Decision coming soon on July’s Target USA Cup at National Sports Center

The National Sports Center in Blaine is expected to make a decision this week on July’s Target USA Cup, the third-largest youth soccer tournament in the world. It makes up 20 percent of the center’s annual revenue.

We talked to the NSC’s executive director, Todd Johnson, about how he and his team have been navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.

***Click the video box on this page to watch our chat with Johnson***

Many events and activities for athletes of all ages have been canceled at the sports center, which draws 4 million visitors annually and ranks as the state’s second biggest tourist attraction, behind only the Mall of America. Only the center’s golf course, Victory Links, is open to consumers.

The National Sports Center is one of the world’s largest amateur sports facilities and also serves as the training ground for Minnesota United FC.

The non-profit center has been losing about $1.1 million/month during the pandemic, per Johnson. Johnson’s goal is to find a way to keep 58 full-time workers employed as long as he can, and to help find the safest way to get competitors at least back onto the practice field. Johnson noted multiple times in our conversation that the safety of the athletes trumps everything else. But also that mental well-being is very important. Getting young athletes back practicing could go a long way in that regard.

Minnesota United FC returned to the practice field on Tuesday, but with many restrictions in place. Social distancing was a must, as was temperature checks as players arrived, coaches wearing masks, and personnel coming and going in their same clothes. The locker room is closed.