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Matt Sepic and Caroline Yang
Minneapolis

Photos: Snow can't stop Major League Soccer launch -- or its fans

More than 35,000 fans showed up at the opener.
Despite the inauspicious start and blustery weather, more than 35,000 fans showed up at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium to cheer the team on.
Caroline Yang for MPR News

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The world's game as played in March in Minnesota looks a bit different than a match in Milan, Manchester or Madrid. For one thing, to get maximum visibility in steadily falling snow, the ball is a blaze orange color familiar to hunters.

But fan spirit is similar the world over. Just before kickoff, Mike Powers, 29, of St. Louis Park, was among an organized club of hard core fans, pounding away at his bass drum as others chanted and waved flags.

"It's a really nice feeling that we've come from the second division," he said. "We have all this fan support around us, and it's just a really cool experience to see it grow to thousands of people at the game."

Minnesota United will play the rest of this season and at least part of next at the University of Minnesota, while its $150 million, 20,000-seat stadium is built in St. Paul near Interstate 94 and Snelling Avenue.

Correction (March 13, 2017): A caption accompanying a photo of Minnesota United fans indicated they were part of the team's Dark Clouds fan club. They were part of the True North Elite fan club.

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Johan Venegas falls in pain during the home opener.
Johan Venegas falls in pain. The 6-1 loss followed a 5-1 defeat to the Timbers on March 3 in Portland. At a postgame news conference Minnesota coach Adrian Heath made no excuses for his team's performance, and apologized to fans. "Eleven goals conceded. I've not had that before in my career. That's something we'll have to keep working on," Heath said. "Whether we look at the collective or the individual, we have to make some changes, because obviously today and last week wasn't good enough."
Caroline Yang for MPR News
1 of 17
More than 35,000 fans showed up at the opener.
Despite the inauspicious start and blustery weather, more than 35,000 fans showed up at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium to cheer the team on.
Caroline Yang for MPR News
2 of 17
Minnesota United goal keeper Patrick McLain during team warm-ups.
Minnesota United goal keeper Patrick McLain during team warm-ups before the home opener.
Caroline Yang for MPR News