Unwinding from our MLS announcement event last Friday night, I fell down a rabbit hole of familiar songs on YouTube. As you might expect, most of these songs were—like some of us—old and sentimental.

It is frequently said that art reflects life. If that is so, then music is surely its voice. Caught up in the music, I began thinking about how song titles might convey the emotions and themes of the story that surrounds Minnesota United FC—its journey, its fans and its future. As I watched the videos I found myself reminiscing and reflecting on our journey and I jotted down some notes…

My family was not here when the Kicks began playing in 1976 at the old Met Stadium, but I have heard more than a few say those events were often giant parties where occasionally a soccer game would break out. I suspect that Pitbull’s “Don’t Stop the Party” would have fit in well alongside “Can’t Stop the Music” by the Village People. But beyond the party, there were also some great players in that early NASL, and “I Get a Kick Out of You” is a line that likely resonated with many as they watched the likes of Alan Willey and Alan Merrick. Those players inspired the youth of Minnesota—like Manny Lagos and Tony Sanneh—and fueled an ongoing, if somewhat erratic, interest in professional soccer here.

Their play and the beauty of the sport (with a clear boost from tailgating and the later intimacy of the game experience at the National Sports Center) helped get people engaged in what became, in Beatles parlance, “The Long and Winding Road” of Minnesota professional soccer. Fortunately, some supporters could be described as fitting the title “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees. They became committed to the team and—regardless of the headwinds and setbacks from changing names and uncertain ownership—they have continued to this very day to voice their own version of “The Impossible Dream”, in this case for stability and play in the top-tier of soccer.

There were difficult times during those formative decades. The ups and downs were immense, with Hank Williams, Elvis and B.J. Thomas versions of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” vying with Bobby Vinton’s “Mr. Lonely” for relevance during the several shifts of fortune felt by the few who persevered through it all. Stunningly, amidst all of this, Freddie Mercury could be heard banging out “We are the Champions” for the hometown favorites in 2011. But soon thereafter, and despite that success on the pitch, glumly staring at a beer while listening to Ray Charles or Willie Nelson sing “It’s Crying Time Again” felt right. To the lament of the faithful, the League was using Frank Sinatra’s refrain “I’ll Be Seeing You”, and fans could only hope that words like “Don’t Leave Me” by Blackstreet would be heeded by the other side.

Recognizing the wisdom and prophecy in the Bob Dylan song “The Times They are a Changing”, stepping in to protect the team from extinction in 2013 felt right. A call to “Stay with Me” (even before Sam Smith sang it) was the message sent to the NASL (who owned the team at that point) from the thousand or so faithful, and the step was taken in late 2012 that would fulfill their wish to keep the team in Minnesota. While the vision seemed clear and obvious, at that time it could only be hoped that Minnesotans would “Imagine” what our new world could be, similar to the call in the great song by John Lennon. And while on the Beatles, “Come Together” was a title we could have hijacked to help describe our wishes for the team and the community.

Alas, had we only noted Ricky Nelson’s “Fools Rush In”, things might have been less jolting. “It’s a Hard Day’s Night” was an apt descriptor of the every day effort by the expanding group of people committed to making this work over the ensuing few years. On reflection, the Patsy Cline title “Crazy” could serve as an apt reminder of the first – no, all four - of these years following rebranding the team as Minnesota United FC.

The initial MLS franchise award in 2015 brought euphoria to the faithful, and one could conjure up Bob Marley’s title “Redemption Song” to perhaps describe the feeling about the turn-around among those supporters who had seen it through. A year and a half of challenges surrounding the stadium followed, marked by great effort and support from fans, partners (private and public) and staff. But there were frequent and stark reminders that the best title for the story during this period might be heard by listening to Jack Jones sing “A Day in the Life of a Fool”. Indeed, hearing Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb perform their duet “What Kind of Fool” might leave one wondering to whom the title might apply. But the effort continued without pause.

In August of this year, with several important things still unresolved or incomplete, Major League Soccer needed to move forward, and we could hear the ghost of Elvis with his rendition of “It’s Now or Never”. Fish or cut bait, as we sometimes say. Happily, things came together and we reached the “Promised Land” made famous by Chuck Berry and later Elvis. I can almost hear Leonard Cohen’s gravely voice saying “Hallelujah”, just as clearly as I recall him singing “Suzanne” in Austin, Texas on a wonderful summer night in 1967.

So today we rejoice. Those loyal supporters who provided the voice to keep this dream alive through the years of challenges and frustration are entitled to sigh and steal Etta James’ line, “At Last”. For others who are not so steeped in the folklore or scarred from the battles, it is just a chance to enjoy. But unfortunately, there is no time to slow down and smell the proverbial roses. We recognize that the Carpenter’s beautiful words, “We’ve Only Just Begun”, aptly fit our current status. To that, we should add that Frank Sinatra was right when he sang, “The Best is Yet to Come”.

Of course, when we ponder what all of this ultimately means, it is appropriate to drift back from how we got here and focus on the sport of soccer, the huge and growing fan base that is attracts, the lessons it provides, the joy that it gives, and the values it offers everyone. For me, I can’t shake Michael Jackson’s great song and video “Black or White” when considering how to describe some of what this means. And despite the challenges we face today in our community, nation, and across this planet, the tears flow easily when listening to Louis Armstrong’s beautiful “What a Wonderful World” and realizing how it relates to all of this.

This is indeed the story of an amazing journey. It is a source of pride and satisfaction for all who stepped forward to see it through, or to simply become part of it today. People, community, passion, diversity, excellence, competition, success, failure, commitment, caring, opportunity, hope – the elements associated with this story and its next chapter are important to all. We need only refresh our memory of the megahit “We are the World” from 1985, and think about the message and what this journey now means for us – both individually and as a community.

Soccer is a game, and MLS is its pinnacle in North America. We love the game. Pride and excitement are appropriate emotions for what has been accomplished, but this is about so much more. The last 40 years are a precursor to our future, and nothing says more than the fact that, indeed, “We are United”.

-Letter by United Owner Dr. Bill McGuire