Soccer

The Plea To Red Bulls Fans



The New York Red Bulls have hit a rather large fork in the road as the 2015 MLS Season begins. The other New York team (NYCFC) has moved into Yankee Stadium and the Red Bulls are loosing fans rapidly. The team has lost key players such as Thierry Henry (retired), Tim Cahill (China), but most importantly the link between supporters and the team, the manager and fan favorite, Mike Petke was fired after leading the Red Bulls to a Supporters shield (their first trophy in history) and to the Eastern Conference Finals in which they lost to the New England Revolution. Petke was seen as the link between fans and the team. Many supporters are calling for the team to be sold but the Red Bull brand refuses to sell New York’s original MLS team. 



Many fans including myself have questioned the leadership with the Red Bulls. The supporters have watched other teams win MLS Cups and US Open Cups while the Metros have only won one Supporters Shield. The Red Bull brand is at fault and we the fans need an answer. This fan base has suffered through the 20 years that they have been in the MLS. There are questions with the ownership but we the fans have one job and that is to support our troops, the players who bust their tails to represent this franchise. Yes we might not agree with the logo on the front of the jersey but the names on the back are the reason why we go to the games. The Red Bulls, the team, need our support. Players like Dax McCarty, Luis Robles, and Lloyd Sam need our support to win games and fend off the noisy neighbors.


The main goal this season has to be finishing above NYCFC. A playoff berth would be an added bonus but the Red Bulls are losing fans to the new team across the river. The more unrest that we the fans show the league and the world may get us press action but what are we really showing the league and the world? Many outsiders probably say “Wow that team won’t be around much longer the fans hate the team.” There are rumblings that supporters will stop attending games or that they wont renew their season tickets but this is crazy. I understand the frustration but think about what you are doing. If the fans don’t show up than what is this club. We have seen this with Chivas USA. The team couldn't draw fans and they too were fed up with ownership. Chivas USA is no longer a franchise and this can very well be the New York Red Bull/MetroStars franchise. We have worked so hard over the 20 seasons that the Metros have been a team and just to let it all go would be a travesty. Your frustration is shared but have faith. The popular adage “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going” speaks volumes here. Stick with this team because you never know with the Metros. They have shocked us once and they'll shock us again. But I have one request for you the fans: Please don't stop going to matches and love this team!!!! 

1 comment:

  1. Er, Chivas USA has turned into LAFC and is planned to play in LA proper. I would say that was actually a good outcome from that "venture".

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