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Thunder and Lightning announce 2007 schedules

January 25, 2007 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. (Thursday, January 25, 2007) - The Minnesota Thunder men's professional soccer team and the Minnesota Lightning women's soccer team announced their 2007 regular season schedules today. The Thunder's home opener will be on Sunday, May 6 at James Griffin Stadium against the defending champions the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Lightning will open at home in a double header match with the Thunder on Saturday, May 26 at the National Sports Center against the Chicago Gaels.

Minnesota Thunder

The Thunder will play every team in the league at least once home and away during the 2007 season and expansion team, the California Victory, and the Portland Timbers will travel to Minnesota twice. The majority of home games will be played at James Griffin Stadium in St. Paul with two matches being held at the National Sports Center as part of their largest youth events.

"St. Paul is our home," said Djorn Buchholz, general manager of the Thunder. "But it is important for us to take our show on the road to the NSC for special events to help soccer grow in the state of Minnesota. We're happy to return to St. Paul for our fourth year at Griffin Stadium where our fans have created quite an exciting atmosphere for us.'

The Thunder will host two games, both double headers with the Lightning, at the National Sports Center on May 26 for NSC Cup and on June 16 for the All American Girls tournament.

Thunder head coach Amos Magee feels that this summer will be a special one for soccer in Minnesota.

"The early part of the schedule is incredibly challenging for any team with six of our first seven games on the road," said Magee. "I also believe that it will be outstanding for Minnesota soccer fans with a large part of our home schedule in July, August, and September."

Flexible season ticket packages and discounted group tickets to all 14 home games are currently on sale at www.mnthunder.com or by calling the Thunder office at (651) 917-TEAM (8326). Single-game tickets will go on sale in the spring.

Other Thunder schedule highlights include:

-10 of the 14 home games are on weekend dates with the remaining matches being held on Wednesdays or Thursdays.

-The Thunder will host every single team in the league once. Expansion side California Victory and the Portland Timbers will visit twice.

-The defending league champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps, will visit the Thunder for its home opener on May 6 at 5:05 p.m.

-Games held Monday through Saturday will start at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday games start at 5:05 p.m. Two matches held at the NSC on May 27 and June 17 kickoff at 7:35 p.m.

The Thunder have and will continue to schedule a number of exhibition games including a Major League Soccer (MLS) opponent, an international opponent, a school day event, a kids' day game (June 20), and US Open Cup matches.

This marks the fourth year the Thunder has called its home James Griffin Stadium in St. Paul. Griffin Stadium is located at the intersection of I-94 and Lexington Parkway. For stadium directions and maps please visit www.mnthunder.com

The Thunder's complete schedule will be listed on the website on Friday, January 26, 2007.

Minnesota Lightning

The Minnesota Lightning comes into its second season in existence on fire after advancing to the playoffs in 2006 and narrowly being defeated by the Charlotte Lady Eagles who were a final four participant. The Lightning will open up their 12 game season on May 26 at the National Sports Center against the Chicago Gaels at 5:05 p.m. as part of a double header with the Thunder.

"We are all very excited to get the Lightning back on the field in 2007," said Buchholz. "The energy that surrounded this team last year in its run for the playoffs was fantastic and based on early season ticket numbers, there will be many fans out again this season."

The Lightning play the majority of their games at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota. They will play two games at the National Sports Center on May 26 and June 16 as double headers with the Thunder surrounding some of the NSC's largest youth events.

Flexible season ticket packages and discounted group tickets to all 6 home games are currently on sale at www.mnthunder.com or by calling the Thunder and Lightning office at (651) 917-TEAM (8326). Single-game tickets will go on sale in the spring.

2007 Thunder Home Schedule

-Sunday, May 6, 5:05 p.m., Vancouver Whitecaps, James Griffin Stadium

-Saturday, May 26, 7:35 p.m., Virginia Beach Mariners, National Sports Center

-Saturday, June 2, 7:05 p.m., Charleston Battery, James Griffin Stadium

-Saturday, June 16, 7:35 p.m., Puerto Rico Islanders, National Sports Center

-Sunday, June 24, 5:05 p.m., California Victory, James Griffin Stadium

-Sunday, July 15, 5:05 p.m., Montreal Impact, James Griffin Stadium

-Wednesday, July 18, 7:05 p.m., Miami FC, James Griffin Stadium

-Thursday, July 26, 7:05 p.m., California Victory, James Griffin Stadium

-Saturday, August 4, 7:05 p.m., Portland Timbers, James Griffin Stadium

-Thursday, August 16, 7:05 p.m., Portland Timbers, James Griffin Stadium

-Saturday, August 18, 7:05 p.m., Rochester Rhinos, James Griffin Stadium

-Saturday, August 25, 7:05 p.m., Atlanta Silverbacks, James Griffin Stadium

-Thursday, September 6, 7:05 p.m., Carolina Railhawks, James Griffin Stadium

-Saturday, September 8, 7:05 p.m., Seattle Sounders, James Griffin Stadium

2007 Lightning Home Schedule

-Saturday, May 26, 5:05 p.m., Chicago Gaels, National Sports Center

-Thursday, June 14, 7:05 p.m., Ft. Wayne Fever, Elizabeth Lyle Robbie

-Saturday, June 16, 5:05 p.m., Ft. Wayne Fever, National Sports Center

-Saturday, June 30, 7:05 p.m., Chicago Gaels, Elizabeth Lyle Robbie

-Thursday, July 5, 7:05 p.m., West Michigan Firewomen, Elizabeth Lyle Robbie

-Saturday, July 7, 7:05 p.m., West Michigan Firewomen, Elizabeth Lyle Robbie




USL First Division Stories from January 25, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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