New York Red Bulls Tryouts
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference.
New York Red Bulls Youth Development System
New York Red Bulls Academy System
The New York Red Bulls Academy is the multi-layered youth system of the New York Red Bulls. It is the first cost-free program in MLS that provides a professional soccer training environment for youth players in the New York metropolitan area. The soccer programs are operated as part of a global approach to player development.
New York Red Bulls Youth Program Overview
The New York Red Bulls Player Development System is a multi-layered approach that provides a professional training environment for youth players. The youth programs are operated as part of the Red Bulls homegrown approach to player development. The Red Bulls draw on extensive support and expertise from a global soccer brand to offer the highest level of youth soccer programs in the Tri-State area. Our coaches receive extensive training that continues throughout their tenure with the Red Bulls, all supporting the coaches’ ultimate goal: help players develop and reach their highest potential.
There are seven levels which make up the pyramid. At the base is our Development Programs which serves players, clubs, and coaches at the grassroots level. The next level, our Regional Development School, is a training program for talented players that are recruited through a tryout and scouting process. The RDS also acts as an identification platform for our boys and girls Pre-Academy teams, the first level of the pyramid where players join a Red Bulls team full time. At Level 4 of the pyramid, the most talented players have the opportunity to represent Red Bulls Academy teams. The goal of the Academy teams is to develop future professional soccer players for Red Bulls II and the First Team, who play in USL and MLS respectively.
This page explains each level of the New York Red Bulls player development pyramid, from the grassroots level to the professional team.
Level 7 – New York Red Bulls Development Programs
Level 7 is the foundation of the Player Development System, which offers a variety of training programs for players, coaches, and organizations at all levels of the game. LEARN MORE
Club Development
- Youth soccer clubs can partner with the Red Bulls and benefit from a fully-integrated club development program.
- Partners receive access to Red Bulls’ professional youth coaches, curriculum, programming, camps, clinics, coach education, consulting, and branding.
Camps
- Offered throughout the year during school breaks.
- Camp types include: Skills, Team, RDS, and Residential.
- Available for boys and girls ages 5 to 16 years.
- 125+ locations offered throughout the Tri-State area.
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Clinics
- Offered on a seasonal basis during the spring, fall and winter.
- Focused on individual technical development.
- Available for boys and girls ages 3 to 14 years.
- 30+ locations, including indoor facilities.
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Select
- Regional Select and Young Olympian Programs operated in partnerships with local leagues and state associations.
- Weekly training and team play opportunities.
Outreach
- Our Urban Soccer Program provides underserved areas with programs that help engage children in physical activity, using soccer as a vehicle to teach life skills, encourage the values of teamwork, and promote discipline, confidence, and self-esteem
- Our Believe Program is an outreach initiative for young athletes with special needs. Specially designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to children of all ages and abilities.
Level 6 – New York Red Bulls Regional Development Schools
Level 6 of the Player Development System focuses on advanced training for ages 7 to 14 years, offered through our Regional Development Schools (RDS). Through high-level year-round supplementary training, these programs offer a direct player development pathway to Pre-Academy teams. Acceptance to these programs is by assessment only. LEARN MORE
RDS Camps
- Day and Residential Opportunities
- Day Camps offer open registration programs for travel level players and the only opportunity to participate in RDS without a tryout.
- Residential Camps are subject to try out for new applicants.
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RDS Clinics
- Offered on a seasonal basis during the spring, fall, and winter seasons.
- Available at a range of indoor and outdoor facilities.
- Each location is accessible by tryout.
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Talent Development Centers
- A cost-free training and identification program offered in underserved communities.
- Focus on scouting and developing future talent.
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Showcase Teams
- Supplementary teams that train and participate in winter and summer tournaments.
- Participation by invitation only, with players identified via RDS camps and clinics.
- Ages 7 to 14 years.
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Level 5 – New York Red Bulls Pre-Academy
Level 5 of the Player System consists of boys and girls Pre-Academy teams. Players are asked to commit to the teams full-time and represent the Red Bulls in elite level leagues and tournaments throughout the year. LEARN MORE
- Regional boys teams are offered at the U10 and U11 age groups.
- Regional girls teams are offered at the U12 and U13 age groups, with plans to extend into additional age groups.
Level 4 – New York Red Bulls Academy
Red Bulls Academy teams participate in MLS NEXT and other elite regional, national, and international competitions. This nationally recognized program features:
- Fully funded, year-round training for the area’s top male soccer players, supporting teams U12 to U19.
- Professional training environment staffed by elite level coaches.
- Program based at the Red Bulls state-of-the-art Training Facility, the same facility that houses the Red Bulls U23, USL and MLS teams.
- A proven pedigree of homegrown player success with a significant number of Academy graduates representing RBNY and NYRB II, along with other MLS and international club teams and the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Level 3 – New York Red Bulls U23
The U23 team provides an opportunity for RBNY Academy graduates and elite college players who have been scouted as potential NYRB II or First Team prospects. The team operates over the summer months and participates in USL 2.
Level 2 – NYRB II
NYRB II is a professional team which provides a bridge between the Academy and First Team. Playing in the USL Championship, the team is a vital component of the Red Bulls homegrown player strategy. The team plays it home matches at MSU Soccer Park on the campus of Montclair State University. LEARN MORE
Level 1 – New York Red Bulls First Team
The Red Bulls First Team is the pinnacle of the Player Development System. Making the First Team is the ultimate achievement for any aspiring young soccer player and the club’s philosophy places a heavy emphasis on giving opportunities to homegrown talent. Through this system, the dream of becoming a professional New York Red Bulls player can become a reality. The New York Red Bulls play in Major League Soccer, the nation’s top-flight professional soccer league. The team plays at Red Bull Arena, a state-of-the-art, soccer-specific stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. LEARN MORE
New York Red Bulls Player Identification
The Red Bulls Academy scouting team is continually watching, evaluating, and keeping track of potential youth talent both locally and nationally. Through our homestay and school program, we are able to accommodate and support top talent near and far, and provide them with a sense of family and belonging.
New York Red Bulls Talent Identification Mechanisms
New York Red Bulls Scouting Network
We pride ourselves in recruiting, retaining, and developing the best domestic talent by providing a clear pathway from the Youth Programs to the Academy and on to the Professional Teams. An established scouting network helps provide player referrals.
New York Red Bulls Scout Identification
Red Bulls Academy scouts observe games on a weekly basis and use a detailed, long-term talent identification model in order to discover our future players. Our scouts follow a strict communication pathway and always connect with a players current club first.
New York Red Bulls Youth Programs Identification
Players are identified by staff at our Youth Programs, which are held at various times and locations throughout the year. We follow an official protocol during this process. All scouting reports obtained at camps are communicated directly to the Senior Manager, Player Development. For more information on Youth Programs click here.
The New York Red Bulls are an American professional soccer club based in the New York metropolitan area. The Red Bulls compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The club was established in October 1994 and began play in the league’s inaugural season in 1996 as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. In 2006, the team was sold to Red Bull GmbH and re-branded as part of the company’s global network of football clubs, leading to the team’s current name.
The Red Bulls have played their home matches at Red Bull Arena since 2010, having previously played at Giants Stadium. The club is one of two teams in MLS based in the New York metropolitan region along with New York City FC, which entered the league in 2015. The two sides compete against each other in the Hudson River Derby.
The Red Bulls have reached the MLS Cup final once in 2008 where they were defeated by the Columbus Crew. The club has won three regular season Supporters’ Shield titles in 2013, 2015 and 2018, has also twice reached the final of the U.S. Open Cup in 2003 and 2017, losing on both occasions.
New York Red Bulls Direct Player Application
To apply for a trial or to find out more information, submit your application using this link. Please note that due to the high volume of interest not all applications will receive a response.
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New York Red Bulls History
MetroStars era
The name of the team’s largest fans’ group, the Empire Supporters Club, was derived from the club’s original name, Empire Soccer Club. Both John Kluge and Stuart Subotnick were among the team’s early owners. After Nike’s initial idea of “MetroFlash” was rejected, the team adopted the moniker “MetroStars” as a nod to Kluge’s media company, Metromedia. However, the owners also explored purchasing the moniker “Cosmos” but decided against it.
After signing with MLS, Tab Ramos became the MetroStars’ first player and was quickly joined by Tony Meola and Roberto Donadoni, two of the best midfielders in the world at the time. Peter Vermes, a veteran of the 1990 World Cup, was appointed the Metros’ first team captain, but it was Giovanni Savarese, a Venezuelan who had previously been unknown, who broke through as the squad’s breakout star. Eddie Firmani, the former head coach of the New York Cosmos, was the team’s first coach.
The 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft saw the MetroStars choose players named Juninho and Tulio. When the MetroStars discovered that they had not truly recruited well-known Brazilian talents Juninho Paulista and Tlio Costa, the initial enthusiastic reaction was rapidly shattered. On March 25, 1996, the MetroStars released both drafted players. While “Juninho’s” real name and club history were eventually established, “Tulio’s” real name and club history remain unclear. Iconic events like this one have made their way into the folklore of the MetroStars franchise.
As soon as the league got underway in 1996, the MetroStars were anticipated to rapidly establish themselves as the league’s premier team. Nothing happened to live up to this expectation. It didn’t matter how prominent the players were or how high-profile the coach was; the team never seemed to gel. In the squad’s first home game against the New England Revolution, it was clear that the future was looking bright for the team. After Nicola Caricola mistakenly turned the ball into his own net, New England’s 1–0 victory over Juventus was confirmed in front of a crowd of 46,000.
To explain the team’s failure to win a domestic championship in its history, fans created a play they called “The Curse of Caricola.” After only eight games (3–5), Firmani resigned and was replaced by Carlos Queiróz, the former Portugal coach, who went winless the remainder of the season (12–12). The team made it to the playoffs, but lost to D.C. United, who went on to win the championship. Until 1998, the squad was known as New York/New Jersey, but the media and fans didn’t catch on until 2002. With no city or state or regional geographic designation linked to MetroStars, this is a rare occurrence in American sports.
In 1999, the MetroStars had the poorest record in MLS history with a 7–25 record under Bora Milutinovi, the former US national team coach. Lothar Matthäus, a German international, was acquired by the MetroStars from Bayern Munich in 2000 in an attempt to revive the team’s fortunes. Matthäus’ time in the United States was short-lived, as he appeared in just 16 MLS games.
Although the squad was in last place at the end of the season, it was able to win the conference championship. Five goals from Clint Mathis in one game against the Dallas Burn on August 26, 2000, set an MLS record for most goals in one match. To replace him, the team brought in New Jersey native and former assistant coach of D.C. United and head coach of the Chicago Fire, Bob Bradley, in 2003.
In his first season, Bradley helped the squad reach the U.S. Open Cup final and the postseason. When the MetroStars won the La Manga Cup in 2004, they became the first MLS team to lift a trophy outside of North America. MetroStars beat Dynamo Kyiv 3–2 in the semi-finals before beating Norway’s Viking FK 1–0 in the final.
Coach Mo Johnston was hired temporary head coach for the MetroStars in 2005, leading the team to seven points in the final three games of the season before they were eliminated from the playoffs with a 3–2 loss to the New England Revolution.
Red Bull takeover (2006–2009)
Reactions were divided when it was announced on March 9th, 2006 that Austrian energy drink company Red Bull GmbH had purchased the club and as part of their sponsorship will fully re-brand the franchise. The squad is now known as the “New York Red Bulls” in league and media circles after its name was changed to “Red Bull New York.” There were worries about the cost of purchasing the MetroStars’ territorial rights to New York City, and the difficulties of acquiring a stadium site within the city, which led Red Bull to purchase the MetroStar franchise and take over their current stadium project in Harrison, New Jersey instead.
As part of the deal, a second New York area franchise’s territorial rights were returned to the MLS. Bruce Arena, a Brooklyn native who had recently stepped down as the head coach of the United States national team, replaced Johnston as Red Bull’s head coach in 2006. Claudio Reyna, Colombian star Juan Pablo Angel, and national team captain Claudio Reyna were signed as designated players shortly after, while teenager Jozy Altidore quickly emerged as one of the league’s most promising young strikers. FC Barcelona played a friendly in East Rutherford that summer, and the Red Bulls lost 4-1 to the Spanish team in front of a sold-out crowd.
The New York Red Bulls hosted the Los Angeles Galaxy on August 18, 2007, bringing 66,238 spectators to see David Beckham make his league debut. New England Revolution knocked the Red Bulls out of the MLS playoffs in the first round in 2007 despite Arena’s efforts. Arena resigned as Red Bulls coach on November 5, 2007, just two days later. Red Bull then acquired Chicago Fire’s Colombian coach Juan Carlos Osorio during the offseason.
Altidore was sold to Villarreal CF in 2008 for a record-breaking transfer fee in the United States, while Reyna retired in July owing to persistent ailments. For the July 19 game against the Los Angeles Galaxy, more than 47,000 tickets were sold, breaking both the team’s and the league’s season records for attendance. Both Dave van den Bergh and Juan Pablo ngel were on target as the game concluded in a 2–2 draw. On August 6, in front of an estimated 40,000 spectators, the Red Bulls faced off against FC Barcelona, another Spanish powerhouse. Jorge Rojas and Seth Stammler scored the only goals for them in the 6–2 defeat. While D.C. United retained the Atlantic Cup for another season, the Red Bulls kept alive their hopes of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-1 victory on August 11.
The Red Bulls produced a stunning playoff run in 2008, upsetting two-time defending champions Houston Dynamo 4–1 on aggregate despite being the last team to qualify. At Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City the following week, they faced Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference final. The Red Bulls took the lead with a goal by Dave van den Bergh. Columbus Crew, MLS Supporters’ Shield winners, face the Red Bulls in the 2008 MLS Cup final after this victory. John Wolyniec scored the only goal for the Red Bulls, who were beaten 3-1. First-ever MLS match between New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders FC was held on March 19, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, where Seattle triumphed 3–0 thanks to goals from Freddy Montero and Brad Evans. The game drew 32,523 people in total. The incredible run to the 2008 MLS Cup Final also introduced the CONCACAF Champions League 2009–10 to the 2009 schedule. The second edition of the event saw the New York Red Bulls face the Trinidad & Tobago team W Connection in the qualifying stage.
The team’s 2009 campaign was a complete failure. For 16 games, the team went without a win from May 8 until August 23. On the road, they also endured a 23-game winless drought that extended back to May 10, 2008, when they beat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2–1. W Connection and the Red Bulls fought out a 2–2 draw in the first round of the Champions League. The Red Bulls were knocked out of the playoffs in the second round by the Giants, who defeated them 2–1 at Giants Stadium. Many fans were unhappy by Osorio’s harsh tactical style following the club’s preliminary loss from the Champions League, while others wanted then-Sporting Director Jeff Agoos sacked. Osorio resigned from his position on August 21, 2009. Richie Williams, the club’s assistant coach, has again assumed the role of temporary coach. While the Red Bulls finished the season with a league-worst record of 5–6–19, Williams led the team to a 3–2–3 record in his second term as interim head coach (21 pts).
The Backe era and new stadium (2010–2012)
For the 2010 soccer season, the New York Red Bulls stepped into a new stadium with a new sports director and coaching staff, all in the hopes of bouncing back from a poor 2009 campaign. The Red Bulls officially announced on January 7th, 2010, that they have hired Swedish coaching legend Hans Backe as their new head coach. A few weeks after Backe was confirmed as coach, many players signed by Osorio including Jorge Rojas and Danny Cepero were released; Carlos Johnson and Walter Garci were also let go; while Matthew Mbuta’s contract was not renewed for the 2010 season.
Newly appointed Norwegian sporting director Erik Solér worked alongside Backe to help establish a fresh strategy for signing seasoned European players (mostly from Scandinavia and the United Kingdom) instead of the customary MLS targets from South and Central America. The Red Bulls went undefeated in the 2010 preseason under Backe’s leadership, including a 3–1 victory over Brazilian club Santos FC in the inaugural match at Red Bull Arena. Estonian international midfielder Joel Lindpere, just signed to Red Bull Arena, became the first player to score in this preseason game. Joel Lindpere scored the only goal for the Red Bulls in their first MLS match at Red Bull Arena against the Chicago Fire. Breaking a 27-game losing record on the road, the New York Red Bulls beat the Seattle Sounders 1–0 in Seattle a week later.
Thierry Henry was signed as a designated player by the club in July 2010. Rafael Márquez, a Mexican international defender, became the Red Bulls’ third designated player on August 2. Márquez’s arrival marked a milestone in MLS as the Red Bulls became the first team to field a lineup with three clearly defined players.
The Red Bulls’ Eastern Conference lead was secured for the first time since 2000 as a result of these new acquisitions. With 51 points after only 21 the year before, New York also set an MLS record for the highest one-season improvement. The Red Bulls’ season came to an end despite their remarkable comeback. The Red Bulls were knocked out of the Eastern Conference semi-finals by the San Jose Earthquakes. The season’s Most Valuable Player was Joel Lindpere.
A number of new European acquisitions were made by Backe prior to the 2011 season, including Luke Rodgers, Jan Gunnar Solli, and Teemu Tainio, and the captaincy of Thierry Henry for the coming season was revealed. When Richie Williams and Des McAleenan were sacked for contract violations during training camp, the season began under a cloud of controversy. The Red Bulls had a poor start to the 2011 season, largely due to Henry’s underwhelming goal production and the team’s struggles in set-pieces. During the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal loss to Chicago Fire in July, Red Bulls supporters were outraged by Backe’s choice not to attend the match in person and instead send a reserve squad with assistant coach Mike Petke to Chicago.
Backe’s statement that he had no idea that he would lose so many players to international events, particularly the CONCACAF Gold Cup, drew extra criticism at this era. German goalkeeper Frank Rost was signed by the New York Red Bulls in July as a designated player following the poor performances of Bouna Coundoul and Greg Sutton. Arsenal FC hosted the 2011 Emirates Cup friendly event in London, where the Red Bulls defeated Paris St. Germain en route to victory. In the end, the Red Bulls rallied to make the MLS Cup playoffs, but they fell to the eventual champion Los Angeles Galaxy in the quarterfinals on aggregate, ending the 2011 season. In July, Red Bull recruited Australian World Cup and Premier League veteran Tim Cahill as a designated player in order to keep Backe for the 2012 season. The Eastern Conference’s third-place performance earned them a spot in the MLS Cup playoffs.
In the end, the Red Bulls fell to D.C. United 1–0 in the home game and were knocked out of the Eastern Conference semi-finals for the second year in a row after drawing the first leg 1–1 in D.C. and having the second leg postponed twice due to Hurricane Sandy and a significant snowstorm. Backe was stripped of his duties less than 24 hours after the defeat, when it was revealed that the Red Bulls would not be renewing his contract. While Mike Petke was in charge of soccer operations, the Red Bulls’ most capped player and Backe’s assistant, he was given the task of finding a new manager.
The Petke era (2013–2014)
During the 2012–2013 off-season, the organization underwent a significant structural revamp. With the departure of Erik Soler, they brought in Andy Roxburgh as sporting director and Jerome de Bontin as general manager to split his duties. Several major players, such as designated player Rafael Márquez, Joel Lindpere, Kenny Cooper, and Wilman Conde, were exchanged or sold as a result of these changes at the executive level. Fabián Espndola, Jámison Olave, and Kosuke Kimura, three previous MLS Cup Champions, were among the newcomers brought in by New York in an effort to breathe new life into the team. As a temporary measure, Ed Bulls’ most-capped player and Backe’s assistant, was put in charge of soccer operations.
Petke was confirmed as the team’s permanent head coach on January 24, removing his interim title. For the first time in the history of the team, a former MetroStars/Red Bulls player would be in charge. At the Portland Timbers on March 3, 2013, Petke’s first match in charge ended in a 3–3 draw.
It was evident that Petke’s ability to make adjustments was evident when he changed the formation from a four-two-three-one to a four-four-two in the wake of the team’s sluggish start to the season. It was the goal of the new manager to get his first win by the end of the month and turn around the team’s fortunes. The Philadelphia Union were defeated 2–1 by him on March 30, 2013. Because of the short amount of time the team had spent playing together, Petke attempted to foster a more aggressive mentality in the members of the team.
As a result of its erratic play, which has alternated between scrappy efforts and brilliant outings, some have dubbed the team “mentally weak.” This is a fair assessment. A two-month unbeaten run saw the squad capture the 2013 Supporters’ Shield for best regular-season record after a string of excellent performances. After this victory, MLS Cup playoff seeding and home field advantage were assured. This season, the New York Red Bulls qualified for the MLS Playoffs, where they knocked out Sporting Kansas City and will face DC United. Despite making it to the Eastern Conference finals, the Red Bulls were beaten by the New England Revolution. Thierry Henry announced his retirement at the end of the season, while Tim Cahill was released in the offseason, leaving the club without two of its designated players.
The Curtis/Marsch era (2015–2018)
Ali Curtis, a former MLS player and league office employee, took Andy Roxburgh’s post as Sporting Director on December 23. Two weeks later, on January 7, 2015, Petke was abruptly relieved of his duties as head coach and replaced with Jesse Marsch, the former head coach of the Montreal Impact. It was a goal of Red Bull’s then sporting director Ralf Rangnick to develop a consistent pressuring style on the field, as well as apply this when transferring players and in the academy.
Matt Miazga, a product of Red Bull’s academy, developed as an important defender in Marsch’s first season at the helm of the team, which culminated in his transfer to Chelsea at the end of it. They qualified for the 2015 Major League Soccer playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they were defeated by the Columbus Crew after winning their second Supporter’s Shield.
The team’s 7–0 victory over New York City FC on May 21, 2016, was an MLS record. In June 2016, Marsch agreed to a multi-year contract extension. 0–0 draw at Antigua GFC on September 27, 2016 qualified the Red Bulls for their first ever CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series. When Denis Hamlett succeeded Ali Curtis before the 2017 season, he sold captain Dax McCarty to the Chicago Fire in exchange for allocation money.
Despite the rise of homegrown star Tyler Adams, the team had a mixed season, finishing sixth in the conference and losing in the quarterfinals of the playoffs to Toronto FC while also reaching the US Open Cup final before falling to Sporting Kansas City by a score of 2–1. In the quarterfinals of the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League, they became the first MLS team to defeat Tijuana 2–0 on Mexican soil. In the end, they triumphed over two legs by an aggregate of 5–1 before losing to Chivas in the semis.
Chris Armas, assistant coach under Ralf Rangnick of German Bundesliga RB Leipzig, has been named as Jesse Marsch’s successor as head coach of the New York Red Bulls, effective immediately. With one Supporters’ Shield, two Eastern Conference titles, and a second-place finish in the US Open Cup, Marsch was the most successful player in franchise history. In addition, he was the team’s all-time leader in victories.
The Armas era (2018–2020)
Jesse Marsch, the team’s former assistant coach after three and a half seasons, was replaced by Chris Armas. After winning their final five games of the regular season and qualifying for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League, the Red Bulls claimed their third Supporters’ Shield of the season. For $3,000,000 and a portion of any potential transfer revenues, Tyler Adams was sent to RB Leipzig in January 2019.
Armas and his assistant CJ Brown were officially terminated from their contracts by RBNY’s Head of Sport Kevin Thelwell on September 4, 2020 after a difficult start to the 2020 campaign. The following day, temporary manager Bradley Carnell was named.
Colors and Badge
The MetroStars first used uniforms that were either all-black or all-white. Later, they switched to red-and-black vertical stripe home jerseys (similar to those worn by A.C. Milan). In recent years, the club has worn white shirts with red shorts at home, while on the road they have worn a combination of navy blue and yellow, each with a huge Red Bull emblem across the chest. The traditional blue-yellow secondary outfit was replaced with an all-red one prior to the 2018 season.
New York Red Bulls Stadium
The Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, where the team’s headquarters and home games are held, opened for the 2010 Major League Soccer season. The stadium can hold 25,189 spectators. Red Bull defeated Santos FC 3–1 in an exhibition game on March 20, 2010 to mark the team’s official debut. A 1–0 win over the Chicago Fire was the first MLS match at the new stadium on March 27, 2010. Estonian international Joel Lindpere scored the only goal of the game.
It had been a long time since the club had played at Giants Stadium, where they had done so every year between 1996 and 2009. East Rutherford, New Jersey was the location of the stadium.
Training facility
A training facility for the New York Red Bulls was opened in June 2013 in Hanover Township, New Jersey. The $6 million facility contains four fields, three grass and one turf, each the size of Red Bull Arena, and occupies around 15 acres of the 73-acre property. The grass pitch in the middle is heated, while the other turf field has lighting.
At the time of the complex’s opening, there were four buildings: a main building that housed locker rooms for the senior squad, academy teams and coaching staff; an analysis room for video; offices; a therapy room; a gym; and a fitness/wellness area; as well as a hot/cold tub room. Team members, coaches, and staff now have access to two team locker rooms, a multipurpose weight and cardio area as well as a treatment room and an assessment room, as well as bathrooms for both men and women in the new 4,000 sq ft (370 m2) training facility that opened in April 2015. For the academy and third grass field, the team completed a 3,500 sq ft (330 m2) extension of their 2015 training facility in 2017.
In the past, the Red Bulls led a nomadic existence, making use of several other training grounds before finishing construction of the Hanover facility:
- Kean University East Campus (1996–2002)
- Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School (2002)
- Giants Stadium (2003–2007)
- Montclair State University (2007–2013)
Club Culture
Supporters
Many fan clubs and organizations were formed around the team in its first year. The Empire Supporters Club was the first to be established in 1995, long before the squad was ever conceived. Garden State Supporters, formerly known as the Garden State Ultras, formed in New Jersey in 2005. (GSU). Following the influx of Scandinavian-born employees in 2010, the Viking Army Supporters Club was formed.
Some sections of Red Bull Arena have been designated for Red Bulls fans alone by the team. Sections 101 and 102 dealt with the Empire Supporters Club and the Viking Army, respectively. Sections 133, 101, and 102 are referred to as the “South Ward” together by residents of the neighborhood. For the 2016 MLS season, the Red Bulls drew 11,000 season ticket holders.
Rivalries
D.C. United is the Red Bulls’ longest opponent, and they face each other in the Atlantic Cup final. Red Bulls opponents include the New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union. Until a 2–0 victory against the Revolution on June 8, 2014, the Red Bulls hadn’t beaten the Revolution at Gillette Stadium in 12 years. These rivalries are a result of the close proximity of the cities of New York and Washington, D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia, as well as historical rivalries between those cities’ teams.
New York City FC joined Major League Soccer in 2015, giving birth to the Hudson River Derby, which pits the Red Bulls against another side from the New York metropolitan area. The early encounters between the two teams showed an increasing amount of enmity between the two sides, despite the fact that they were first viewed as a contrived rivalry.
On May 10, 2015, the New York Red Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in a league game at Red Bull Arena, the first time the two teams met. Brawls between followers of the two teams marred the games between them. New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls have a long-standing rivalry, with the Red Bulls playing F.C. New York in the U.S. Open Cup in 2011 and the Red Bulls taking on F.C. New York in the 2014 U.S. Open Cup (against the New York Cosmos). In the 2015 U.S. Open Cup, the Red Bulls defeated the Cosmos 4–1.