Near the end of August, we noted that pro soccer in Minnesota could be at an end. The NSC Minnesota Stars - part of the second tier of soccer in the US - were putting out desperate pleas for a cash infusion so that they could be part of the league again in 2011.
↵As far as I know, the franchise's needs - someone to own 35% of the team that is worth at least $20 million - haven't been met. And yet, it would seem that the league is counting on Minnesota for next season. The NASL, which is hoping to become the new officially sanctioned second-tier league, submitted their bid to do so yesterday - and according to Brian Quarstad at Inside Minnesota Soccer, that bid includes Minnesota:
↵↵↵The North American Soccer League recently concluded its 2010 Annual General Meeting held in Miami, Florida on November 7th and 8th. The meeting was highlighted by the approval of two additional teams for the 2011 season – the NSC Minnesota Stars and the Atlanta Silverbacks – and their inclusion in the application to the United States Soccer Federation for sanctioning as a Division II league.
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In a separate post, Quarstad also spoke to Stars general manager Kris Bjerkness, who seemed to confirm that everything's squared away:
↵↵↵NSC Stars General Manager Kris Bjerkness released a very brief statement to IMS saying: “I can’t comment on the structure of the league until after USSF acts on the application. I will say that we are very pleased that pro soccer can continue in Minnesota.
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So: good news for local soccer fans! It seems we may have a team after all.
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