This photo of Zentralstadion (Central Stadium) in Leipzig, Germany, was taken in December 2005, a little over a year following the opening of the stadium. It was built within the site of the huge original Zentralstadion, built in the 1950s, one of Europe's largest venues holding over 100,000 spectators.

The first major change of the Chris Heck era has been unleashed on the RBNY fan base, and like the team's results as of late, it's not going over well.

After this weekend's league-record-tying draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the RBNY Front Office has begun its renewal process for 2012 season tickets.

Here's photo of Russell Simmons and Maxwell in one of the skyboxes at the All Star game and it pretty much sums up the scene in the suite level last night at Red Bull Arena: moneyed people much more famous than you or I with Blackberries and wine glasses at the ready. Oh and models. Lots of models.

So, yeah... about that All-Star Game. We won't go in depth with a full report. Suffice to say that the MLS All-Stars got their asses handed to them over ninety minutes by one of the world's best club teams. We sincerely hope the league got a nice fat payday out of it because after two consecutive one-sided blowouts the "ASG" looking more and more like an exercise in futility.

Photo by Ed Schipul

How essential is watching an all star game to being a fan of a sport?

That's the question I am asking myself with the MLS All Star Game later tonight. ESPN2 will be broadcasting MLS All Stars v. Manchester United (The Rematch) beginning at 8:30 PM ET and I suspect the ratings for the event will be decent (relatively speaking).

How the Other Half LivesEver since I starting attending Red Bulls games regularly in 2007, I've only ever sat (or stood) in mid- to low-priced sections - first sweltering in 109 at Giants Stadium, then moving to "Boca 107" last year in the inaugural season of Red Bull Arena, before settling in the South Ward (132/133) in 2011.

I love me some Red Bull Arena, I really do. No one tops it for the in-game experience. But having just spent a week nursing at the warm, tricked-out teat of LIVESTRONG Sporting Park I now notice that there is a lot of unused space at RBA. Or enough of it to build a Man Cave of DIY tv at least.

Union

Justin Mapp could be available to face RSL.

Kevin Kinkead has another excellent RSL scouting report on the Union website. In the head-to-head preview at Goal.com, the Philly guy sees a 2–1 win for the Union, the RSL guy a 1–0 win for the visitors. Philly Union Talk thinks three point are likely while Unholy Union expects a draw.

An Island of Beauty in an Industrial WastelandAs Sporting Kansas City prepares to open MLS' next cutting-edge, soccer-specific stadium against Chicago Fire, an article appeared today on Bloomberg that raises concerns about the viability of the development project originally envisioned to surround the league's other sexy show palace, Red Bull Arena.

So I spent a good part of yesterday at the new park in Kansas City and the place is a palace. So in the interest of sacking up and stating that I was wrong, wrong, wrong I hereby rescind my previous statement re: LIVESTRONG's place in my personal SSS pecking order. For me this place is in a dead heat with RBA for the number one spot.

Photo by LA Galaxy

For American soccer fans, we are entering a frantic month of soccer. In addition to our normal MLS action, we will have the chance to see the Gold Cup and an impressive friendly against Spain. With the action spread out across the U.S., this may be the most soccer saturated this country has been since the 1994 World Cup - cities across the country even without MLS teams will get to see the beautiful game at a high level.

AGUDELO 70´ (1-0). Una estrella naciente del fútbol estadounidense, Juán AGUDELO, de origen colombiano, hizo sufrir a Los Sounders FC con el único gol del encuentro para darle la primera victoria de la temporada a los New York Red Bulls y la segunda en dos salidas al conjunto de Seattle. AGUDELO, de solo 18 años [.

While the players are away, the stadiums play. This is pretty dope...almost makes me wish I was physically fit enough to get strapped in and shoot off to Stratton or someplace for the weekend. Sadly, with my love of BBQ & Chinese food being what it is the only thing I would be good for is keeping the fireplace going and mixing the drinks because weebles don't ride well.

After all the hub-bub the announcement was a little less than "major", but it was nice none-the-less. Major League Soccer will be returning to the New York/New Jersey area for the 2011 All-Star Game. Harrison, NJ and the shiny, almost-new Red Bull Arena will host world super club TBA on July 27th.

Monday afternoon, MLS communications began trumpeting a "major announcement" to be formally unveiled in a Tuesday afternoon conference call involving Don Garber, Thierry Henry and Landon Donovan. Those of us hoping for a new television deal, details on the 2011 playoff format or an actual schedule for the coming season (yes, we're just a month away and still don't know where or when games will take place) began licking our chops in anticipation.