To Red Bull New York fans, one of the things I promised when taking over earlier this season was to provide more information to you on topics. So, my plan is to answer questions that I received from fans and post them here on Red Bulls Reader on a regular basis throughout the upcoming season.
Here’s the first installment and the questions that I have received have mainly been about the First Team and the new rules from MLS.
What is the Salary Cap?
For the 2009 season, the salary cap has increased by a small amount over last season’s cap. It should be noted that the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the players expires at the end of the 2009 season. The salary cap and player pay scale is certainly something that will be discussed at length during the negotiations. The CBA is without question the most important issue for the League during the upcoming year.
What is the Status of Designated Players and the Red Bulls Designated Players?
For 2009, there is no change in the status of having Designated Players (DP) and Juan Pablo Angel is our DP. We also have a second DP slot available with the retirement of Claudio Reyna. Jeff Agoos and Juan Carlos Osorio have had long discussions on how to utilize this roster spot. And, as Jeff recently told our writers in a conference call, all options are on the table. That means we can sign a player, trade the DP slot, or keep the slot without filling it and using the funds to sign 2-3 players.
Also in terms of the DP slot, it continues as long as the MLS Board of Governors agrees to continue having it. The DP slot is up for review after the 2009 season. The general consensus around the League is that the Designated Player rule has been a successful marketing tool but the salary allocation has led to a disproportionate burden on the cap. If you look closely at the tables the last two years, teams with DP’s have had only moderate success and many have struggled. My belief is that teams taking the risk on DP’s should not be overly punished on the pitch, but that is what is happening due to the heavy salary allocation. I expect the Designated Player to be around for years to come, but the rules are likely to change.
Roster size / Reserve Division
One of the new rules for 2009 is the increase of senior roster spots from 18 to 20. We feel this is an important step for the League and MLS because greater depth is required to successfully compete in international tournaments such as CONCACAF Champions League. The total roster size, however, was reduced from 28 to 24 players. This limits the number of developmental players that a Club can have by four positions. With this change, the Board decided to eliminate the Reserve Division for 2009.
These changes put greater pressure on acquiring the best possible prospects to ensure greater growth potential. They also force clubs to be creative in developing the skills of young players on the back end of their roster. We are working on a plan to accomplish those goals.
Schedule
MLS has never taken days off during World Cup qualifiers often leaving Clubs without their best players for League matches. We feel this is bad for the League as it hurts our credibility with passionate and loyal soccer fans. It also penalizes Clubs that acquire the best possible talent for this league. We applaud Commissioner Garber’s effort to adjust the schedule for 2009 to limit some of these conflicts. Unfortunately, the schedule is too crowded to eliminate all of the conflicts but we feel we have made progress.
We open the season on Thursday, March 19 against the Seattle Sounders. The match will be telecast live on ESPN2. The entire 2009 schedule is still in the works, but we will play a total of 30 MLS Regular Season matches. This year’s schedule will have each team playing every other MLS team home and away, for a base of 28 games. Two additional games against intra-conference rivals will complete the 30-game schedule.
We will also have additional matches for the CONCACAF Champions League. The Champions League dates will be in late July and early August. If we advance, the tournament stretches throughout the calendar year. Also participating from MLS are Columbus, Houston and DC United.
In addition to the Champions League, the Red Bulls will again be participating in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The Open Cup will get underway for the team sometime in July.
Playoff format
With an odd number of teams in MLS in 2009 (Seattle is the 15th team); the playoff format has been modified slightly. Eight teams qualify, just like last year. This year, the top two teams in each conference automatically qualify. The remaining four spots will be filled by the remaining teams with the most points, regardless of conference. The teams will be seeded according to conference first. And, just like 2008, a team can be shifted to the other Conference if more than four teams from one conference qualify.
That’s it for this edition. If you have any questions that you’d like answered in the future, send an email to nyrb@newyorkredbulls.com.
Tags: Uncategorized
December 19, 2008 at 10:25 AM |
Thanks for the update Mr. Stover. Love to hear about the development and rule changes in MLS. I know you can’t give away too much before anything takes place but I’m sure we’d all love to hear about the upcoming draft and any specific targets for the DP Slot. Look forward to more info. Thanks!
December 19, 2008 at 8:45 PM |
Mr. Stover,
My question and comment is on a much different note. My question is, will the supporters be able to bring flags into the new stadium? I think it creates a beautiful atmosphere and would love to see it. I also wouldnt mind seeing smoke, as long as it is handled by the proper people.
The other suggestion I have is in regards to seating. I think we should make sure all of the lower bowl is sold out first, starting with the TV showing sideline, then the two endlines, then the TV upperdeck, then the upperdeck endlines. It looks terrible when there are pockets of empty seats in the stadium. I know the American public wont do what I have seen in europe, a first come first sit system, but we need something similar.
Thanks a lot for taking the time, and I hope to hear from you soon.
December 19, 2008 at 11:34 PM |
Mr. Stover, Can you provide some more information about the current status of the training facility project in Hanover Park? What has been the holdup on starting construction?
December 20, 2008 at 5:46 AM |
Thanks for the update. It was very clear and informative. Please resign Dave van den Bergh.
December 23, 2008 at 12:44 PM |
Thanks for the update. Sorry, another idea, since Mr. Simms started it. Why not combine all the supporters sections together like the columbus crew Nordecke section did this past year. Or at least having the ESC join in the corner section on the TV show side (like columbus) would look better on TV but also incorporates the general audience into the game even more. Getting our general fans involved in the game is something that is part of soccer and MLS should realize is part of the reason for attending and coming back. It becomes an event rather than going to a game to just watch. I have noticed that the crowds this past season have been getting more involved in the games (“Red” “Bull”) as initiated by the raging bull section which is incorporated into the general area and is not isolated like the ESC. You should continue to leverage the crowd participation even at Giants Stadium but certainly moving into RBA
December 23, 2008 at 3:50 PM |
Agreed. I would love for us to have an atmosphere like Toronto, DC, or Columbus.
December 24, 2008 at 4:40 PM |
Does anyone know what has happened to the Red Bull Arena web cam? I have not been able to get an image lately.
December 25, 2008 at 4:58 AM |
To TIm F:
I just checked the webcam and it’s working for me.
http://www.earthcam.com/clients/redbullarena/
December 30, 2008 at 9:35 PM |
Mr. Stover, I belive that the red bulls should definitely look into getting a big name player in 2009, especially with the opening of Red bull Arena, maybe Henry, figo, Del Piero, crespo etc. Also, what is the progress on resigning Juan Pablo Angel?
December 30, 2008 at 9:42 PM |
What are the field dimensions at red bull arena going to be? Will the Red Bulls change their style of play in the new stadium given the hopfully larger dimensions, to me they play a very direct style of soccer in the small confines of Giants Stadium. I think new york fans would like to see more technical possesion oriented style of soccer.
January 13, 2009 at 5:12 PM |
Are there any EPL players of note who want to come the US and create a “Beckham-like” atmosphere here with the Bulls? Like the Cosmos of old it would seem that New York/New Jersey would be a market that good to great players would have an interest in. Understanding that salaries are not equal to overseas there must be some interest even to promote the game and create an interest from let say Adidas/Nike/Umbro…etal.