The early kick-off meant an attendance below 30, 000 and a somewhat flat atmosphere as fans absorbed their latest injury blow - the loss of Fellaini coming just when their other playmaker Mikel Arteta is back from his own long-term lay-off.

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Take away the added fans in Minnesota, and MLB attendance would be off 2% from last season.

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But he brushed off concerns about the flagging attendance, citing poor April weather and the economy as contributing factors.

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