Gone are the MetroStars, and with them the days of apathy and paltry crowds. Red Bull Company Ltd. intends to make its $100 million investment in MLS pay off and is throwing money at the team, specifically the marketing department.
Former New York Cosmos Pele and Franz Beckenbauer will participate in the ceremonial opening kickoff on the all-grass field (a $200,000-per-game investment). The outlay for the national anthem performance and halftime entertainment (Rihanna, Shakira, Wyclef Jean) will exceed the annual salaries of most MLS players.
The Red Bulls' goal is a sold-out stadium. They are even sending buses for Revolution fans; more than 500 had signed up for the trip as of last week.
Unfortunately, for the Red Bulls, though, none of the money or promotion is going toward players. But the presence of
Pele and Beckenbauer will not only recall the days of the Cosmos playing to packed houses at Giants Stadium,
it also signals their future involvement in the team at the management level. Beckenbauer is expected to take a hands-on role after the World Cup; he is head of the Germany 2006 World Cup Organizing Committee.
Pele would likely be a figurehead, for the purpose of attracting players and sponsors.
But this week will not be all about smoke, mirrors, music, hoopla, and hype. There is some very real pressure on the team and coach Mo Johnston.
The Red Bulls opened the season with a 2-2 tie at D.C. United Sunday, but they will be expected to defeat the Revolution. Now that the team has the attention of fans and media, mediocrity won't be tolerated.
There is a question about who will call the shots, though.
General manager Alexi Lalas is expected to move to Los Angeles to replace Hamilton, who died of heart failure early last month.
Nick Sakiewicz, who was the MetroStars GM before being shuttled over to Red Bull Park stadium affairs,
could return to his former position.
But there are other scenarios.
Giorgio Chinaglia, another former Cosmo, is also expected to attend the game, along with former MetroStar Roberto Donadoni.
Should the Bulls falter,
Donadoni could emerge as a candidate for the coaching position. Donadoni appeared to be developing into one of Italy's better coaches, but was fired by Livorno despite guiding the team to the verge of a UEFA Cup berth. Donadoni's dismissal caused an outcry in Italy, not only because he was regarded among the classiest of players as a member of the national team and AC Milan, but also because he was proving that a small, provincial club could compete with the traditional powers.
Donadoni will certainly receive a solid offer from an Italian club before next season; meanwhile, he is available.
And the Red Bulls could be just getting started.
They considered signing Brazilian star Romario, but decided against it at the last minute. So Romario, 40, went to Miami FC, which will play in 7,000-seat Tropicana Field, in pursuit of his 1,000th career goal.
But the
Red Bulls will doubtless be going for younger Romario types, even though they will cost more than the $500,000 Romario requested.
This type of ambition and willingness to spend money is shaking up MLS, but the Red Bulls will have to present a stronger team for others to play the keeping-up-with game.
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Red Bulls will doubtless be going for younger Romario types. According to Metrofanatic.net web site, Could that younger type be Ronaldo?
Ronaldo???
April 4, 2006
MetroFanatic has learned that Red Bull is not sitting still on their most recent acquisition.
In fact, it has approached a number of players about wearing New York's Red. One of the targets is Brazilian superstar Ronaldo, who is under contract with Real Madrid through 2008. However, Red Bull, who has been dropping money in various directions including advertising, the grass field, and the players' locker room, doesn't look at the potential mammoth transfer fee as a problem.
Of course, an issue remains of fitting Ronaldo, a three-time World Player of the Year, under the salary cap. The Reds could use him in the way LA is using Landon Donovan and DC is using Freddy Adu; sign him where only the league's "official" maximum counts against the salary cap, while the real salary would be much more than that.
The question is, when would Ronaldo (or whoever Metro signs) come to MLS; after the World Cup? Next year?
In the past years, Ronaldo has made numerous comments about playing in the U.S. Who knows... can it actually become true? Or is this just another rumor which will fizzle out?
Interestingly,
Ronaldo and Youri Djorkaeff were teammates on Inter for two seasons.
Another side note is that Ronaldo shares (shared?) an agent, Giovanni Branchini, with Roberto Donadoni. The ex-Metro will make a return to Giants Stadium for this week's team opener, and
is rumored in some circles to be first in line to succeed Mo Johnston if (when?) the latter is pushed out by the Austrian overlords.