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**Frank Cunha** · 20-11-2003, 11:43 PM

Thunder negotiating to play near DowntownBy Scott RussellThe Minnesota Thunder, the state's men's professional soccer team, is negotiating with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to build a permanent soccer facility at Lowry Hill's Parade Stadium. The facility would open as early as 2006, a Park Board official said.

Thunder President Ken Froslid, a Southwest Minneapolis resident, said the team is also looking at a St. Paul site.

"We will be talking to both cities about a long-term project," Froslid said. "The goal is to have something soccer-specific, not only for the Thunder to play in but the community - high school teams, ethnic teams, international games. That is the vision."

"There is a lot of excitement about getting soccer into the city."

The Park Board is expected to discuss the idea at its Wednesday, Nov. 19 meeting.

Don Siggelkow, the Park Board's assistant superintendent for administration and finance, said a Parade soccer complex could include a 3,000- to 5,000-seat soccer stadium that would cost $4 million to $6 million. It would have expensive artificial grass to stand up to intensive use. Siggelkow said he had talked to the Thunder about playing at Parade.

Commissioner Jon Olson said the Park Board would not ask the Legislature for money for a multimillion-dollar soccer stadium. The Thunder would have to make its own case.

"We are not looking to build a stadium for the Thunder," he said. "If someone wants to do some development, we'll listen."

Froslid said it was premature to discuss funding.

The Thunder would weigh factors such as parking, freeway access and proximity to "hot pockets" of soccer players in choosing a permanent site, he said.

The Thunder plays 15 to 20 home games a year, most from late May through July - and draws between 3,000 to 4,000 fans per game, Froslid said.

The Thunder has played at the National Sports Center in Blaine but has terminated its lease. Froslid said the team wanted to have a location more central to the soccer-playing communities. It also wanted to embrace the Twin Cities' ethnic communities.

The Thunder is looking for a temporary site at which to play until it can find a permanent home. Froslid said the team soon would announce the site of its temporary home. The decision about its permanent home "is a long way away."

The Park Board discussed the issue Nov. 5, and several Park Board commissioners seemed supportive. Thunder players or staff could hold soccer workshops for area youth, they said. Commissioners also raised concerns. The new soccer complex at Parade would displace the Park Board's premier softball field. Softball would need a new home.

Commissioner Vivian Mason said the Park Board could relocate the top-line softball field to Bryn Mawr Park, 1905 Mt. View Ave.

The Park Board would engage the Minneapolis School Board and Blake High School to review options to develop the facility as a home field to high school soccer games, Siggelkow wrote to the board Oct. 29.

"Our youth teams and traveling teams would have a stadium soccer complex for tournaments, games and practices."

Mason represents the Parade area and supported the idea. "Parade would go back to serving more youth than we do now," she said. "I think it's great."

Parade Stadium used to house the city's premier football field for high school teams.

The Park Board is not eying the soccer stadium as a big moneymaker, Siggelkow said. The proposal comes at a critical juncture, however. The nearby Guthrie Theater is relocating to its new riverfront center in 2006, and Guthrie patrons had provided Park Board parking money.

The Park Board has several parking lots around Parade, totaling 683 stalls. The Walker is opening a new underground parking ramp to serve its soon-to-expand museum. The Park BOard plans to do a new Master Plan for Parade, Siggelkow said.

The soccer complex could help recoup lost Guthrie parking revenue, Siggelkow said.

At $5 a spot, it would raise at most $3,400 per game.

The Park Board could also negotiate for a cut of concession sales, Siggelkow said.

The Thunder has existed since 1990 and in 1994 it joined the United Soccer League. It is the third professional soccer team in the state, following the Kicks and the Strikers. Froslid said the team has not made a profit. "Very close," he said.

20-11-2003, 11:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Frank Cunha Super Moderator Favourite Team: SL BENFICA -BEIRA-MAR Frank Cunha is Offline Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UNION, NJ. USA Posts: 92,938 vCash: 3081 Rep: Rep Points: 5666 Country:	MINNESOTA THUNDER Thunder negotiating to play near DowntownBy Scott RussellThe Minnesota Thunder, the state's men's professional soccer team, is negotiating with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to build a permanent soccer facility at Lowry Hill's Parade Stadium. The facility would open as early as 2006, a Park Board official said. Thunder President Ken Froslid, a Southwest Minneapolis resident, said the team is also looking at a St. Paul site. "We will be talking to both cities about a long-term project," Froslid said. "The goal is to have something soccer-specific, not only for the Thunder to play in but the community - high school teams, ethnic teams, international games. That is the vision." "There is a lot of excitement about getting soccer into the city." The Park Board is expected to discuss the idea at its Wednesday, Nov. 19 meeting. Don Siggelkow, the Park Board's assistant superintendent for administration and finance, said a Parade soccer complex could include a 3,000- to 5,000-seat soccer stadium that would cost $4 million to $6 million. It would have expensive artificial grass to stand up to intensive use. Siggelkow said he had talked to the Thunder about playing at Parade. Commissioner Jon Olson said the Park Board would not ask the Legislature for money for a multimillion-dollar soccer stadium. The Thunder would have to make its own case. "We are not looking to build a stadium for the Thunder," he said. "If someone wants to do some development, we'll listen." Froslid said it was premature to discuss funding. The Thunder would weigh factors such as parking, freeway access and proximity to "hot pockets" of soccer players in choosing a permanent site, he said. The Thunder plays 15 to 20 home games a year, most from late May through July - and draws between 3,000 to 4,000 fans per game, Froslid said. The Thunder has played at the National Sports Center in Blaine but has terminated its lease. Froslid said the team wanted to have a location more central to the soccer-playing communities. It also wanted to embrace the Twin Cities' ethnic communities. The Thunder is looking for a temporary site at which to play until it can find a permanent home. Froslid said the team soon would announce the site of its temporary home. The decision about its permanent home "is a long way away." The Park Board discussed the issue Nov. 5, and several Park Board commissioners seemed supportive. Thunder players or staff could hold soccer workshops for area youth, they said. Commissioners also raised concerns. The new soccer complex at Parade would displace the Park Board's premier softball field. Softball would need a new home. Commissioner Vivian Mason said the Park Board could relocate the top-line softball field to Bryn Mawr Park, 1905 Mt. View Ave. The Park Board would engage the Minneapolis School Board and Blake High School to review options to develop the facility as a home field to high school soccer games, Siggelkow wrote to the board Oct. 29. "Our youth teams and traveling teams would have a stadium soccer complex for tournaments, games and practices." Mason represents the Parade area and supported the idea. "Parade would go back to serving more youth than we do now," she said. "I think it's great." Parade Stadium used to house the city's premier football field for high school teams. The Park Board is not eying the soccer stadium as a big moneymaker, Siggelkow said. The proposal comes at a critical juncture, however. The nearby Guthrie Theater is relocating to its new riverfront center in 2006, and Guthrie patrons had provided Park Board parking money. The Park Board has several parking lots around Parade, totaling 683 stalls. The Walker is opening a new underground parking ramp to serve its soon-to-expand museum. The Park BOard plans to do a new Master Plan for Parade, Siggelkow said. The soccer complex could help recoup lost Guthrie parking revenue, Siggelkow said. At $5 a spot, it would raise at most $3,400 per game. The Park Board could also negotiate for a cut of concession sales, Siggelkow said. The Thunder has existed since 1990 and in 1994 it joined the United Soccer League. It is the third professional soccer team in the state, following the Kicks and the Strikers. Froslid said the team has not made a profit. "Very close," he said.