With the popularity of soccer on the rise in Minnesota and the level of play in women’s soccer getting more competitive every year at every level, Andrea Yoch, Andréa Caroll-Franck, Allie Schmidt, Elisa Vicuña and Susan Earle knew they had the chance to create something special in the Twin Cities.
Using a community-owned, women-led organizational structure, the group founded the Minnesota Aurora FC, a pre-professional women’s soccer team. The team, which is part of the United Soccer League (USL-W), provides a pathway for players to refine their skills on the field for their college career or advance their path within pro leagues.
To get the team off the ground, the Aurora founders group attracted more than 3,000 investors from across the United States and the world. They stressed their commitment to equality and elevating the women’s game, and investors bought in. So did fans - and together they celebrated a number of firsts in 2022.
Aurora's first home game on May 26 was also its first sellout crowd. Its first win came a few days later at Kaw Valley FC, and they didn’t stop coming. The Aurora won 13 straight games, its first regular-season title and made it to the USL-W League Final before picking up its first loss of the season.
The team, which included a dozen Minnesota players, drew sell-out crowds all year thanks to affordable tickets. The Aurora averaged a league-high 5,626 fans per game, and twice had to increase stadium capacity to accommodate demand. Media coverage, webstream views, volunteers and sponsors came in higher than anticipated, and the team will turn a profit in its first year.
More importantly, the Aurora organization is helping spur interest in women’s athletics at all levels. Each game, the team’s starters enter the field with a young guest - many of whom are aspiring soccer players. They also cover registration fees for college players so competing in the summer is financially feasible, along with housing for non-Minnesota players.
The founders group has created an innovative model that expands sports opportunities for women on and off the field while elevating women’s soccer and they did it all with a blueprint others can build upon in the future.