“Our cathedral down in St. Paul at Allianz Field is unbelievable,” said Manny Lagos, Minn U’s Chief Soccer Officer. “But we only play there two or three times a month.” In reality, Loons players, coaches and staff actually spend the bulk of their time at the National Sports Center.
“This is where people come and have been coming the last couple decades to work and promote and get ready to compete in professional soccer,” Lagos said.
The Loons are Blaine born and bred. They hone their talents daily at the club’s practice facility located at the NSC.
“I think all of us have been really proud of what Blaine and the National Sports Center, now the Minnesota United training facility, have combined to build what we have up here,” Lagos said.
Minn U has been part of Major League Soccer since 2017, but before the Loons joined MLS they had humble beginnings in the North Metro. They got the ball rolling on a sport that is becoming more popular each season.
“It started up here in Blaine,” Lagos said. “We used to play up here there would be a couple hundred, then a couple thousand, then at one point were around seven or nine thousand a game. That really got our owners excited.”
Soccer fixture
Lagos is a fixture on the Minnesota soccer scene who has been successful at all levels.
“My first big youth tournament was up here playing in the USA Cup.” Lagos said.
Lagos has been around the sport for decades – as a player, coach, Sporting Director and now as Minnesota United’s Chief Soccer Officer. Lagos knows that Blaine is baked into the DNA of his club.
That is exactly why Minnesota United is not chasing greener pastures.
“We really intentionally wanted to stay here,” Lagos said. “We were kind of wooed by a couple other communities to try to maybe build a facility and we just love the fact that this is a facility that has and is used by multiple sports. A lot by soccer. Has events. Has these touch points here kids who are coming up here to play events also know they’re on the site of a professional team and that there’s a connection there.”
Global brand
The union between Minn U and the NSC is strong. But that doesn’t mean the venue won’t need future improvements.
“This facility has done a great job,” Lagos said. “But it’s gonna have to keep evolving.”
The pitch is where Lagos is most comfortable. He has a passion for soccer and is always trying to grow the game.
Said Lagos: “We want to be a global brand as well.”
Lagos sees nothing but positive signs for soccer as it continues to gain fans.
“It’s one of the sports that’s growing,” Lagos said. “Our brand is growing in a way that will be organically great for both the Minnesota sports landscape and I think for us too.”
