By BRIAN LEWIS
A month-and-a-half after Marc de Grandpre quit, Red Bull has named Erik Stover as Red Bull New Yorkâs new managing director. I donât know the man from Adam, but Iâd say his appointment means they care more about Red Bull Park than the team that will be playing in it.
Stover had been hired by Red Bull New York in March as VP of operations and GM of Red Bull Park. Heâd been the GM of San Diegoâs Qualcomm Stadium since 2005, and had spent nine years at the NJSEA before that, rising to Assistant VP of Stadium Operations for Giants Stadium.
Iâm going on a limb and saying heâs a stadium ops guy. The Penn State gradâs background is in constructing and running stadiums. Nothing wrong with that; but from what I understand, his knowledge of soccer is nil. That’s OK, as long as he understands while Juan Carlos Osorio and Jeff Agoos reporting TO him that doesn’t mean they should be micromanaged BY him.
Iâm not going to crucify the guy or the decision yet, especially since Iâve never even laid eyes on the cat. But Iâll admit Austria may not be sending all that positive a message to the supporters stateside. Then again, Iâve long been of the mind that theyâre willing to hibernate until Red Bull Park opens. If this helps facilitate that all-important event, I guess itâs all good.
What are your thoughts on this move? Feel free to weigh inâ¦.
