The Red Bull Park saga has generated lots of heat, and more than a little heartburn, but according
to the San Diego Union-Tribune help is on the way. Erik Stover, the 35-year-old manager of
Qualcomm Stadium, who recently distinguished himself by "converting the facility to an evacuation
center during October's wildfires," has reportedly accepted a position as "vice president of
operations and general manager at Red Bull Park in Harrison, N.
"The reality of MLS budgets is that teams don't have the money to go out and become Chelsea or
Arsenal." -- MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis attempting to obliterate the Stating the Obvious
Barrier in an otherwise interesting breakdown of the new Major League Soccer rules.
"If it's a jump ball, we're the fourth-largest market and they're not.
By now, you've already seen the official, updated design release for Red Bull Park. In fact, you've
probably already stumbled upon the website with the three rotating photos of what we hope the
future MLS Cathedral in lovely Harrison, New Jersey will look like.
In the spirit of the season, we here at Red Bull Rising are posting seven additional,
possibly illicit, but certainly tasteful, snapshots of the future Red Bull Park, inspired by
LA-based Rossetti Architects, the outfit currently tasked with .
On the first day of Christmas,
The Red Bull sent to me
A suit named Marc de Grandpre.
On the second day of Christmas,
The Red Bull sent to me
Bruce Almighty,
And a suit named Marc de Grandpre.
On the third day of Christmas,
The Red Bull sent to me
Stadium Plans,
Bruce Almighty,
And a suit named Marc de Grandpre.
The Red Bull had nothing to gain on Thursday night in the City of Angels. With the New England
Revolution already booked as the first-round MLS Playoffs opponent, the game against the Galaxy,
while admittedly interesting, meant very little to Bruce Arena's Gang. Regardless, there were
several positives and a couple of negatives resulting from the 1-1 draw at the Home Depot Center.
Don't look now but the Beckham Rules are out of control. Check out the screen grab above. MLS is so
hellbent on getting the Los Angeles Galaxy and David Beckham into the playoffs that they've awarded
Team Lalas the first ever 1-1 "win" in league history. Readers may recall this isn't the first time
The Red Bull have been the unlucky recipients of creative MLSnet.
While shamefully smearing a 12-year-old accident victim, contemplating the latest attempt by The
Man to destroy everything cool in the world, we thought, "Who's gonna grab the two remaining Major
League Soccer Postseason Tourney slots?" So without creepy Tattoo, here's the Red Bull
Rising Race for the MLS Cup Report, Part Trois. All information below is based on official data
from the MLSnet.
Juan Pablo Angel, Jozy Altidore, Dane Richards and Francis Grandpa Doe all started on Saturday
night and produced the desired result: The Red Bull outscored the Kansas City Wizards 2-1. With the
victory, The Red Bull put a hex on the Wizards postseason chances, and set the stage for a
tantalizing Major League Soccer first-round playoff matchup with the New England Revolution.
The blogosphere is bubbling with Red Bull playoff talk. Big Apple Soccer handicaps the
possibilities, including Captain America's first-round California Dreamin'. MetroFanatic,
fresh off some fine pro bono work for MLSnet.com, ponders the pitfalls amidst the New England
foliage. Channeling Dwight K. Schrute, The Kin of Fish advocates a mercy-killing.
OK, you're one game from clinching a playoff spot, playing in a market where the biggest pro sports
collapse ever just happened, and you haven't won a game in a month. One positive you've had going
for you, however, has been the stellar play of a dynamic newcomer, who has scored a goal in each of
your past two matches. So, what do you do? Well, if you're Bruce Arena, YOU BENCH HIM!
Juan Pablo Angel scored, Ronald Wattereus left fans muttering, "Where's Tim Conway?" and the Red
Bull recorded it's third straight draw on Saturday night, a 2-2 decision which flattered the
visitors from Real Salt Lake. Luckily for the Red Bull, serial sister-kissing is not a crime in
Major League Soccer, and another terrible loss by the Kansas City Wizards preserved a three-point
Red Bull advantage in the MLS Playoff Standings Table.
The Blanco-led Chicago Fire meet Chivas USA in Los Angeles on Saturday, which could be a precursor
to a tasty, internationally flavored first-round Major League Soccer playoff matchup. If the season
ended today (doncha love that phrase?) Chivas, currently holding first-place in the West, would
face Chicago, currently clinging to the eighth and final postseason slot.
For 84 minutes on Saturday night Juan Pablo Angel ran down loose balls and errant passes that
should've been here not there and endured an inexplicable torrent of abuse from the
worst official in Major League Soccer (which is saying quite alot). Most, if not all, players would
succumb to the frustration and either go all Blanco and rant and rave until the final whistle or
furtively glance over to the bench while massaging a phantom cramp, hoping to get subbed out of the
losing match.
While committing armed robbery (or searching for the real killers) at a Las Vegas Hotel,
mystified by the current state of pop culture, we thought, "Who's gonna make the Major League
Soccer Postseason Tourney?" So, without hapless Apu, here's the Red Bull Rising Race for the
MLS Cup Report, Part Deux. All information below is based on official data from the MLSnet.
The last time the Red Bull earned a road point, the Beckham-less Galaxy still had green in their
kit, Senator Larry Craig was a happily married heterosexual and the Notre Dame faithful were
looking forward to football season. In other words, it was a long time ago.
But the Red Bull turned back time last night, picking up a big point in a 2-2 draw with the chippy,
Blanco-led Fire before over 20,000 boisterous fans at Toyota Park.
