The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby Blaine, Minnesota for its final two seasons.

The Minnesota Kicks played the state's first professional soccer game in May 1976 to a crowd of over 20,000 at Metropolitan Stadium.

The next year, 1991, with the help of corporate sponsors Rainbow Foods, Kemps, and Liberty State Bank, the team played an expanded schedule with a record of eight victories and three ties losing $10,000 in the process.

[7] As an amateur team, the Thunder was responsible for an opponent's hotel, food and lodging for each road trip.

The Thunder defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in fourth round U.S. Open Cup game played to 5,505 fans at the Metrodome.

[18] Amos Magee played for the Thunder for 12 seasons, retired in 2005, is its all-time leading scorer (64 goals and 39 assists), and was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame in 2008.

[33] In November 2009 the Thunder announced their intent to leave the USL First Division to become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League.

In early November 2009 they released all players from their contracts,[34] partly in response to heavy debts and unpaid bills, including wages.

In January 2010, the National Sports Center announced the formation of a new club, the NSC Minnesota Stars that functioned as a replacement for the Thunder.

When the team became a professional organization, a new logo was created, consisting of an image of the state of Minnesota background with a soccer ball and thunderbolt imposed upon it.

In 2002, the Thunder undertook a marketing re-branding endeavor, where a new logo was created consisting of a soccer ball with movement lines and a T below the words of team's name.

In 2003 the Thunder wanted to reduce the number of home games played at the National Sports Center to seven.

"[37] In 2004 the Thunder played home matches at James Griffin Stadium, also known as "The Jimmy", in St Paul.

The move to this stadium in central Saint Paul was made in an attempt to reduce overhead costs and market to a more urban and ethnic crowd.

According to then president and general manager Jim Froslid some of the deciding were being on a bus line (mass transit does not go to Blaine) and being accessible to the ethnic community.

[37] The team's largest supporters' group, the Dark Clouds, were founded in 2004 and worked with the Thunder organization to make improvements to their home stadium.

[42][43] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.