Taylor Twellman was born in Minneapolis and raised on Minnesota pro soccer as the son of former Minnesota Kicks player Tim Twellman. Taylor went on to a long Major League Soccer career and is now a soccer analyst for ESPN. He will work Minnesota United's inaugural home match in MLS on Sunday against Atlanta. In advance of that, Twellman chatted with the Star Tribune's Michael Rand.
Q: What does it mean to you to see MLS come to Minnesota, and how do you think the state will respond to it?
A: I'm asked that question a lot, and I always talk about my upbringing. … I'd say 95 percent of the stories my dad told me were about Minnesota.
Q: The two expansion teams playing Sunday have taken different approaches to building their teams, with Atlanta going after more proven players more quickly. How do you compare those franchises and that interesting contrast?
A: If we're being fair and objective about it, Atlanta knew a lot sooner than Minnesota that it was going to be in Major League Soccer. So it's really an apples-to-oranges comparison. I don't think enough people are looking at it that way. … Comparing Atlanta to Minnesota, even though everyone will, will be very unfair to both because they were in very different situations. I think the stadium being built for Minnesota late will have an impact. The home run has to be hit when that stadium opens.
Q: Is that the grace period, then, for an expansion team — one or two years — until Minnesota gets its stadium?
A: I don't put any time frame on it. I look at progressions. New York City is a wonderful example of Year 1 to Year 2 and that progression. In Major League Soccer, if expansion teams come in and dominate or make the playoffs, that's not a great sign for the league. You can't teach and coach what the New York Red Bulls have with their camaraderie, their locker room and what they've built there.
Q: You watched the growth of MLS as a player in the league for nine years and then since your retirement in 2010. The league has increased its exposure and brand — but how does the league take another step?