With the MLS season about to kick off Tuesday _ and the Red Bulls opening against visiting Seattle next weekend _ I thought I’d touch on a few business items.
First and foremost, a source close to the negotiations has maintained that the Red Bulls are just dotting the Is and crossing the Ts away from announcing a deal with MSG for local television rights. But it’s not done until it’s done, so no announcement has been made yet.
*** Also, while the Red Bulls never got to see Designated Players Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez quite at their best on the field last year, coming in midseason with no training camp, rest assured the team saw the best of both in the boardroom and in the bottom line.
According to Stuart Crystal, vice president, consumer products for MLS, both were resounding successes when it came to jersey sales. More than 40,000 Henry jerseys were sold last year, far outstripping Galaxy star David Beckham. As a matter of fact, the Red Bulls went 1-2 in that department, with Marquez coming in second behind his teammate and L.A.’s Landon Donovan third.
As a team, the Red Bulls finished third in jersey sales behind Philadelphia and Seattle. And while the league steadfastly refused to discuss how revenue is distributed, a source confirmed that teams only get a partial (even) share when the jerseys are sold through the league’s website, but get a far greater cut when they sell the merchandise on their own.
For example, the Red Bulls would get just 1/19th of the money from a jersey sold through MLS’ website, but would get a far greater cut for one sold at the team store at Red Bull Arena in Harrison. It should be noted, though, that they actually LOST money on merchandise sales in their final year at Giants Stadium, because they didn’t own the facility and the NJSEA got such a huge cut.
*** Since many of you have asked, the team says teenage forward Giorgi Chirgadze is still with the club.
*** In other news, right winger/part-time forward Dane Richards was called up to the Jamaican National Team by Reggae Boyz coach Theodore Whitmore for two international friendlies later this month.
The first match is against Venezuela on March 25 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall. Two days later, they face El Salvador in San Salvador.
The Red Bulls can only hope to have forwards Luke Rodgers and Juan Agudelo healthy by then.
