Minnesota United celebrates the LGBTQ+ community this Pride Month by hosting the fifth annual Pride Match against FC Dallas on Friday, June 29. MNUFC was the first professional sports team to sign the Athlete Ally pledge in October of 2014, demonstrating a commitment to equality and inclusiveness – two guiding principles that the club has carried forward with it into Major League Soccer.
“The values embodied by Pride are reflected in our own core values,” said MNUFC CEO Chris Wright. “As an organization and member of the community, we value respect and we strive to be inclusive. We believe everyone has a place in the world’s game.”
This year’s Pride Night will be the most robust demonstration from the club in support of the LGBTQ+ community since rebranding as Minnesota United in 2013. Players will exit the tunnel surrounded by massive rainbow scarves on match day, mirroring a rainbow armband worn by the Minnesota United captain on the pitch. MNUFC players will be sporting a special edition Pride Night Kit detailed by rainbow-colored number decals. LED boards across the stadium will flash multicolor displays throughout the match with a special video presentation ahead of kickoff.
For the second consecutive year, the Twin Cities Jacks will play a pre-match mini-match on the pitch against the Minnesota Gray Ducks — two growing, inclusive clubs in Minnesota. MNUFC CEO Wright will honor a deserving member of our own LGBTQ+ community with the eighth L’Etoile du Nord award on Friday night.
Minnesota United players will make a donation of $1000 to the Dark Clouds’ Pride Raiser, electing to support the initiative via the Bell Bank Man of the Match donation on Pride Night. The Pride Raiser is raising funds for Avenues for Homeless Youth, an organization whose mission is to provide emergency shelter, short-term housing and supportive services for homeless youth in a safe and nurturing environment.
Fans will be able to stop by an LGBTQ+ tabling area throughout the match to learn more about LGBTQ+ nonprofits, and find unique scarves and T-shirts made especially for the MNUFC Pride Match at select merchandise stands at TCF Bank Stadium.
Minnesota United celebrates Pride at its next home match on Friday, June 29 at 7:00 p.m. CT against FC Dallas. With 14,500 season ticket holders for 2018, MNUFC has started a 2019 waiting list for season tickets at Allianz Field. Get on the list today with mini plans starting at five matches for this season, now available at MNUFC.COM or by calling 763.4SOCCER.
