Minnesota Thunder News Release - www.mnthunder.com

Thursday, December 4, 2008

ROCHESTER, MN -- The Minnesota Thunder announced today that it has purchased the franchise rights to a Premier Development League team named the Rochester Thunder that will begin play in Rochester, Minnesota in the 2009 season.

The team is collaboration between the Minnesota Thunder professional soccer club based in the Twin Cities, which will hold majority ownership, and Rochester-area businessman Dan Penz, who will hold a minority ownership stake. The Rochester Youth Soccer Association will provide promotional support and assist with the team in other capacities, as able, but is not in any way financially responsible for the team.

The Rochester Thunder will begin play in May 2009. The season will consist of 16 league games, with eight being played at home and eight being played away. The Rochester Thunder is also planning to host two to three exhibition games during the season including one against its parent team, the Minnesota Thunder. The team plans to play its home games at the new field at Rochester Community and Technical College.

The Rochester Thunder will play in the Premier Development League’s Central Conference with potential foes such as 2008 PDL Champions Thunder Bay Chill and 2005 PDL Champions Des Moines Menace, as well as teams from St. Louis and Kansas City.

Located in southeast Minnesota, Rochester is the state’s third largest city. Ironically, the city was founded in 1854 by a gentleman from Rochester, NY, the home of the Thunder’s USL-1 rival Rhinos, whom the team faced in three consecutive championship games from 1998-00.

The team’s head coach will be Neil Cassidy and the front office will be run by Todd Penz, Director of PDL Operations. The Rochester Thunder office will be located at 1530 Greenview Drive, Suite 208, Rochester, MN 55902. The phone number is 507-993-4513 and e-mail inquiries can be sent to todd@mnthunder.com . The team website will be up and running in the very near future.

Single-game tickets will cost $7 for adults and $4 for youth (4-21) and seniors (65+). Children 3 and under will be admitted for free. In addition, the Thunder will offer RYSA youth a special “Gold Card” for a cost of $20. This card will get RYSA youth into all the Rochester Thunder’s regular season home games, as well as the regular season home games for the Minnesota Thunder and Minnesota Lightning in the Twin Cities. “Gold Card” members will also enjoy other benefits which will be explained in more detail at a later date. Season tickets can be purchased immediately by calling the Rochester Thunder office at 507-993-4513 or by emailing Todd Penz at Todd@mnthunder.com.