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Red Bull Arena (New Jersey)

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Template:Future stadium

Red Bull Park
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Map
LocationHarrison, New Jersey
OwnerRed Bull
OperatorRed Bull
Capacity25,189[2] (2009)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 19, 2006
OpenedSummer-Autumn 2009 (expected)
Construction cost$180-200 million USD (estimate) [1]
ArchitectRossetti architects
Tenants
New York Red Bulls (MLS) (starting in 2009)

Red Bull Park is a sports stadium under construction that will be the home of Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. Located in Harrison, New Jersey, it was slated to be completed in time for the 2008 MLS season, but due to various delays in construction that date is now considered impossible.[citation needed] The soccer-specific stadium (SSS) is expected to have a capacity of about 25,000 or more. It will feature a full wavy translucent European-style roof that will cover all of the seats in the stadium but not the playing field. The stadium will sit alongside the Passaic River with a view of the Newark, New Jersey, skyline. The stadium will be accessible via public transportation at the PATH train stop at Harrison.

The construction project has been besieged with delays. The original plan, announced on July 1, 2004, was to move the MetroStars from their current home at Giants Stadium by the beginning of the 2006 season. Negotiations between MLS and the state of New Jersey dragged on until an agreement was announced on August 5, 2005, for the MetroStars beginning play there for the 2007 season. Environmental cleanup concerns for the land forced another delay. Due to delays in the clean-up of industrial waste at the stadium, Red Bull New York announced that Red Bull Park could be delayed to the 2009 MLS season[3].

Red Bull New York managing director Marc de Grandpre said that during excavation of the grounds, construction crews came across "some industrial waste and multiple foundations which have made the clean-up of the site take longer than expected."

Although groundbreaking for the project happened on September 19, 2006, the actual construction was set for November, 2007 until Red Bull bought out the AEG share of Red Bull Park (below).

As part of the deal to purchase the MetroStars club, Red Bull bought stadium naming rights, and the stadium was officially named Red Bull Park.

Red Bull Buyout and New Design

Red Bull has bought out Anschutz Entertainment Group’s $100 million share of Red Bull Park, an aftereffect of lasting disagreements between the two corporations regarding their plans for the facility. Their differences prompted a significant delay in the early stages of the stadium's construction. After the naming rights of the soccer team was acquired, Red Bull instituted number of changes to the stadium's original design, which sparked tension between the Austrian-based energy drink company and Anschutz. Red Bull opted out of AEG's plan to construct a stage in the stadium for performances, one that would have increased profit margins for the group.[4][5] Construction of Red Bull Park began in late December 2007 with an undetermined 2009 completion date. The updated design was completeted by Rossetti architects from Los Angeles and will be built by New Jersey-based Hunter Roberts Construction Group, LLC. The new design features a roof extending just past the field's touchlines with 60 feet of the roof being transparent to allow for natural light. The first row of seating is to be approximately 21 feet from the touchlines. The design is on par with those of soccer stadiums around the world. [6] [7]

Construction

Construction has since commenced on Red Bull Park on January 3, 2008. Earth moving vehicles and piledrivers have already started work. There are to be 3,000 timber piles driven into the ground to support the new stadium. On January 11, 2008, Erik Stover was announced the GM of Red Bull Park during construction and then on after. He has served as GM of Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego since 2005.[8]

References