The Aurora have done almost everything right, and reaped just about every reward a fledgling sports franchise can reap, but they've tried just a bit too hard to fit into the ethos of Minnesota sports. Win big in the regular season, lose in the postseason? Where have we heard this before? Oh, that's right — we've heard it from every men's franchise in Minnesota since 1991. Friday, the Minnesota Aurora will play the Indy Eleven at Keyworth Stadium in Detroit in the conference semifinals of the USL W League.
The Aurora went 10-0-2 this season, and somehow that stands as the worst record in their three-year existence. They are 33-0-3 in their first three regular seasons, and went to the championship game in their inaugural year and the conference finals last season. No, they didn't lose because someone took a knee, or they had an extra player in the huddle, or because Phil Cuzzi officiated one of their games.
Their record, attendance and ability to draw attention in a packed sports marketplace have all been exceptional, given that the team was conceived on napkins at a brewery . They also, unlike fully professional sports franchises, are in the business of player development and in the habit of highlighting social justice, so trophies aren't their only raison d'être. That doesn't mean they're not competitive.
Speak with one of their founders, and the conversation won't get far before they mention their thirst for a championship. Speak with their players and coach, and they te.
