Official Press Release from Red Bull New York Media Relations

Red Bull takes over the MetroStars

Red Bull is expanding its interest in soccer with a unique, yet logical, next step in a process that began less than a year ago: the MetroStars will take the field in the upcoming 2006 Major League Soccer season as Red Bull New York.

With that, the fall champion of the Austrian Bundesliga, Red Bull Salzburg, will become the first organization in the history of Austrian soccer to gain a sister team in the MLS - one of the most rapidly expanding leagues in the world.

Red Bull CEO Dietrich Mateschitz said, "18 million Americans actively play soccer in the USA. Up to 60 million are soccer fans. We were so fascinated by these figures that we made the decision to join and support this development by taking over the responsibility for the MetroStars. Our goal is to further strengthen the team and position the New York Red Bulls as the soccer metropolis of the East Coast, as well as to join the investment for a new tailor made soccer stadium - the "Red Bull Arena"- which will serve as the new home for the New York Red Bulls."

Close collaboration between Red Bull Salzburg and the Red Bull New York is planned. Synergies in athletic areas as well as in management and marketing will be tapped. Projected plans include talent scouting, mutual training camps and friendly matches as well as joint marketing, merchandising and public relations activities.

The president and general manager is Alexi Lalas, one of the most prominent individuals in US soccer. The former defender for the US national team (played in the 1994 WC, in the 1998 WC for the U.S. team in France and played seven seasons in MLS) was the first American to receive a pro contract in Italy. The most prominent players in the present cadre are Youri Djorkaeff, part of the French world championship team in 1998 and Marvell Wynne, the first MLS draft pick overall this year.

The New York Red Bulls will kick off the season on the road against D.C. United on Saturday, April 2, and return to Giants Stadium for their first home game on Saturday, April 8, against the New England Revolution.