SECAUCUS, N.J. - The New York Red Bulls and MSG, a world class sports and entertainment network, have agreed to a new multi-year agreement ensuring that MSG will continue as the local television home of the New York Red Bulls. Managing Director of Red Bull New York Marc de Grandpre and Mike Bair, president of MSG Media, made the announcement today.
MSG, which has held the television rights to the Red Bulls/MetroStars for the past 12 years, will telecast approximately 20 select Red Bulls games per season as part of this new deal. The first game to air on MSG this season will be the Red Bulls season opener on Saturday, April 7 at Columbus at 7:00 p.m. ET. MSG will also televise the Red Bulls home opener the following weekend at Giants Stadium on Sunday, April 15 against FC Dallas. Kickoff for the home opener is slated for 3:00 p.m. ET.
"MSG Network has long been a great partner of this team since the League's inception," said de Grandpre. "We are proud to once again provide our fans with the best television coverage possible on a network whose experience in sports programming and production is unmatched. We are thrilled to have MSG Network be 'the television home of the New York Red Bulls.'"
"MSG is proud to be the television home of the most local professional sports teams in our area and to be entering the 13th year of our partnership with the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls are indicative of our commitment to providing New York's diverse sports fans with a variety of compelling programming choices in our unique high-quality fashion," said Bair. "We are excited about the Red Bulls ongoing commitment to play a leading role in expanding the public's interest in Major League soccer and we look forward to showcasing their games in a world class manner, as part of an exciting lineup on MSG that represents the heart of New York."
Popular announcer duo Shep Messing and JP Dellacamera will return for their sixth consecutive season together to analyze and call the play-by-play action. Messing is a New York native and former Cosmos hero with 14 years as a professional player and close to 20 years as a broadcaster. Dellacamera is a veteran broadcaster of World Cups, UEFA Champions League and MLS regular season games with more than 30 years experience in broadcasting.
During the offseason, the Red Bulls signed soccer star Claudio Reyna, considered one of the greatest players ever to wear a U.S. National Team uniform. The team is scheduled to play in a new stadium next summer, Red Bull Park in Harrison, New Jersey.
About MSG
MSG, one of two television networks under the MSG Media umbrella, along with FSN New York, is an industry leader in production and content development. Both networks telecast over 500 professional and collegiate sporting events a year along with a full slate of Emmy Award-winning programs. MSG is part of Madison Square Garden, L.P., owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation, which includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, and the Beacon Theatre; MSG Media, which is comprised of MSG and FSN New York; and the Madison Square Garden arena complex, located in the heart of the New York metropolitan area.
