Thunder moves to St-Paul

[Bxl Boy]

The Minnesota Thunder professional soccer team announced today that it has formed a partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools and will move its home to St. Paul Central High’s James Griffin Stadium (Interstate I-94 and Lexington Parkway) for the 2004 season.

“We are excited to move into the center of the Twin Cities,” said Jim Froslid, Thunder president and general manager. “We have received a warm welcome from Superintendent Pat Harvey and Mayor Randy Kelly. They are committed to helping us bring the world’s most popular sport to a larger, more diverse fan base, while maintaining our positive impact on children.”

The Thunder’s new partnership will have a positive impact on elementary, middle and high school students within the Saint Paul Public School District. The Thunder players will focus on the importance of teamwork, education and healthy lifestyles while conducting clinics and school assemblies.

"I am extremely excited to have the Minnesota Thunder play their home games in one of our stadiums and to provide the opportunity for players and coaches to get involved in our schools," said Harvey. "I can't tell you how many times I've driven by one of our schools and seen students playing pick-up soccer games. It will mean a great deal to students to see soccer being played at its highest level and to meet players who spread the positive messages of working hard and staying in school."

The team has launched a new season ticket campaign called the “Center Circle,” giving fans a chance to receive any 2004 flexible ticket pack for the 2003 price. All fans entering the “Center Circle” before Dec. 31, 2003, will receive a free 2004 Thunder calendar. For more information call 763-785-3668 or visit www.mnthunder.com.

The new stadium environment will include an international food tent, an interactive soccer zone for kids, live international music and a special area to host corporate groups and season ticket holders, according to Froslid.

The move brings the Thunder closer to the large ethnic communities of Hispanic, Somali and Hmong, where soccer is the number-one sport. The team’s new home will be on two public transportation lines (Metro Transit #16 and #21), a benefit it didn’t have in Blaine.

"This will be an excellent family-friendly addition to the entertainment palette Saint Paul offers to our community," Kelly said. "As the world's most popular sport, soccer will be a fantastic draw to our many different ethnic community members."

With the move to St. Paul, the Thunder will renew its relationship with Thunder P.L.U.S. (Partnering for Leadership & Urban Success), a nonprofit that uses soccer as a vehicle to promote leadership skills among underserved urban youth.

The Thunder will likely play a handful of 2004 matches at other locations, including its home-opener at the Metrodome. Some other sites being considered are Macalester College, Eastview and Wayzata high schools, and perhaps an out-of-metro exhibition game. An exact schedule will likely be released after the first of the year.

“We intend to make the entire experience at Griffin very enjoyable and easy for the fan,” said Froslid. “Our goal is to create an intimate atmosphere in a historic stadium environment.”

The brick-facade Griffin Stadium was built in 1940 and seats approximately 5,000. A reported $700,000 was invested this past summer into the surface where a new, state-of-the-art synthetic grass (Sprinturf) was installed. The field will play 120 yards long by 65 yards wide.

The Thunder announced in early September that it will move from the National Sports Center in Blaine, its home for the past 14 years, in response to fan survey requests for a more centrally located stadium, seats closer to the field and improved concessions.