Construction begins on Red Bulls' stadium

The MLS New York Red Bulls have started construction on their new USD 140 million stadium.

It's the latest and most expensive of eight facilities built – or in construction for – a Major League Soccer club, according to the International Herald Tribune.

The stadium will feature a "European-style" roof covering all 25,000 seats, 53 luxury suites situated 12 rows from the pitch and other amenities. The targeted opening is July 2008.

With surrounding infrastructure, Red Bull Park will cost USD 200 million and be the centerpiece of a USD 1 billion construction project that will include office space, retail outlets and housing across the Passaic River from Newark.

"It will be the best stadium in the league by far," said Tim Leiweke, president of Anschutz Entertainment Group, the former owner of the Red Bulls and half-owner of the new stadium. "We had to do that in New York."

Multiple MLS club owner AEG, which began looking to build the stadium six years ago, owned the MetroStars until March, when it sold the team and a half interest in the stadium to Austrian energy drink maker Red Bull. AEG built the USD 150 million Home Depot Center complex — which includes a tennis stadium, cycling velodrome and other facilities — for its club, the Los Angeles Galaxy, in 2003.

"This is a big piece of their brand," said AEG New York president Nick Sakiewicz, who was the MetroStars' general manager from 2000-2005. "They have walked in the shadow of the New York Cosmos for so long. This is a big step out of that shadow once and for all."

Columbus Crew Stadium (1999), Pizza Hut Park (FC Dallas, 2005) and Toyota Park (Chicago Fire, May) have opened already. The Colorado Rapids and expansion team FC Toronto will open new stadiums next year, and Real Salt Lake began construction last month.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.