Minnesota United announced today the club’s initiatives for this year’s Soccer For All campaign. The league-wide initiative reinforces the collective commitment to drive positive social change, foster more inclusive and equitable communities and support an end to discrimination.
Announced in March of 2022, Minnesota United implemented sensory kits at Allianz Field, provided by Fraser, Minnesota’s largest and most experienced provider of autism and early childhood mental health services. The sensory kits include communication tools to help individuals more actively engage in the gameday experience, environmental modification tools to limit the intake of overwhelming stimuli, and safety tools so families are supported if they get separated during an outing. Fraser Sensory Kits are made available, free-of-charge, for fans with sensory processing differences at Guest Services. These bags will be reusable and deemed as medical so that they can be brought in and utilized at each Allianz Field home game.
Minnesota United also recently implemented ‘Stream Text’ by VERITEXT at Allianz Field. Stream Text is a live, in-venue captioning service for all MNUFC gamedays. Fans can get closed captions from the stadium streamed right to their phone through the MNUFC App. Minnesota United is the first sports team in Minnesota to implement this captioning service for fans.
This summer, Minnesota United, in partnership with Target, will be enhancing the Mother’s Room at Allianz Field. The Mother’s Room will be renovated in June and will include the addition of a diaper caddy, changing table, bottle warmer, a kids reading nook and new privacy screens.
Additionally, this summer, the Loons are excited to welcome back the Unified Team, in partnership with Special Olympics Minnesota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. The Unified Team will play an inter-squad match at Allianz Field on August 20 following the First Team game. The Special Olympics Unified Sports® Soccer Exchange Program is a collaboration between Major League Soccer, ESPN and Special Olympics to promote an environment of social inclusion, uniting individuals with intellectual disabilities (Special Olympics athletes) and without intellectual disabilities (Unified partners) as members of one team. Back in person this summer as part of All-Star Week festivities, MLS WORKS, ESPN and Coca-Cola will host the annual Special Olympics Unified All-Star Game in Minnesota.
Along with Major League Soccer, MNUFC will continue to celebrate Juneteenth and Pride Month. Minnesota will host a Juneteenth jersey auction, where the proceeds will benefit Voices for Racial Justice. The Loons Pride Match is on July 30 against Portland Timbers, presented by Captain Morgan. More information on these two initiatives will be shared at a later date.
MLS and its clubs conduct year-long initiatives that provide inclusive opportunities in-stadium and for members of the local community including mini-pitch installs, youth soccer programming, equipment donations, first-team experiences for individuals with and without intellectual and physical disabilities, and sensory rooms, in addition to amplifying a variety of commemorative awareness months and moments including Black History Month, Juneteenth, Women’s History Month, Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month.
