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MLS New York Red Bulls

New York Red Bulls Weekly Update

March 15, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York Red Bulls News Release


RED BULLS OPEN RED BULL ARENA VS. SANTOS: After years of anticipation, the New York Red Bulls will have their first match at the brand-new Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ, when they face Santos FC in the stadium's Grand Opening on Saturday, March 20 at 6:00 PM ET (TV:MSG).

Individual tickets for the Grand Opening event are sold out. An extremely limited amount of seats are still available for fans who wish to purchase Red Bulls Full Season or Eight Game Ticket Plans. The Santos FC match is included with all Full Season Plans.

The Red Bulls roll into Saturday's match unbeaten in preseason, posting a 6-0-3 record and coming off a 3-1 win over NASL side, Miami FC, last Friday in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Red Bulls forward Conor Chinn scored twice, including the game-winner three minutes into the second half. New York returned to the local area after spending the past week in Ft. Lauderdale. On March 9, the Red Bulls defeated the Fort Lauderdale Rebels, 4-0, with four different scorers finding the mark for New York.

Founded in 1912, Santos has a storied history in Brazil. Winners of 17 Paulista Championships, including in 2006 and 2007, Santos is renowned as being the first club where Pele - one of the greatest players in the sport's history - started his career in 1956 when he was 15 years old. Santos has also won two Brazilian Championships in 2002 and 2004. Along with Pele, Santos has had many Brazilian stars in its ranks and is currently led by Robinho and Neymar.

As a reminder, media members interested in applying for credentials the Red Bulls Grand Opening event on March 20 can do so by e-mailing brian.tsao@newyorkredbulls.com.

RED BULLS HOST MEDIA DAY TOMORROW: The New York Red Bulls will host their annual Media Day at their brand-new soccer-specific stadium, Red Bull Arena, on Tuesday, March 16 from 1-3 PM. Earlier in the day starting at 10 AM, the Red Bulls will hold their first-ever practice on the venue's Kentucky Bluegrass pitch. The practice is open to the media.

All players will be available to accredited members of the media during Media Day. Media members who have been approved for 2010 Red Bulls Season Credentials will already be on the RSVP list. Those who do not have season credentials can attend by sending a RSVP to kate.brewsterduffy@newyorkredbulls.com.

NEW YORK RED BULLS SCHEDULE (March 15-21) Please contact a member of the Red Bulls Communications Staff if you have any requests or questions.

This Week's Schedule (subject to change - all times ET): Monday, March 15: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM Tuesday, March 16: Training at Red Bull Arena at 10:00 AM. Media Day at Red Bull Arena from 1-3 PM. Wednesday, March 17: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM Thursday, March 18: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM Friday, March 19: Training at Montclair State University facility at 10:00 AM Saturday, March 20: Red Bulls vs. Santos FC at Red Bull Arena Grand Opening at 6:00 PM (TV: MSG) Sunday, March 21: OFF

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING TO LIGHT UP IN HONOR OF RBA: In honor of the Grand Opening of Red Bull Arena, the Empire State Building will light up white and red on Friday, March 19. Red Bull Arena will set the standard for other soccer venues across the continent. The state-of-the-art soccer-specific facility, set to open on March 20 in Harrison, NJ, when the Red Bulls face Santos FC at 6:00 PM (TV), will be the home of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (MLS).

Red Bulls defender Mike Petke, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, and assistant coach Richie Williams will all take part in the lighting ceremony, which will illuminate the skyscraper in the colors of the Red Bulls' kit. All three have ties to the New York metro area. Petke grew up in Long Island, Coundoul attended Martin Luther King Jr. high school in New York City, and Williams is a Middletown, NJ native. The lighting ceremony will take place on March 19 at 1:30 PM. The ceremony is not open to the public.

The Empire State Building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th streets in Midtown Manhattan. The lighting of the building in white and red will take place from dusk on March 19 until approximately 2:00 AM on March 22.

RED BULLS APPEARANCES THIS WEEK: The New York Red Bulls will be making several appearances in the local community this week:

On March 17, Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler and defender Kevin Goldthwaite will be making appearances with the Red Bull MXT event car in the New York and New Jersey area.

Stammler will make an appearance at Nevada Smith's in New York City, arriving in the car between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Later that evening, Goldthwaite will be making stops in the car at three Hoboken pubs - McSwiggan's, Mulligan's, and The Shannon. Goldthwaite's appearances will take place between 6:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The Red Bulls Street Team will accompany both players.

On March 18, goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul, forward Macoumba Kandji and midfielder Austin da Luz will appear and sign autographs at Upper 90 in New York City from 6:00-8:00PM. Upper 90 is the first large soccer-specific store in New York City and is located in the same neighborhood as Martin Luther King Jr. High School, where Coundoul was a standout player. The store hosts Red Bulls viewing parties during the MLS season.

RED BULLS ACQUIRE ROBINSON, SIGN SUTTON: Red Bull New York announced on March 11 that it acquired former Welsh National Team midfielder Carl Robinson from Toronto FC in exchange for a fourth round selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. The Red Bulls also announced on the same day that it signed goalkeeper Greg Sutton.

"Carl is a very consistent player who will immediately contend for a spot in our starting lineup," said Red Bull New York General Manager and Sporting Director Erik Soler. "He has a significant amount of experience at both the club and international level and we expect that he will bring a strong veteran presence to our locker room."

"We have been impressed with Greg's performances during his time with us in preseason," Soler added. "He is a very experienced goalkeeper and will compete for a starting role."

Robinson, 33, played for Toronto FC in regular season play 74 times in the past three years - mostly as a defensive midfielder. Last season, Robinson notched two assists in 21 games, 20 of which were starts. Prior to coming to MLS, Robinson played for a number of English Championship clubs. In 2002, Robinson joined Portsmouth, playing 15 games, before being loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday and Walsall.

From 2003-06, Robinson suited up for Portsmouth and was loaned out to Sunderland, where he played in 52 games and scored six goals. Robinson joined Toronto FC after playing for Norwich in 2006. The 5-10, 165-pound midfielder started his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1995 and ended up featuring in 163 games over seven years.

Robinson earned 52 caps for Wales after making his senior international debut in 1999. Last year, Robinson announced his retirement from international soccer.

Sutton joins New York after three seasons playing for Toronto FC, where the Canada native made 34 appearances, including 33 starts, compiling seven shutouts and 155 saves. Prior to his time with Toronto FC, Sutton was a fixture in goal for the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division, making 132 appearances and helping the team to the a title in 2004, earning USL MVP, Goalkeeper of the Year. He was also named Impact Defensive Player of the Year.

A four-time USL-1 Goalkeeper of the Year honoree, Sutton was on the New York roster in 2000, but did not make an appearance in an MLS match. Sutton has made 16 appearances for the Canadian National Team.

CARLO'S BAKERY TO CONSTRUCT CAKE FOR RBA: Carlo's Bakery of Hoboken, New Jersey will be creating and presenting a cake in honor of the opening of Red Bull Arena - the New York Red Bulls' brand-new home in Harrison, NJ. The bakery has a significant following after its hit show premiered on TLC.

"Being a part of the opening of Red Bull Arena will be an amazing experience for me. We are an Italian family and Italians love soccer." says the owner of Carlo's Bakery, "Buddy" Valastro. "We are the best in our business and the Red Bulls will have the best stadium in the MLS. They will also have the best team this season and that's why we're going to make an amazing cake for them and their opening."

"When the Red Bulls approached me to build a cake for their Media Day which is the official introduction of the team to the local media, I was excited about the idea," said partner Mauro Castano. "I can't wait until the unveiling of the cake. It represents the importance of the Red Bull Arena for the area and as a fan of the team, I can't wait to share this day with the Red Bulls."

The cake, which will depict the Red Bulls' new home, will be unveiled at the Red Bulls' Media Day on March 16 at 1:00 PM at Red Bull Arena.

REDBULLARENA.US RELAUNCHED: Red Bull New York announced the re-launch of RedBullArena.us, the official website of Red Bull Arena, New York's state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium being constructed in Harrison, NJ.

RedBullArena.us will become an all-inclusive destination for all things related to the new home of the New York Red Bulls, including arena news, features, directions to the facility, an event calendar, and a live webcam that will allow supporters of the Red Bulls to follow the final stages of the construction process.

The look of the site was designed by Red Bull Creative, while the site was created and built by AmericanEagle.com.

SOLO FUTBOL AIRS SUNDAY: Red Bulls WADO 1280 AM and 92.7 FM announcers Ernesto Motta and Robert Sierra host their weekly call-in radio show, Solo Futbol, on Sunday night from 8-11 PM on WADO 1280 AM. Motta, Sierra and their panel of experts and guests analyze the Beautiful Game and the New York Red Bulls, as they get ready for their upcoming MLS season.

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 15, 2010


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