Bill McGuire had an easy job manning the super-sized grill that marks the heart of Dark Clouds tailgating territory outside the National Sports Center on Wednesday.

“Usually this is full by now,” McGuire said, looking over a dozen sizzling sausages.

McGuire, a longtime member of the Minnesota United FC’s most prominent supporter group, said the team’s midweek date for a match against Puerto Rico FC didn’t help attendance.

Neither did the fact that 20 miles away, Chelsea and AC Milan were playing in front of a sellout crowd of 64,101 at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“I was a little sad to see this happen,” said McGuire, who is not related to Minnesota United owner Dr. Bill McGuire. “It seemed personal.”

Official attendance for the match at the NSC — which ended in a 1-1 draw — was announced at 6,101, below the team’s average of about 8,500. While McGuire and his Dark Clouds mate Charlie Callaghan were disappointed in the conflict of schedules, they agreed that the soccer showcase that happened in downtown Minneapolis will ultimately benefit their sport.

“A lot of those people will go there, get interested and start coming out to matches,” Callaghan said.

In another section of the NSC parking lot, members of True North Elite kicked a soccer ball around before heading into the stadium to sing and cheer.

“This is a lifestyle for us,” Nicholas Bisbee said. “This is our community, our state, our club. I can’t go to (U.S. Bank Stadium) and hug one of our players after a goal like I can here. I think 63,000 fans at a soccer match in Minnesota is an awesome thing. It is important. But it’s more the fair-weather fan.”

Minnesota United is poised for big things. The Loons are preparing to join Major League Soccer next season and move into a new stadium in the Midway area of St. Paul in 2018.

Loons defender Brent Kallman, who is from Woodbury, agreed that putting international soccer to front of Twin Cities sports fans will help Minnesota United build its brand. Even if it meant some fans stayed away from Blaine for one night.

“We’re only really tapping the surface of it here in the United States,” Kallman said. “It’s been growing every year, and the challenge is going to be how to get those 63,000 soccer fans to come out and support the local team, whether we’re here or in MLS.”

Kallman noted that previous Minnesota professional soccer teams, the Thunder and the Stars (he was born nine years after the Kicks folded) never drew crowds close to what the Loons have been bringing in.

“I’ve watched it grow since I was 12, 13 years old,” Kallman said. “The difference (now) is night and day. Joining the MLS was huge, and part of it is the ownership group putting in more resources. So it’s growing, and it’s going to keep getting bigger.”

Kallman was aware that Chelsea and AC Milan were playing as he spoke but had no plans to watch the game or check out late highlights.

“No,” he said. “I’ll be thinking about this one all night.”

Kallman was referring to a match that saw a costly mistake by the Loons’ defense in the first half and a handful of painful missed opportunities in the second.

Hector Ramos scored in the fourth minute for Puerto Rico, drilling a shot past Steward Ceus from 15 yards out. Neither team managed sustained pressure for the remainder of the half.

Minnesota United tied it in the 46th minute when Puerto Rico’s Michael Kafari put in an own goal after a corner kick by the Ibson.

In the 62nd minute, Puerto Rico goalkeeper David Meves made a full-extension diving save on a Danny Cruz missile that was headed for the far corner. The shot, and the save, earned hearty cheers from the True North Elite stationed nearby.

Meves made another spectacular save in the 86th minute, smothering a low header by Justin Davis, who had snuck in behind the defense for a rebound.

The Puerto Rico goalkeeper’s second-half heroics prevented Minnesota (3-1-2, 11 points) from taking three points and moving into a first-place tie in the NAHL fall season.

“Fair play to the kid, especially the second (save) when he’s got to cross the goal,” Loons coach Carl Craig said. “We’re professionals, we hate drawing, but you’ve got to tip your hat to excellence. I thought he had a great game tonight.”