Update (w/headline edit): Today's "Soft Opening" match between the RB U18s and the USMNT U17s has now been postponed due to inclement weather. Sorry folks, let's try it again next week. Thanks Mother Nature!
The day that New York-area soccer fans have been waiting for for years (even decades) has finally arrived! Red Bull Arena opens its doors today, when it hosts a match between the Red Bulls U18 academy team and the US Men's National U17 team. viper, Homebrew and I will be at MMM Bello's on Market St. in Newark pre-match and will be taking plenty of video and photos throughout the day. If you're in the area stop by and say hello.
For most Red Bulls fans this is also a rare chance to get a close look at the club's academy players. Red Bulls Insider's new host Craig Hutchinson (dig the accent) interviews RBNY U18s manager Paul O'Donnell about what today means for his players and who fans might want to look out for. Stefan Bondy at The Record, meanwhile, speaks with the Najem brothers, who will be lining up against each other in today's friendly.
According to forecasts, the weather should be absymal, but few if any of us who have been following the team for years will care.

Red Bull Arena: The Day Has (Not) Arrived