April 8, 2006: Re-designed New York Red Bulls make home debut
After 10 years being known as the Metrostars, the New York area’s original MLS outfit returns to Giants Stadium with a new name.
The New York Red Bulls can trace their history back to 1996 as one of Major League Soccer’s original 10 franchises, though they were known as the New York/New Jersey Metrostars from the league’s inception until they were purchased on March 9, 2006 by Red Bull Company GmbH, the producer of the popular energy drink, and renamed.
Like the other Red Bull clubs in Leipzig, Salzburg, and Campinas, the New York Red Bulls also adopted their parent company’s logo and color scheme.
The Red Bulls opened the season with a 2–2 tie against D.C. United at RFK Stadium before turning their attention to the April 8 home opener against the New England Revolution.
An announced crowd of 35,793 descended upon Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey to see the new-look Red Bulls. Special guests included soccer icon and ex-New York Cosmos star Pele, who played the final game of his career at Giants Stadium in October 1977, and Shakira and Wyclef Jean, who both performed at halftime.
The match ended in a 0–0 draw, though New York’s Chris Henderson hit the post in first half and New England’s Taylor Twellman had a goal called back for offside.
Here are the lineups from the game:
New York Red Bulls
GK: Tony Meola
D: Taylor Graham, Carlos Mendes, Jeff Parke, Marvell Wynne, Danny O’Rourke
M: Youri Djorkaeff, Amado Guevara, Chris Henderson, Seth Stammler
F: Edson Buddle
New England Revolution
GK: Matt Reis
D: Jay Heaps, Daniel Hernandez, Joe Franchino
M: Shalrie Joseph, Andy Dorman, Steve Ralston, James Riley
F: Clint Dempsey, Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan
