NSC Stars Announce Press Conference for Wednesday Jan. 5th; Lagos Back as Coach, Buchholz will be CEO
The Minnesota Stars have announced the team will hold a press conference next Wednesday, January 5th at 11:00 a.m. The press conference will be held at Brit’s Pub in the Club Room on the 3rd floor.
Brit’s Pub is located at 1110 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, MN. The team’s new ownership group will be announced and the new organizational structure.
The team will also announce where the they will play in 2011 and their new ticket pricing for the 2011 NASL Second Division season.
The Stars will also conduct a social meet and greet happy hour for the public from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Players and staff will be in attendance with a chance to purchase season tickets and ask questions regarding the team.
Attending the press conference will be North American Soccer League (NASL) CEO, Aaron Davidson. Also attending the press conference will be newly hired staff for the Stars which will now be an NASL league-owned team. Those included in the staff will be former Minnesota Thunder General Manager and CEO of the Austin Aztex, Djorn Buchholz who has been secured as CEO of the Stars.
Buchholz is familiar with the Minnesota soccer market working with the Thunder for 6 years before moving to the Austin Aztex to become their CEO for the 2010 season. Working with the Aztex, he increased ticket sales by 20% and reduced the teams expenses by 38% while helping improve the team record from 10th in the league in 2009 to a 2nd place finish in the USSF D2 Pro League in 2010.
Also attending will be Manny Lagos who will continue in his role as head coach and head of soccer operations. Lagos was the only expansion team coach from last year’s USSF D2 Pro League to see his team make the playoffs.
Angie Blaker also joins the staff. She worked for the Thunder in 2009 and moved to the Stars in 2010. She has been asked to continue with the team as Director of Operations and Camp Administrator.
Another familiar face to Stars supporters is Alex Haueter who worked as a communications intern in 2010 with the NSC. He will now serve as Head of Communications and Public Relations.
Inquires about the press conference or the team’s happy hour can contact Djorn Buchholz.
Comments are closed.
Where they will play? Doesn’t the name imply NSC??
Wait a minute… the NSC Minnesota Stars might not play at the NSC? WTF? I suppose I should just wait until Wednesday but I’m impatient. Are they going to play a few games elsewhere in the Cities like the old Macalaster and Stillwater games? Are they going to play in a roofless Metrodome? Parade? And now Djorn is back?
My head hurts.
Thumbs up for the news regarding Manny and Djorn.
Someone say happy hour and at Brits!?!?!
Good way to start
They’re going to play at that new stadium Dean Johnson was promising us.
I look forward to someone posting information from the press conference, and will meet up with many of you after work.
Peace and futbol.
Welcome back Djorn.
Best of luck, Djorn. It was nice getting to know you down here in Austin.
It would be nice if the Thunder, sorry NSC Stars, could play somewhere closer to Minneapolis/St. Paul proper. And not on an artificial turf field.
Do you have any proposals? I think that’s the million dollar question Jeremiah. Name me a real grass soccer specific stadium close to downtown St. Paul or Mpls that can seat up to 5,500 people.
I understand the desire for a “real” field, but the reality is that the only way that can occur in the twin cities is through new construction or large-scale renovation. I think you’re right on however that the team needs to play in a downtown venue. To me, that is more important than a grass field initially. NSC Minnesota has to find a way to connect (or re-connect depending on your view of the team’s evolution) with a primarily urban population. Meaning, they need to get a lot of people in a small area to identify with the team. I don’t think that can happen in Blaine right now. Only teams with significant brand equity and a large, passionate following (emphasis on large) can handle a move to the suburbs without a detrimental effect on attendance/sponsorship sales. Great work as always Brian.
Also, welcome back Djorn; I hope I can find my own way back to the cities soon!
Is 5,500 the minimum seating capacity for a stadium for the USL/NASL, etc…?
I think that may have been the Stars total attendance last year. If there is no minimum requirement for seating then the Stars could play just about anywhere. Augsburg $150+/- a game. Or, they could get a great deal by playing on the natural grass fields at Coon Rapids Soccer Complex, I think it would only cost like $25 a game. Both of these would be cost efficient and could accomodate all home and away fans.
Hey, it’s Mr. Snarfy! How are you Mike? 5000 is minimum USSF standard. Try again Mike.
I am fantastic, Happy New Years! It took me five days to throw out my first wind up of 2011, I am losing my touch.