Monday, April 19, 2010

Red Bulls to Play Juventus on May 23; Del Piero Rumors

That's Alessandro Del Piero, Italian football and Juventus legend.  Why is he pictured on a Red Bulls blog?  Two reasons.

First, the Red Bulls announced today that they will be playing Juve in an exhibition match at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, May 23 at 1pm.  Tickets go on sale tomorrow, April 20 at 11am (starting at $30) , with the general public sale starting on Thursday, April 22.  That's right kids - it's not part of the season ticket package - sorry.

The Juve game will cap a very busy soccer week in Harrison, with the Columbus Crew visiting Thursday May 20, the Turkish and Czech National Teams squaring off in a friendly on Champions League final Saturday, May 22 and then the RBNY-Juve game concluding the mini football orgy on Sunday. With World Cup stars unlikely to take part in the match, how many of you will come out to see Juve?  What about the others? I'm considering getting a hotel room in the area and making a weekend of it.

Now back to Del Piero.  According to numerous reports, Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport understands that the veteran hitman is seriously mulling an offer from the Red Bulls.  Exactly how a player like Del Piero would fit into the Red Bulls team as currently structured is a bit of a mystery.  Given his age, you could perhaps see him playing an attacking midfield role behind the strikers, but where does that leave Joel Lindpere and Brian Nielsen?  And what would this mean for the chances of Thierry Henry joining RBNY?  It's probably best at this point not to get too deep into speculation, since there is a very real chance that this rumor, like 90% of the other Red Bulls DP rumors, will turn out to be bunk.

[soapbox]There's one other little matter I'd like to get off my chest, and it concerns the $50 fee for replacing a lost or stolen Red Bulls season ticket card.  On my way home from Saturday's game I lost my wallet on the train and with it went two of the three season ticket cards I own.  I subsequently discovered that my wallet had been stolen.  I could of course simply print my tickets out, but I would lose loyalty points and my son would lose Fanatics Club credit for attending matches.  I would also be out the $75 I have loaded on my card.  Despite my protestations, fan services offered no wiggle room, so now I'm out $100.  I could perhaps understand a fee, but $50 per card seems excessive.  I probably wasn't the first person to lose his season ticket card and I doubt I'll be the last.  Come on Red Bull, reconsider this ridiculous fee![/soapbox]

Viper has been ill in recent days, but we hope to have him back in commission soon, with videos and other assorted insanity.  Get well soon, big fella!  Homebrew should also be along later today or tomorrow with a word or two on a much-debated topic, attendance.  So look out for that!  I'd also like to thank our readers for all the kind comments (and gentle criticisms) about what we are doing here.  That you are making us part of your daily routine means a lot to us.  OK end of my Sally Field impression!
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