This weekend’s match is going to be a celebration of Minnesota soccer history, from the Kicks to your beloved Loons. Across the better part of 50 years, soccer in our state has been inspiring the next generation to take the next step, leading to this weekend’s moment of earned reflection. So, with so many stories to tell, why not use Storylines to get the walk down memory lane started a little early?
I’ve written about Minnesota’s winding soccer history quite a bit during my time with the club, diving deep into the Kicks’ inaugural 1976 season, exploring the exploits of Patrick Ntsoelengoe (the first South African soccer star to take the pitch in our state), and the goal-scoring prowess of one Alan Willey (who will be in attendance at this weekend’s match). From all of my research, I found one big, lasting takeaway: The nostalgia that comes with that script logo was earned with blood, sweat, and tears, and the legacy of the Kicks lives on not only in our community, but also the nation at large.
When the NASL brought world soccer stars to America’s shores in the 70s, the business model was never going to be sustainable — but the dream was. In a nation that always wants to be the best at everything, Americans were given a chance to see what the best truly looked like in a sport they had never conquered, and it laid the foundation for the pursuit of something global, ambitious, and enduring. The Minnesota Kicks were one of the seeds that sparked the slow-burning soccer revolution in the USA, helping to Kick start the idea that “soccer’s the next big thing” in our country. Fast forward about 50 years, and they seem to have been onto something.
The NASL was our country’s first attempt at establishing a truly competitive first division, and while it put the dream of a sustainable league into the hearts and minds of fans across the nation, it didn’t last long, folding in 1984. After it faltered, a slew of smaller leagues cropped up around the nation, with indoor, arena, and outdoor leagues popping up, lasting a few years, and either merging or fading away before establishing a firm foothold.
All along the way, Minnesota was involved, with the Strikers carrying the torch from 1984 to 1988. They brought the Twin Cities from the NASL to the Major Indoor Soccer League, keeping the sport alive before the Thunder took over in 1990. For nearly 20 years, the leadership of Buzz Lagos helped to establish the Thunder as a team worth watching up at the National Sports Center, where they eventually became the Stars.
The Stars, who were originally owned and operated by the NSC, joined the revived NASL in 2010. They won the championship in their first season and remained competitive afterward, and just three years later, their story changed forever.
Minnesota United was born in 2013 when Dr. Bill McGuire took over the team. With changes being made across the board, his intent was clear from the start: bring first-division soccer back to Minnesota. As an ever-expanding MLS looked for new clubs in 2016, they were intrigued by the project up here, awarding the 22nd spot in the league to the Loons and completing the arc that began all the way back in 1976.
When the Boys in Black and Blue take the field on Saturday night — against an opponent with a very similar history — we’ll be celebrating more than a soccer team. We’ll be celebrating the resilience of the people in our soccer community. We’ll be celebrating the dedication and devotion of everyone that has made this journey possible — from fans in the stands to players on the field. And, perhaps most importantly, we’ll be celebrating the very fact that we have a community to celebrate with. Whether you’ve been along for the ride for multiple decades or just a few days, take a second to look around and breathe it all in.
This is our heritage, and it’s been an honor and a privilege to be a small part of it.
