About 75 local soccer dignitaries and supporters attended a social function put on by the NSC Minnesota Stars back in January, and Stars CEO Djorn Buchholz seized the opportunity to promote his mission.
NSC Stars send out plea to fans
CEO Djorn Buchholz asks the soccer community to support its sport.
April 8, 2011 at 5:27AM
"I grabbed the microphone and said, 'You're some of the most influential soccer people in the state but less than 10 percent of you have ever been season-ticket holders,'" said Buchholz, who also worked for six years as general manager of the now-defunct Minnesota Thunder.
The challenge was clear -- garnering support from the larger soccer community must start from within. Buchholz said his primary concern is getting fans to the games and season-ticket sales have doubled since last year to about 200.
With the Stars now primarily owned by the North American Soccer League (NASL), Buchholz is turning his focus to making the team attractive to a future majority owner by drawing more fans to watch what he hopes will be a more competitive team.
The NSC Stars begin their season at 7 p.m. Saturday at Atlanta. The home opener is April 30 and Buchholz is determined to make it an event. His goal is to make the Stars "cool" with the 21- to 35-year-old demographic -- "the people you see in the crowds game after game in Portland, Toronto and Seattle," Buchholz said -- while still appealing to "the mom and dad with two kids."
The NSC Stars unveiled their new jerseys Thursday evening at La Cantina No. 1 at the Mall of America. The manufacturer, Admiral Sportswear, outfitted Minnesota's first professional soccer team, the Kicks, in the 1970s and 1980s.
Soon it will be up to the players donning those navy blue-and-gold jerseys to provide the ultimate elixir for sports franchises -- winning.
The NSC Stars made the playoffs last season under first-year head coach Manny Lagos. In an effort to reach new heights, Lagos brought in players he hopes can solidify the team up the middle and in the back row, players with speed and experience such as defender Cristiano Dias and midfielder Sandy Gbandi. In addition, veterans such as defender Kyle Altman and goalkeeper Joe Warren will be challenged to raise their level of play.
"I feel like we've improved, and I hope it shows," Lagos said.
Gophers forwards Oliver Moore and Brodie Ziemer remain with Team USA at the World Junior championships.
