Minnesota United FC bade farewell to TCF Bank Stadium on Sunday afternoon and aimed toward a new era with Sunday's record-setting 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy in its home finale.
The announced attendance of 52,242 tickets sold surpassed the state's single-game record for a home team, the 49,572 fans who watched a 1976 Minnesota Kicks game against San Jose in the North American Soccer League.
Fans arrived as much as four hours early on a sunny, brilliantly blue afternoon to partake in free tomato soup, pumpkin cobbler and apple cider in a "fan zone" outside the stadium that also offered face painting and stocking cap giveaways.
Some left after Har Mar Superstar's postgame concert and a fireworks show having watched Galaxy superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic do what he does — he scored a goal and beautifully assisted on another as his team took a 3-0 lead that kept alive its playoff aspirations.
The Loons end their season Sunday at Columbus.
"Our supporters have been magnificent," coach Adrian Heath said of the gatherings at TCF Bank Stadium. "I can't thank them enough. I'm just disappointed we can't give them a performance that warranted the level of support we had. This has been a good home for us."
The Loons were unable to win on the road but produced winning records both seasons at the Bank, including this season's 10-6-1 mark.
The next time the Loons play a home game, it will be next spring at their 19,400-seat, soccer-specific Allianz Field in St. Paul. Following Sunday's game, the new stadium was ceremonially lit for the first time. It is wrapped with an exterior skin that will light up with many colors and animations.