be invited in for certain nights.
On the field, NSC workers are diagramming out a shape with string and stakes to create a surprise for Stars fans on Saturday evening. They are continually mowing, and puttering with the grass to make sure the pitch will be as perfect as possible for the players and for the viewing pleasure of the fans.
Painters are touching up the old blue left over from the Thunder and painting a bright “Stars” yellow on the railings and highlight details of the stadium. Flags are being installed everywhere, and even in places where there are no workers you can see reminders that employees have been busy making sure the stadium is ready for Saturday. Bathrooms now have changing tables as requested at the Stakeholders meeting. More toilets are available as portable ones have been placed behind the beer garden and next to the men’s and women’s bathrooms on the west side of the stadium. Stand du Nord is back behind the north goal and the aluminum bleachers are even shored up and in place. A common grill can be found permanently in place in front of the exhibition field for tailgaters and the path from the main stands to the beer garden is now nicely paved with blacktop. Everything seems to be on schedule with the efforts of the NSC staff and they all seem to take the view they will have no problem being ready for Saturday’s home opener.
The NSC Minnesota Stars will play another new NASL franchise, FC Tampa Bay, this Saturday, April 24, at 7:00 p.m. in Blaine, MN at the National Sports Center Stadium. Tickets information can be found here.
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Writers note:
It’s been 7 long months since I have last watched a live professional soccer game in Minnesota. I sit down alone in the middle of the 7,000 seat NSC stadium and suck in the view from the main grandstands. As I look out over the lush green field there is an excitement that surges though my body. I can almost hear the players back on the field barking out instructions to each other and the drums of the Dark Clouds and the chants from the crowd of Minnnn-a-soTA. As I look out on the near perfect green of the field I recall a time last November when I thought we had lost professional soccer here in Minnesota. I’m glad it’s April and the days are warm and the sun is good. I’m glad I’m days away from another season of pro soccer. And I’m glad that the NSC has made a gallant effort in a few shorts months to make all this happen.
I’ll be at the game on Saturday evening rain or shine. I hope you will also, welcoming back pro soccer to our state.
Comments are closed.
bq: I join you in lamenting the loss, angst felt at the proposition of no team, and now the joy and anticipation for the opening game day at the NSC.
Welcome extended to all fans who can join us for pre-game BBQ party two hours before each and every home game.
Peace and futbol.
I will breathe a huge collective sigh of breath when the kick-off occurs. While there has been some minor hiccups along the way the simple fact is that the NSC has saved professional soccer in this state.
See you all at 5pm and in the North End!
Thanks again to the NSC. A giant slice of humble pie for all those that said it couldn’t be done in 3.5months time!
P.S. They better order up enough of the craft beer because not too many people are going to drink the swill that fuels AC St. Louis our dreaded enemy.
P.P.S. The only other thing I want to see on the menu is Hot Nuts. There isn’t anything better than Hot Nuts and an ice cold Summit/Surly/Red Hook during a soccer game.
A Nessy in the grass, That was not that hard to figure out.
WRONG! Keep guessing but I probably won’t tell you. I’ve been sworn to NSC secrecy.
We have a professional soccer team in MN?
Mike,
Do me a favor and look here on the USSF D-2 Pro League web site. What does the highest governing body of soccer in the US call this league. OH Ya, I just spelled it out. The NSC Minnesota Stars are listed right there in the standings of the USSF D-2 PRO LEAGUE.
http://ussf.demosphere.com/Schedules/2010/20952154.20104.html
Don’t be such a hater and come join the fun. I’m sure in no time at all you’d become much more pleasant to be around.
I sure hope that they serve 312 in the beer garden!
I am just full of celebratory curse words. I can’t wait until tomorrow. WE GET TO WATCH LIVE PRO SOCCER IN MINNESOTA! Big ups to NSC and I’m guessing the design being mowed into the field is a dark cloud.
If it is a bandy a stick I am gonna be mad!
312 is extremely doubtful.
I have to say I’m disappointed there will be only one craft beer. I have a feeling they will learn quickly what Nick Miller, formerly of the Happy Gnome learned. Beer drinking soccer fans have very discriminating beer pallets and do very little of the generic big named pilsner that other sports fans seem to have no problem with.
They should only serve 312 if the Fire PDL team comes town for an exhibition game.
… then we can pour it all on the ground because that shit is awful.
Also, Brian, not to pick nits but I’m a soccer fan and my palate pretty much discriminates by cost-effectiveness. I’ll drink you dry of Bud Light if it’s only $4 at a ball game.
That said, SOMEBODY CALL SURLY AND LET’S GET SOME FOUR UP THERE.
Not to be nit picky Jim, but I’m telling you what Nick found out last year. He sold craft beers over 2-1 over the cheap stuff.
BTW, good news for every beer drinker, the 16 0z glasses will be a buck cheaper all the way around. $4 for the cheap stuff and $5 for the better stuff.
EVERYONE WINS.
@BQ – I am not sworn to secrecy about the fog machine embedded in the center arc. JUST KIDDING! – Sometimes I make stuff up! On the truth front, I have seen it at ground level and was not looking for it so it is surprised me. Another detail done right!
By the way, it is not crop circles either.
We want hot nuts and good beer!
Will our pleas be heard?
For some reason I’m really jazzed about the yellow trim and flags around the stadium. NSC has certainly put in the investment. I’m looking forward to Saturday, rain or shine.
Prior commitments will not allow me to attend the game… Although it does sound fun drinking a couple beers watching some above average amateurs play!
Ok, now I have to drive out there today, thanks.
Don’t be a hater, Michigan Mike. That’s usually my job.
Sorry to steal your Thunder (pun intended) MN Soccer Guy… Hopefully we have a better showing then we did at Puerto Rico.
I have to admit that I was very skeptical that the NSC would take much away from the Stakeholders meeting and actually address our concerns, but it looks like they have actually gone above and beyond. From what I could see in your pictures, the NSC has gone to incredible lengths to provide an experience that we can truly come to love. Aside from the product on the field, which may take some time, it looks like they have done everything right. I am absolutely floored by how well the NSC has done in putting this whole thing together in 3.5 months. There are so many people that deserve credit and I was as skeptical as anyone. All I can say is…. WOW! I will see you Saturday Brian; rain or shine! It’s been years since I have been this excited for local soccer. Bravo NSC!
It’s the big black rectangular Monolith from the movie 2001 a space odyssey.
“It’s filled with stars”.
Seriously isn’t that going to get in the way?
I hope the Stars sign Michigan Mike. He and his surely below average amateur playing skills would quickly find that he level of play is way way beyond him and he’d realize that the fact that he played in the same indoor league as Andrei Gotsmanov for a winter does not qualify him to make blanket judgments about the quality of the team or league.
Seriously, though, it does get annoying when people are just haters for the sake of being haters.
Go Stars.
Take a deep breath M, everything is going to be OK.
The people on the Stars roster are not all unknown newbies. We already know a good number of them. There will be quality matches with quality players. The only thing that makes me sad is that they’ve had VERY little time to play together, especially in comparison to the likes of Vancouver, PR, Montreal. Needless to say, I’m very excited. Thanks, NSC.
BQ – dead right about the beer. We need variety; just like on the pitch.
I know who M is…
It’s best you keep your nose clean on the Internet Sir we need you “clean” for the more important stuff. We understand the stress you guys are under.
Stuff bounces around often here. But, it doesn’t really stick to anything.
I can’t even tell you how manny times I told people I was going to THE THUNDER… %#$@ I mean THE NSC STARS game tonight.
Looks like according to the recently added “future radar” thing on Weather.com we’ll be clear of rain during the game. Still bring that umbrella just in case.
Back in the Twin Cities for the home opener. I can hardly wait!!!
What a joyous afternoon and evening. About the only thing missing was the post-game celebration with fellow fans in futbol and the players in the beer garden.
Hopefully the new concessionaire will have a hoppy variety and some of those Cajun Creole HOT NUTS for the next game on Wednesday.
AND THERE WAS MUCH CELEBRATION
We want a peanut snack called HOT NUTS!
I will take 3pts anyway you dish ‘em.
Joe Warren for “Man of the Match!” He came up with some spectacular saves–especially in the seond half. Keep up the great work Joe!
Papa Joe was man of the match.
I also like Warren Ukah and how well he holds the ball up when given the opportunity.
It allows for us to get a semblance of an attack.
M,
I don’t believe the Stars could fit me in their budget.
Sorry if I hit a soft spot with my negative comments. My playing skills are below average (in comparison to Messi). Nice to see the Stars pull off a win on Saturday.
MTrain: Deep breath taken. Feel much better, thanks!
Jeff Wolter: I’m just a fan who wants the team to be given a fair chance. But I always appreciate being called ‘sir’, so thank you!
MichiganMike: Sad but true, I doubt that they could afford you. Which just makes all the progress that the people at NSC and the Stars team have made all the more impressive. Honestly, though, glad to see that you’re starting to come around a bit…