MLS New Team - Red Bull New York

[TexasTerror]

What the heck? The NY/NJ Metrostars are now known as "Red Bull New York". Is this awful or what? This is the first time this has happened in the US. What's next? Verizon San Antonio?

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Red Bull, the Austrian company that produces the popular energy drink, finalized its purchase of the MetroStars from AEG Thursday after the MLS Board of Governors approved the deal.

The organization has been rebranded as "Red Bull New York," with a new logo, uniform and team colors being installed immediately. While the official name of the club is Red Bull New York, the playing squad will be known as the New York Red Bulls.

In addition to ownership of the club, Red Bull's deal with AEG includes naming rights for and a 50 percent ownership stake in the team's new stadium, which will be built in Harrison, N.J. Red Bull is also partnering with AEG in the construction of the facility. AEG will directly oversee construction and will be responsible for managing and booking the venue.

http://redbull.newyork.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20060309&content_id=53561&vkey=news_met&fext=.jsp&team=met

[blur2005]

I'd be more ticked about it, if A) Red Bull hadn't already done this in Germany with a soccer team there and B) if their new logo wasn't decently cool, which it is. Plus, the MLS needs money and sponsors, so there ya go. They really would like to turn a profit for a season.

[Tod]

And at least Red Bull works. I don't think that will continue, though. Like TT said, Verizon San Antonio would suck...

[TexasTerror]

And at least Red Bull works. I don't think that will continue, though. Like TT said, Verizon San Antonio would suck...

Here's a remark from the MLS Commish. He does not seem to think it will continue. I'm interested to see how year one as the Red Bulls goes for the MLS squad...and yes, Verizon San Antonio would suck! They'd have nothing on Houston Dynamo! :)

MLSnet.com: This sale is the first of its kind in the league. Is this something you see as the start of a new trend and is this the kind of deal that the league would like to see in other markets?
DG: No. Really, this was not intended to come down the way it did. It just turned out, from our first discussions with Red Bull that were brokered by [German soccer legend] Franz Beckenbauer and our friends from adidas, that their interest in this sport turned into such a strong interest that it moved to an interest in buying one of our teams. I don't see this as a trend. I don't see this as a trend in our league or other leagues.

[UNHWildCats]

New Jersey is fuming LOL

[walliver]

Red Bulls seems like a better name than "Metrostars".

What's next, will the Pittsburgh NFL team start wearing steel industry logos on their helmets?

I doubt there will be a lot of this since most companies don't have names that translate well into team names, so San Antonio Verizons is unlikely.

There are interesting options though, The Atlanta Schlitz Malt Liquor Bulls could play the Grambling State Mac OS X Tigers, the Texas Microsoft Longhorns, the Louisville Kentucky Fried Chickens, the Coastal Carolina Hooters, and The Delaware Tyson Hens.

[Tribefan]

The Metrostars at one point were owned by Metrormedia Corp. That is where they got the Metrostars name from. They just traded one corporate name for a new one.

[Pard4Life]

New Jersey is fuming LOL

Yup, you hit the nail on the head. The paper made a much bigger issue out of New Jersey being excluded from the name than a corporate sponsor taking over the nickname (personally I think it's cooler than MetroStars and if your not an alkey you might not think of the drink anyhow).

The issue is that NJ is paying PUBLIC MONEY through the NJ Sports and Exposition Authority to build a new stadium for soccer only in Harrison (right next to Newark). Trenton was really mad since they earmarked millions for this stadium and they don't even have an NJ name.

Like the paper said, the Giants and Jets play in NJ but retain NY, which is at least legit b/c they have a NY history. The MetroStars don't.. they always played in the Meadowlands.

[Pard4Life]

A funnier issue is the new Texas MLS team.. Houston 1848 or whatever. They supposedly consulted the locals, mostly Hispanics, what to name the team. Instead, a name gets picked that has a date that the U.S. gained Texas for good after defeating Mexico. And many of the locals are Mexicans.... talk about PR!

[blur2005]

A funnier issue is the new Texas MLS team.. Houston 1848 or whatever. They supposedly consulted the locals, mostly Hispanics, what to name the team. Instead, a name gets picked that has a date that the U.S. gained Texas for good after defeating Mexico. And many of the locals are Mexicans.... talk about PR!
Houston 1836 is now the Houston Dynamo, btw.

[TexasTerror]

The Metrostars at one point were owned by Metrormedia Corp. That is where they got the Metrostars name from. They just traded one corporate name for a new one.

Does anyone know that? I would've had no clue about it if you didn't say anything. Red Bull is a more prominent company both in general and in the promotion of the team...


A funnier issue is the new Texas MLS team.. Houston 1848 or whatever. They supposedly consulted the locals, mostly Hispanics, what to name the team. Instead, a name gets picked that has a date that the U.S. gained Texas for good after defeating Mexico. And many of the locals are Mexicans.... talk about PR!

FYI, the US did not "gain" Mexico until 10-15 years after Texas won independence. The team's name was 1836, when Sam Houston (the namesake of SAM HOUSTON STATE!) returned the favor from the Alamo and won the shortest battle to date. I think it took all of ten, fifteen minutes. No casualties on the Texas side and the Texans just kicked some Mexican tail! :hurray:

[Tribefan]

I believe that when the MLS was launched Metromedia Corp. owned the Metros. But eventually Metromedia sold the club back to MLS.

http://au.mmtglobal.com/About/mrkluge.htm

Scroll to the bottom.

[HiHiYikas]

I don't know much about European soccer, but it seems to me that nicknames don't get much use/attention over there. Go to website of any British Premier League team and see how long it takes you to figure out what their nickname is.

I guess nicknames weren't a big deal 120 years ago when a lot of those teams were being founded.

Personally, I think the Leeds United Whites is pretty funny.

[Pard4Life]

FYI, the US did not "gain" Mexico until 10-15 years after Texas won independence. The team's name was 1836, when Sam Houston (the namesake of SAM HOUSTON STATE!) returned the favor from the Alamo and won the shortest battle to date. I think it took all of ten, fifteen minutes. No casualties on the Texas side and the Texans just kicked some Mexican tail! :hurray:

Oops, I thought the team name was Houston 1848, not 1836. Ok, then the slap in the face to the Mexicans makes stronger sense than the Mexican-American War, although both dates are a slap in the face.