Minnesota United FC's home MLS debut yesterday against Atlanta United at TCF Bank Stadium tied for the "league record for coldest game" with a 20-degree temperature at kickoff, but "hundreds of supporters marched to the match, set off smoke bombs, chanted and waved flags an hour before the match," according to Andy Greder of the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS. A Minnesota United official said that delaying the match to a "more pleasant summer month was never seriously considered." The "flyover from four World War II military planes was called off due to snow." The field, players and announced crowd of 35,043 fans were "increasingly covered in snow." MLS Commissioner Don Garber, who attended the match, said, "People are hearty here in Minnesota. I’ve been to a lot of opening games over the last 18 years and I think this one was really special in that it celebrated the history of soccer in this community" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/13). SI.com's Alexander Abnos notes the Minnesota United crowd "was better behaved than that of Atlanta’s last week (shout out to supporters’ groups for specifically outlawing the homophobic goal kick chant from its sections) but it was 'rewarded' with a humiliating 6–1 loss to its expansion counterpart" (SI.com, 3/13). In Minneapolis, Chip Scoggins writes Minnesota United fans "had better be patient too," as the team is "not very good." Atlanta United won 6-1, and Scoggins writes, "It was bad weather, worse soccer." But fans "seemed to relish the conditions" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/13). YAHOO SPORTS' Matt Pentz writes under the header, "Minnesota United Out To Prove It Won't Be Worst MLS Expansion Team Ever." A week after the team was "blasted 5-1" by the Timbers in the season opener, Minnesota United "somehow fared even worse in its home opener." Pentz: "Unless something changes -- and quickly -- it’s going to be a long first season in the Twin Cities" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/13).
TECH SUPPORT: GEEKWIRE's Taylor Soper noted Garber was in Austin on Saturday for SXSW, and he "voiced his support for the video assistant referees (VAR), which were tested during the preseason and will be used during actual games after the MLS All Star Game this August." In the preseason tests, Garber said that "out of the 20 or so plays that were reviewed by the new technology," about 20% had a "dramatic impact on the game" (GEEKWIRE.com, 3/11).
SHAKING HANDS, KISSING BABIES: In Austin, Thomas Jones notes Garber yesterday morning "attended a U.S. Conference of Mayors event organized by Austin Mayor Steve Adler." He "proved a popular figure to the delegation, drawing inquires and invitations concerning MLS franchises." Garber: “There was a time I couldn’t get a meeting with any mayor. Now, there’s a lot of buzz about how soccer has been good for the community” (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3/13).
