By Max Sass, Sports Editor
HARRISON, NJ - The New York Red Bulls played their first official MLS game at brand new Red Bulls Arena in Harrison, NJ on March 27 against the Chicago Fire. Before arriving at the game, spectators may not have heard about all the new amenities of the state of the art, $200 million stadium, but then again, those in attendance had trouble hearing anything through the rampant cheers of the Red Bulls faithful.
The brand new, soccer-only stadium seats 25,000 fans and is well designed so every seat has an unblocked view of the entire field. 24,572 fans took advantage of the sightline, overwhelming Chicago with Red Bulls chants. Fans get a European type of interaction with players, as the closest seat is just 21 feet from the pitch. That is about seven meters for you European soccer fans. The rowdy Red Bulls fans showed just how close they were to the action as a few rolls of toilet paper flew onto the playing surface at key points in the game.
Last year the Red Bulls played in 80,000 seat Giants Stadium and had trouble filling even a quarter of it. The 24,572 fans in attendance surpassed the biggest crowd the team drew in 2009 when 23,238 showed up to watch the Red Bulls play the Los Angles Galaxy.
No one will miss the parking fees and traffic of Giants Stadium; getting to the new stadium in Harrison is cheaper and easier. The Harrison stop for the Path Train is less than a five-minute walk to the stadium. Getting into a parking lot took some time, but things were orderly thanks to police officers directing the flow of traffic to the lots. Parking was also affordable ($10) and close to the stadium.
Anxious fans hoping to get into the historical opening game flooded every ticket window where the most expensive seat was just $45. Chants of "We want tickets!" flooded the surrounding concourse but fans remained calm and eventually transferred their excitement into rooting for their team.
As soon as fans entered the stadium they were swarmed by employees handing out promotional giveaways. Each fan was given a plastic holder and commemorative ticket from the first game as well as a Red Bulls sign that could be folded up and turned into a noisemaker. On the way out each fan was given a magnetic 2010 schedule for their refrigerator.
Once inside the stadium with hands full of freebies, finding your assigned seat was very easy. Ushers manned each stairway under easy to find section numbers to guide fans to their appropriate seats. Food lines were long but manageable and prices were reasonable for a stadium. A full assortment of Red Bull drinks was available and the Red Bull Cola was surprisingly tasty.
The noisemakers were used ably by all 24,000 plus fans to create a raucous environment. Soccer junkies and casual fans alike rose each time the Red Bulls moved the ball over midfield and wildly slammed their noisemakers into the seat or their palm to support their team. When newly signed Joel Lindpere scored what would be the deciding goal in the forty-first minute for the Red Bulls, the crowd exploded into deafening cheers. Led by the "South Ward", the super-fan section right behind the goal, there was never a moment of silence during the game.
The unusual-looking curled white roof-like structure covers only the seating area of the stadium, protecting every seat from the element but leaving the playing field open to New Jersey's weather. The two levels of seats are steeped, making the stadium more vertical and every fan closer to the field.
Soccer is trying to become the fifth major sport in the U.S. and the Red Bulls have embraced that. Americans do not like commercials and a game of 45 minute halves with no breaks featuring highly paid exciting superstars may eventually translate to popularity in America. With a brand new $200 million arena and rumors that French superstar Thierry Henry is headed to Harrison, the Red Bulls have aggressively moved towards becoming the elite American soccer organization.
Judging by the 90 plus minutes of constant yelling and chanting and cheering, all 24,572 fans in attendance enjoyed the new venue. Overall, the Red Bulls and Red Bulls Arena offered a fan-friendly, fun experience that should continue as soccer popularity grows in America and the team upgrades its roster.
Brand new Red Bulls Arena in Harrison, NJ offered an exciting experience for soccer fans in the tri-state area. (Getty Images for Red Bull New York)