FiftyFive.One
• Voices From Soccer's North •
Author: Brian Quarstad
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Minnesota United Reveals Elegant Contemporary Stadium
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota United Reveals Elegant Contemporary StadiumIt was late March of 2015 when Minnesota United was announced as the newest MLS franchise. At the time, both fans and media were disappointed that renderings of the stadium where not shown. Over the next nine months the media kept asking and the fans kept waiting. Throughout that period, team owner Bill McGuire held…
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How the Deal Got Done: A look at St. Paul’s Minnesota United Stadium Coup
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: How the Deal Got Done: A look at St. Paul’s Minnesota United Stadium CoupAt the beginning of 2015, Minneapolis looked a lock for Major League Soccer. Whether it would be in the ZygiDome or a Minnesota United stadium on the Farmer’s Market site, it was not going to St. Paul. Almost a year after MLS announced Minnesota United FC as a new franchise, Dr. Bill McGuire will be…
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Minnesota Soccer Icon Freddie Goodwin Dies at Age 82
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Minnesota Soccer Icon Freddie Goodwin Dies at Age 82Minnesota’s first professional soccer coach, Freddie Goodwin, passed away last week. He was 82. Goodwin, who was born in Heywood, Lancashire, England, started his career at Manchester United in 1953 where he made 95 appearances for the club. He also played for Leeds United and Scunthorpe United before traveling to the US to play for…
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MLS to Experiment with Instant Replay at Portland’s Simple Invitational
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: MLS to Experiment with Instant Replay at Portland’s Simple InvitationalThis past January sources reported that MLS commissioner Don Garber was open to instant replay. He said the league would try to adapt it experimentally in 2016. We’ve learned that MLS and PRO will make their first foray into video replay starting this weekend in Portland at the Simple Invitational tournament. “I’m a big believer…
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NASL Moves Away from Iconic Soccer Ball for 2016
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: NASL Moves Away from Iconic Soccer Ball for 2016The North American Soccer League is poised to announce a new ball and sponsor for the 2016 season. Under Armour will manufacture and sponsor the new ball which will for this year, veer away from the iconic look of the original 1975 NASL Adidas ball. The more recent redesigns carried the original NASL star throughout…
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MLS Says Minnesota United Can Keep Current Players When Making the Jump
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: MLS Says Minnesota United Can Keep Current Players When Making the JumpA spokesperson for Major League Soccer has informed FiftyFive.One that players currently on the Minnesota United roster will be allowed to move with the team without restrictions when they make the move to their new league. There has long been speculation about the rules that govern players moving forward with an existing lower league team to…
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Plans Take Shape for Minnesota United MLS Training Facility at NSC
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Plans Take Shape for Minnesota United MLS Training Facility at NSCWhen Minnesota United joins Major League Soccer they will need to upgrade their training facilities. Some teams Like Atlanta United and Orlando City have reveled plans for new training facilities. Minnesota United will take another approach. They will stay at their current training location, the National Sports Center. While the drive to Blaine, MN may…
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New Minnesota United Head Coach Carl Craig Leads team into 2016 Season
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: New Minnesota United Head Coach Carl Craig Leads team into 2016 SeasonAs Minnesota United players took to the National Sports Center indoor fieldhouse for the start of the 2016 preseason, things somehow looked different. It wasn’t a name or logo change this year and the training kits looked similar, too. A few of the players were new, but that’s to be expected and happens every year.…
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Bill McGuire and RK Midway Preview Site Plan Ideas for Stadium and Midway Center
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Bill McGuire and RK Midway Preview Site Plan Ideas for Stadium and Midway CenterMembers of the City of St. Paul’s Snelling-Midway Community Advisory Council (CAC) were given a glimpse into the vision that developers have for the 34.5 acre Midway Center and bus barn site and that vision will create transformational change. Bill McGuire, owner of Minnesota United who are on track to enter Major League Soccer in…
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Close But No Cigar: St. Paul Inches Closer To MLS Stadium
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: Close But No Cigar: St. Paul Inches Closer To MLS StadiumOn Monday, the City of St. Paul moved another step closer to getting a MLS stadium. Close as they may be there’s still there’s no cigar and no concrete announcement that the stadium will indeed be located at the Midway bus barn site. MLS Commissioner Don Garber flew into the Twin Cities early Monday afternoon…
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How and Why a St. Paul Midway Soccer Stadium Could Work
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: How and Why a St. Paul Midway Soccer Stadium Could WorkOn March 25th of this year, Major League Soccer announced Minnesota United as an expansion team and the league’s 23rd franchise. While the event was a spectacle – some called it the best attended and celebrated franchise announcement in league history – momentum was quickly lost. Minnesota United owner Dr. Bill McGuire and his MLS…
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St. Paul Mayor Coleman Recaps Visit From MLS
Categories: NewsContinue Reading: St. Paul Mayor Coleman Recaps Visit From MLSOn Wednesday afternoon, Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman spoke with a small group of media via conference call to recap the previous days visit from MLS President and Deputy Commissioner, Mark Abbott. “We had a chance to show off,” said Coleman. The Saint Paul mayor said they showed Abbott demographics of the community with the…
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Alan Willey, A Reluctant Hero
Continue Reading: Alan Willey, A Reluctant HeroOn a sweltering August evening in 1978, Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota was buzzing. The 45,863 fans were still streaming in from epic tailgate parties. The smell of charcoal briquettes and seared meat still lingered over the switchback ramps to the stadium’s upper levels. As you rose higher you could scan the Thunderbird Hotel with…