NASL Minnesota United FC

Dark Clouds Building

Published on May 20, 2011 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Minnesota United FC News Release


For those who enjoy soccer, one of the biggest contributions to the excitement of a game is the energy of the fans, and at the NSC Minnesota Stars' stadium the liveliness of the crowd is growing stronger with every game in 2011. The supporters group formally known as the Minnesota Dark Clouds have started a new trend, moving their posse away from the beer garden and over to the east stands.

The Dark Clouds formed in the 1990s to support the Minnesota Thunder, and continued to bring their liveliness and enthusiasm once the Minnesota Stars team was formed. Previously, the section behind the visitors' bench was considered their home, but the building of the beer garden resulted in a split within the fans. Before the 2011 season started, the Dark Clouds came up with an easy solution to the problem of the empty east stands: sit in them.

The Dark Clouds' decision to make this move was somewhat sporadic, and there really wasn't a huge plan behind the operation. Regardless, the change has had a huge impact on the overall atmosphere of the stadium.

"I was surprised at how easily it happened," said Andy Wattenhofer, who has been a member of the Dark Clouds since the beginning and is a member of the organization's board. "At first it was a disjointed thing." Having designated the east side spot as their own, the Dark Clouds have created a unifying space for Minnesota soccer fans.

The group is known for their loud cheers and excitement for the game, and making itself heard throughout the stadium is something the Dark Clouds have worked hard to do. The east side move has created has allowed for a louder and livelier crowd. Now it's starting to snowball as the supporters' section in the east stands attracts new people every game.

"The sound carries amazing, and that alone was worth it," said Wattenhofer. With the sound improvements there has also been a lot more energy building throughout the stadium. Wattenhofer considers this move the "missing link" to creating excitement from the fans, and he believes that throughout the summer things are only going to get better.

By and large, the energy and passion the Minnesota Dark Clouds have for the Stars and Minnesota soccer in general has had a huge impact on the overall experience of the game. There's a lot of energy and volume coming from the Dark Clouds. That's not lost on the team, head coach Manny Lagos said.

"People can see their excitement and want to spend time with them."

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North American Soccer League Stories from May 20, 2011


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