Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Hoedeman.
Hi Dan. We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Minneapolis City Soccer Club is a minor league soccer club that competes in USL League Two, considered the fourth division in the American soccer pyramid. USL2 is a national league of over 100 clubs.
The club is a 501c3 that uses only Minnesotan players and has found success on the field and off since being founded in 2016. As City, nicknamed “the Crows” for the mega murder of crows found in Minneapolis, has moved up through the leagues they have stayed true to their local talent model despite facing other clubs that recruit across the country, and the world, to find talent. City have won the National Premier Soccer League’s North Conference three seasons in a row, have qualified for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup four times, and are going to play their first season in USL League Two this year.
The club was founded to answer the question: can a group of regular people, without a millionaire or politically connected person in the group, create a sporting club that matters. With trophies on the field and a rocking stadium, City plays at Augsburg University’s Edor Nelson Field and regularly draws over 1,000 fans per game, the answer is a resounding year.
And it has been built by volunteers. None of the front office staff are paid and the coaches just get a stipend. The players are NCAA-compliant. It’s a true community club backed by the community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have always been punching above our weight.
Owners in our league include tech company founders, billionaire telecoms CEOs, and even Sting’s song. So for us, a bunch of regular people, we have had to outsmart the competition since we can’t outspend them.
We have done that with great design, like our ‘dazzle’ uniforms that inspired Manchester United and the US national teams’ gear. We have done that with a great stadium experience that hearkens back to the old St. Paul Saints at Midway (though without the pig). We have done that through the generosity of our fans, who donated their season tickets when Covid cancelled our 2020 season and threatened our survival.
As you know, we’re big fans of Riley. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Riley is a creative agency. I am the President of the agency.
We help companies/brands with complex, often highly regulated products acquire and retain customers. Clients like Delta, where we work on the SkyMiles Credit Card account, and Morari, a medical device start-up, and Uponor, a global water solutions company, turn to us to use creativity to help them accomplish ambitious business goals. We’re a great fit for companies that need hard-working marketing systems for acquisition and engagement–but with a smart strategic and brand sensibility.
The work with Minneapolis City SC shows our ability to win marketplace attention, turn it into real revenue, and do it all at a fraction of the budget of the competitors (in this case, the professional and major college sports teams).
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Once people come to a Minneapolis City game, they keep coming back.
Tickets are $15, and a season ticket can be had for just about $100, and the season runs from March-August (with the core season running from the first week of May to the first week of August). Check the schedule at mplscitysc.com and check out a game, they’re a blast.
Pricing:
- Single game ticket: $15
- Full season ticket starts at $99
- Half season ticket starts at $69
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mplscitysc.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mplscitysc
- Facebook: facebook.com/mplscity
- Twitter: twitter.com/mplscitysc
Image Credits
Daniel Mick Photography
