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NEW TEAM NAMES FOR MLS
« Thread started on: Mar 9^th, 2006, 2:46pm »

Red Bull, the Austrian company that produces the popular energy drink, finalized its purchase of the MetroStars from AEG Thursday after the MLS Board of Governors approved the deal.

The organization has been rebranded as "Red Bull New York," with a new logo, uniform and team colors being installed immediately. While the official name of the club is Red Bull New York, the playing squad will be known as the New York Red Bulls.

In addition to ownership of the club, Red Bull's deal with AEG includes naming rights for and a 50 percent ownership stake in the team's new stadium, which will be built in Harrison, N.J. Red Bull is also partnering with AEG in the construction of the facility. AEG will directly oversee construction and will be responsible for managing and booking the venue.

"The addition of Red Bull into our group of owners is a landmark moment for Major League Soccer and for all Tri-State area soccer fans," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. "Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz brings international credibility and proven, innovative marketing expertise to Major League Soccer. His presence on the MLS Board of Governors provides another authentic, avid soccer fan to our diversifying set of investors."

Red Bull already owns one professional soccer team, having purchased the Austrian Bundesliga club then known as SV Wüstenrot Salzburg a year ago. That club is now known as Red Bull Salzburg, and the influence of Red Bull's resources paid immediate dividends; the club, which finished in ninth place out of 10 teams last season, currently sits in second and won Austria's autumn championship.

"Eighteen million Americans actively play soccer in the USA. Up to 60 million are soccer fans," Mateschitz said. "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."

Red Bull has said the New York and Salzburg clubs will work closely together in terms of athletics, management and marketing. The clubs will jointly scout players, conduct mutual training camps and play friendly matches.

President and General Manager Alexi Lalas will stay on with the club as it prepares for its 2006 season opener. The Red Bulls will open the new campaign against D.C. United in Washington on April 2 before making their home bow at Giants Stadium on April 8 against the New England Revolution.

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HOUSTON -- With a fitting backdrop of the Houston Museum of Natural Science's Weiss Energy Hall, the Houston club in Major League Soccer will be known as the Dynamo, team president and general manager Oliver Luck announced Monday in a press conference.

"Dynamo is a word to describe someone who never fatigues, never gives up," said Luck. "The new name is symbolic of Houston as an energetic, hard-working, risk-taking kind of town.

"To me, Dynamo has a blue-collar feel to it, as well as an association with the energy business, which is one of the things Houston is known for. We think this is a great name that greater Houston can rally around."

Scientifically, a dynamo is created within the rotation of a single magnet, whose north and south poles create electricity in a nearby coiled wire. But Luck said he hopes the term will have a new meaning for Houston soccer fans.

It is hoped the new name will unite all people from all walks of life into supporting one common cause -- the team. By and large, Houston is a very multicultural and multiethnic city. It is a city with many immigrants and first-generation Americans from Latin America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and to some extent Eastern Europe. These groups tend to give Houston a blue-collar feel, a trait that is often not associated with the Bayou City.

"We believe a parallel can be drawn to the two major communities in Houston: English speakers and Spanish speakers, who together will create electricity at games unlike any other in MLS," said Luck.

In an attempt to restore faith with Houston's Spanish-speaking community, club officials decided to change the club's original name from Houston 1836. Houston MLS officials were adamant that their intentions were never to disrespect Houston or its diverse community. The new name was chosen internally, as opposed to a fan poll.

"We'd like to once again reiterate that at no time did MLS or AEG ever want to offend any members of the community in Houston. We want everyone to feel welcome and become a part of professional soccer in Houston," said Luck.

"We want everyone to feel welcome and become a part of professional soccer in Houston. Similar to soccer around the world and in our other MLS markets, the sport embraces all cultures and unites the community," he said. "We certainly believe this team will be a positive meeting place for the fabulous diversity of this city."

Although the new team name has no correlation with a previous Houston team, called the Houston Dynamos, the new team name, Dynamo, does embrace Houston's soccer history. The previous team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues and played one year, in 1984, losing in the final in a penalty shootout against Fort Lauderdale.

This season will be the first in MLS for the Houston franchise. The club relocated from San Jose in December.

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So we have Houston Dynamo and Red Bull New York, not keen on the Red Bull but Dynamo is a cool name and i like their team colours of brown and orange while New York hopefully keep red and black.