Major League Soccer will debut in Minnesota on a cold and snowy March evening.
The forecast Sunday in Minneapolis calls for snow showers with a high of 34 and low of 25 degrees when the Minnesota United host fellow MLS newcomer Atlanta United at TCF Bank Stadium at 4 p.m.
The fans committed to celebrating this special occasion outside will mostly likely be bundled up in winter jackets, beanies, gloves and snow boots, instead of the T-shirts and sandals that appeared throughout the Twin Cities this past weekend.
Soccer's debut in Minnesota was just a few days late from kicking off to temperatures above 60 degrees with sun. Sunday's high was 60 and partly cloudy. Monday reached 63 degrees with a mix of rain and sun.
The brief taste of spring was gone by Tuesday morning and by Thursday temperatures will be back in the single digits. Sorry, soccer fans.
Soccer plays in nearly any weather conditions and the wintery mix is arguably appropriate for the first game in this new MLS hub.
Much of the MLS schedule this weekend will experience cold temperatures. Chicago, New England, New York, Philadelphia and Montreal each are hosting games and expecting highs in the 30s.
Minnesota United when playing in the North American Soccer League typically played its first game in April. After Sunday's home opener, the Loons won't play at home again until April 1 and then hit the road again for two more weeks.
Once spring hopefully has arrived, the United will play three consecutive weeks at home beginning April 23. The average high that day in Minneapolis is 62 degrees, warm enough for T-shirts and sandals again.
