Red Bull New York and the Carolina RailHawks of the United Soccer Leagues First Division announced today that they will play a friendly match at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC, on Friday, March 28 at 7:30 PM. This will be the Red Bulls' final game prior to the team's regular season opener against the Columbus Crew at Giants Stadium on April 5 at 7:30 PM.
"We are looking forward to play the RailHawks," said Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio. "I know that they have a solid team and that they will give us a very competitive game as we prepare for the upcoming MLS season."
The Red Bulls begin preparation for the 2008 MLS season this week. The team will travel to Los Angeles on Feb. 2 and train from Feb. 3-18 at The Home Depot Center before returning to the New York/New Jersey area. The squad will then head to Salzburg, Austria, from Feb. 25-March 7 before participating in the Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, SC, from March 14-23.
The Carolina RailHawks are a United Soccer Leagues team that entered the USL First Division in April 2007. The squad played 14 regular season home games and seven additional home playoff, exhibition and U.S. Open Cup games in its Inaugural Season, with all home games played at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. Under Rochester Rhinos co-owner and USL Hall of Fame inductee Chris Economides, the RailHawks organization was formed in October 2005 and awarded the USL franchise in January 2006. In September of 2007, the Carolina RailHawks announced the addition of a USL W-League team under the direction of Head Coach Jay Howell.
Tickets for the match against the RailHawks will go on sale on Monday, Feb. 4, at 10:00 AM and can be purchased by calling the Carolina RailHawks Box Office at 919-859-KICK (5425), or by visiting any Ticketmaster outlet.
For ticket information regarding the Red Bulls' home opener against Columbus, contact the club at 1.877.RBSOCCER.
2008 Red Bulls Preseason Schedule
Jan. 26: Players report
Feb. 3-18: Team trains at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Practice/scrimmage schedule TBD
Feb. 26-March 6: Team trains in Salzburg, Austria. Practice/scrimmage schedule TBD
March 14-23: Team competes in Carolina Challenge Cup at Blackbaud Stadium in Daniel Island, SC. Red Bulls to face Charleston (March 15 - 6 PM), Toronto FC (March 19 - 6 PM) and San Jose (March 22 - 8:15 PM).
March 28: Red Bulls face Carolina Railhawks in friendly match at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, NC, at 7:30 PM
April 5: Red Bulls open regular season against the Columbus Crew at Giants Stadium at 7:30 PM.
