Minnesota Thunder

Minnesota Thunder
Basic data
Surname	Minnesota Thunder
Seat	Saint Paul, Minnesota
founding	1990
resolution	2009
First soccer team
Venue	James Griffin Stadium
Places	6,000
league	USL First Division
2009	8th place
home Away

Minnesota Thunder was an American football - Franchise from Saint Paul , Minnesota .

The franchise was founded in 1990 and played in the USL First Division , the second highest division in North American football , until it was dissolved in 2009 .

history

First Minnesota Thunder logo

Second Minnesota Thunder logo

The club was founded in 1990 as an amateur team. In 1995 the franchise was converted into a professional team and joined the A-League in 1997 . The team won the championship title for the first time in 1999. In 2000 and 2003 they reached the final again, but lost both times. In 2004 and 2005, the team caused a sensation in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup when they reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals. The club eliminated four Major League Soccer teams . The 2006 season finished Minnesota in last place.

Well-known players in the Thunders were the US internationals Tony Sanneh , Manny Lagos and Nate Jaqua .

Stadion

The franchise has played its home games at James Griffin Stadium in Saint Paul since 2004. Before that, the club played at the National Sports Center in Blaine . Some games were also played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome .

successes

• USL A-League
  • Winner (1): 1999
  • Finale (3): 1998, 2000, 2003
  • Midwest Division Champions (1): 1994
  • Midwest East Division Champions (1): 1995
  • Central Division Champions (2): 1999, 2000

• US Open Cup
  • Semi-finals (1): 2005
  • Quarter-finals (1): 2004

Women's soccer

In 2005 a women's football department was established. The team, which operates under the name "Minnesota Lightning", has been playing in the W-League since 2006 .

Web links

Commons : Minnesota Thunder  - Collection of pictures, videos, and audio files