As the Loons launch into their 10th season in Major League soccer, there’s no better time to look back on all the moments that got us here. Throughout the coming weeks, we’ll be revisiting some of the highlights of the decade, from big games to unforgettable goals and tournament runs. Think of this series like Throwback Thursdays, but better.
There’s no better way to kick off a nostalgia trip than jumping back in time to the very beginning.
The snow was coming down at TCF Bank Stadium on a March day in 2017. The sky was overcast. The high was 19 degrees Fahrenheit on the heels of a winter storm. For most, it wouldn’t have been a dream day to play soccer. But for the fans packing the stands from all around the Twin Cities, bundled up and cheering at the top of their lungs, that day was beautiful. Historic. The beginning of Major League Soccer in Minnesota.
The Loons’ first-ever home MLS match pitted them against 2017’s other expansion side, Atlanta United, both fighting for their first league win. Adrian Heath headed up the charge, with a lineup featuring Christian Ramirez, Kevin Molino, and Jerome Thiesson, among others.
The scoreline itself tipped drastically in favor of the visitors, with Atlanta’s Josef Martínez logging a historic hattrick and Miguel Almirón netting a brace. Minnesota’s Molino bagged the Loons’ lone goal in the 39th minute, but with a final stoppage-time goal from Jacob Peterson, Atlanta came out on top 6-1.
On paper, the game was a bust. In person, it was anything but — standing in the crowd at TCF, you’d have thought Minnesota won by a landslide. Soccer culture in Minnesota had been steadily growing for ages, Kicks to Strikers to Thunder to Stars to Loons. Only now did it take to the stage of the highest caliber of American (and Canadian) soccer, and the shift was a landmark moment for the vibrant community of Twin Cities footballers.
34,043 fans showed up for the debut of the Black and Blue, braving the conditions that warranted the league’s second-ever use of the bright orange ball. Former pro Minnesota soccer players were honored before the match, the Dark Clouds Supporters’ Group was already in full force, and the game went down in history before it was even over, affectionately dubbed the “Snow Opener."
As the Loons approach their 10th season in Major League Soccer alongside Atlanta United, they’ll have a chance to turn that infamous scoreline on its head. Wednesday, August 19 marks MNUFC’s 10-Year Celebration match, with the Loons hosting Atlanta at Allianz Field for the very first time. Hopefully, there won’t be a summer snowstorm, but longtime fans will get to celebrate this milestone with the same vigorous enthusiasm of 10 years ago. Long live the Loons.
