Minnesota United home opener happenings
March 12, 2017 at 12:47AM
Prematch parties: No tailgating is allowed, but there is an official prematch party starting at 11 a.m. at Destination Brewery, where Surly will unveil a new United Crushers Pale Ale. Fan support groups the Dark Clouds and True North Elite are meeting at Town Hall Brewery (the Dark Clouds will also gather at Nomad World Pub and Lake Monster Brewing). Then it's light rail to campus and march to the stadium an hour before kickoff.
Opening ceremony: United will honor 17 former players from all incarnations of Minnesota soccer teams — the Kicks, the Strikers, the Thunder and the Stars — before kickoff. Twin Cities musician Cameron Kinghorn will perform the national anthem, and four WWII-era T-6 Texan planes will fly over the stadium. A different United season-ticket holder will perform the coin toss, on Sunday and before every home match. There will also be fireworks.
Things to know: A clear -bag policy and metal-detecting wands will be in effect.
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The “sticky” ball that coach Chris Finch so deplores showed up for the first game, after a preseason when offense happened smoothly. On defense, “resistance” was missing, the coach said.
