History of Minnesota United FC in Timeline

Minnesota United FC is an American professional soccer club based in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. They compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Western Conference. MNUFC joined the league as its 22nd club in the 2017 season, taking the place of the former North American Soccer League (NASL) franchise with the same name.

January 2010: New Team to Replace Minnesota Thunder

In January 2010, the National Sports Center announced they would field a new team to replace the Minnesota Thunder, which was facing financial difficulties.

February 5, 2010: NSC Minnesota Stars Team Nickname Announcement

On February 5, 2010, the National Sports Center announced that the new team's official nickname would be the Stars, following a team-naming contest. The team was named NSC Minnesota Stars.

April 11, 2010: First Official Game

On April 11, 2010, NSC Minnesota Stars played their first official game, which resulted in a 2–0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

January 9, 2012: New Logo and Name Announcement

On January 9, 2012, the club announced a new logo and a new name, Minnesota Stars, dropping the 'NSC' portion to avoid confusion. The new logo also included the state motto, L’Étoile du Nord.

March 25, 2015: Minnesota United Announced as MLS's 23rd Club

On March 25, 2015, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber announced Minnesota United as the league's 23rd club and awarded the franchise to a group led by McGuire. They beat out a competing bid by Minnesota Vikings owners.

March 3, 2017: Inaugural Major League Soccer Match

On March 3, 2017, Minnesota United played their inaugural Major League Soccer match, suffering a 5–1 away defeat to the Portland Timbers. Christian Ramirez scored the team's first MLS goal.