Hometown Player Brent Kallman Sees Minnesota United Growth Firsthand

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Over the last few years, the popularity of pro soccer in Minnesota has grown exponentially, as the state's pro team has gone from afterthought to the verge of Major League Soccer. And as it turns out, one Minnesota native on the team has had a front row seat for it all.

Growing up in Woodbury, Brent Kallman could only imagine what it would be like to play in front of a packed house of nearly 9,000 fans a night -- many of them friends and family -- for his hometown pro soccer team.

He could only imagine it, because it wasn't reality.

"It was more unknown. I think if you asked around the state, the majority of people, well more than the majority, didn't even know we had a pro team," Kallman said. "With the new ownership group, and the re-brand as Minnesota United, that's not the case anymore. Now, everybody's aware."

As a guy who grew up here and loves the sport, Kallman counts it a blessing to be a part of that -- seeing it finally embraced as United has pushed its way into the mainstream of Minnesota sports.

"It was awesome," he said. "It feels like a pro -- you're up here in Blaine, Saturday nights, it feels like a pro environment. It's awesome. It's proper, professional soccer."

And his part keeps getting bigger. After playing just sparingly his first two seasons with his hometown team, he broke into the starting lineup last fall, and now has established himself as a mainstay in Minnesota's defense this spring, starting each of the last six games.

"He's gaining confidence, he's gaining a better understanding of his role. And the minutes on the field are certainly helping him," Minnesota United coach Carl Craig said. "So I think with all those things coming together, it's breeding a confidence which is absolutely necessary to do the job."

And as Minnesota heads toward an even brighter soccer future in the MLS, Kallman is hoping he can be a part of that, too.

"I try not to think about it too much, because I don't want it to distract me this year, so I'm just trying to focus on what I'm doing out here. And if I do well enough, maybe I make the transition, which would be great," he said.