Minnesota United on Saturday ended their inaugural season in MLS with a 1-1 draw against Sporting KC in front of 23,060 fans at TCF Bank Stadium, a result that managed to "dash the Loons' very slim" playoff chances, according to Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The club "created its own postmatch ritual to end the season, as all players and staff took a turn around the pitch to clap to the supporters" before coach Adrian Heath and D Brent Kallman "made speeches thanking the fans." G Bobby Shuttleworth said, "The fans have been awesome this year. ... They showed up when it was ferociously snowing out, and they’ve supported us when we weren’t playing well in the summer. And I think we’ve sold out the last four games in a row" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/8). Ryan noted the attendance marked the club's "sixth consecutive crowd of more than 20,000." Heath said, "The 'Wonderwall' thing (where fans sing the Oasis song after a victory) has grown to the extent that I have people from other clubs ringing me and thinking how cool it is." Kallman: "Our gameday experience and the atmosphere of our game is as good as anywhere in MLS, 100 percent. They've done a really good job. Our atmosphere is great, and I think it's tough for teams to come and play in Minnesota" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 10/8). Kallman said that he was previously "concerned about how MLS would translate" in the Univ. of Minnesota's football venue "while the soccer-specific Allianz Field is being constructed in St. Paul." But he said, "It's great. The fans do a really good job every week to make it a difficult place for other teams to come in and play" (TWINCITIES.com, 10/6).
