And Red Bull was it's name-o!!!

I know much has been written about the subject of Red Bull purchasing the Metrostars and rebranding them Red Bull New York a.k.a. The New York Red Bulls. I'll briefly touch on my feelings about this just so that I can add my opinion to the countless other already in existence.

At first I was a bit leery of the deal just because the notion of a corporate entity buying a team and remaking it into some sort of running, jumping, and playing advertisement is instinctively nauseous. I, like many others, at first thought that MLS was starting down a slippery slope of capitalism run amok and the grief they would take but the outside media would be excessive. However, once and laid out all the facts and considered them my opinion gradually evolved into something much more positive.

The huge infusion of cash into MLS is the biggest positive to take away from this deal. To define it even more, a huge infusion of much needed cash. The long and glorious history of the game of soccer does not sire an equally long and glorious history of MLS and people need to remember this. The league is but a mere 11 years old. The league also has yet to break even and turn a profit financially. Add these things together and it means that MLS doesn't have the luxury that the other top tier pro leagues in this country have in turning down that kind of money. It's just a simple fact.

Some other positives to consider is that along with this deal:

Red Bull will help pay to finish and then own half of the Harrison, NJ stadium. A stadium long overdue.

As far as corporations naming sports teams go, at least Red Bull sounds like a very real and probable nickname for a sports team. It's true that this is not the first soccer (or sports team) to be owned and play under the name of a corporation. PSV Eindhoven (Philips Electronics) Bayer Leverkusen (Bayer Pharmaceuticals) are soccer teams. The Green Bay Packers were named after the Indian Packing Co. when the company paid for new team uniforms. At least a few Japanese baseball teams have a corporate name. It's not like the team is called the New Yorks Nikes or the New York Mitsubishis. Even the name 'Metrostars' was named in part for Metromedia, the originals owners. And not to be insensitive but personally I think the Red Bulls is a much better name than Metrostars.

It subtracts from the number of teams AEG owns which is a very good thing.


In the end it is an experiment that many would like to see how it turns out. I wouldn't expect anything similar to happen again anytime soon. This has all the makings of being an anomaly and with the money they bring in may very well be the catalyst needed to really boost MLS over the threshold into money making super-league and the next time a similar offer from a business arises that can respectfully decline. Just because they do it once doesn't mean that have to do it again. Many decisions throughout history have been made based on the needs of the time. As times change so do the needs. This will hold true to MLS as well.

A hopeful start

My sincere hope is that I can actually maintain posting on a regular basis here. Once the MLS season begins April 1st I'm certain that I'll have plenty of thoughts and topics to talk about which is encouraging.

Please remember that everything I post is obviously my own personal opinion but I will promise you all that every post will be (hopefully) intelligent, logical, and (again, hopefully) well thought out. Though we are all prone to knee-jerk reactions to events or the occasional venting of emotions in haste, I will do my best minimize if not out-right bar any such posting on my part.

I look forward to posting in this blog and also the MLS season!