Minnesota United kicked off their 10th MLS season with a 1-0 victory over FC Cincinnati on Saturday, February 28, at Allianz Field in St. Paul, secured by Kelvin Yeboah’s second-half goal.
However, the home team wasn’t the sole victor. The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University also made a prominent and impactful appearance.
The two institutions are embarking on their third season as the United’s official higher education partner. To commemorate this milestone, the first 10,000 fans entering the stadium gates on Saturday received an exclusive 10th-season knit hat, featuring the logos of both the United and CSB+SJU.
With temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, the headgear – distributed at Allianz Field gates by members of the SJU soccer team – proved to be a popular item among the sellout crowd, which included a significant number of employees, family, and friends from CSB and SJU.
These attendees were also able to take advantage of specially discounted ticket prices, a benefit of the ongoing partnership.
The colors ceremony was also performed by the Fighting Saints Battalion, the ROTC program encompassing CSB, SJU, and St. Cloud State University.
“We’re immensely proud of our sustained collaboration with Minnesota United,” stated Sarah Forystek, CSB and SJU’s associate director of marketing. “What makes this partnership especially meaningful is its ability to directly involve our students and community in the action. Seeing our student-athletes greeting fans at the gates, and thousands of supporters wearing CSB+SJU hats throughout Allianz Field, served as a powerful testament to the strong bond between our institutions and this franchise.”
This offseason, the United generated considerable excitement by signing Colombian superstar James Rodriguez and elevating Cameron Knowles to head coach. These developments have only amplified the buzz around a franchise that already boasts numerous significant connections to CSB and SJU.
- Gretchen Korf, a 1998 CSB alumna, joined the organization in 2022 from United Health Group and holds the positions of executive vice president, chief administrative officer, and chief financial officer.
- Bryant Pfeiffer, a 1994 SJU graduate, has been an integral part of Minnesota United for over nine years, playing a key role in the construction of Allianz Stadium and the club’s launch into Major League Soccer. He currently serves as the team’s executive vice president, chief revenue officer.
- Joe Deignan, an SJU graduate from 1995 and a former All-MIAC and Academic All-American basketball standout, is one of the club’s investors.
- Tom Vertin, a member of SJU’s class of 1968, also contributes as one of the team’s investors.
- Eric Thomes, another distinguished SJU basketball alumnus from the class of 1994, is the chief commercial officer for Allianz Life Financial Services, the team’s stadium partner.
“Working alongside CSB and SJU has been a remarkable experience,” Pfeiffer commented. “This partnership extends far beyond a single evening; it’s dedicated to cultivating meaningful relationships between the schools and the passionate MNUFC community. As an alumnus, I am particularly proud to witness its continued growth and the increased visibility it brings to CSB and SJU and their students across the Twin Cities.
“We deeply value this distinctive relationship and the momentum we are collectively building. It embodies a collaboration rooted in community spirit and shared pride.”
