HANOVER, N.J.—With the New York Red Bulls competing for their second Supporters’ Shield in three years, sporting director Ali Curtis stood Wednesday in front of a throng of season-ticket holders and was greeted with a hero’s welcome – a far cry from the preceding town hall meeting in January.
The first incarnation might seem a distant memory, but to forget is to dismiss how far this team – and perhaps more importantly, its fan base – has come.
On the job for less than a month, Curtis made headlines by controversially parting ways with club legend, and then-head coach, Mike Petke. Soon after, the director had to defend his position while meeting with the Red Bulls' most staunch supporters, doing so alongside newly appointed head coach Jesse Marsch, general manager Marc de Grandpre and goalkeeper Luis Robles.
Incredulous fans demanded an explanation as the “Same old Metro” narrative developed into an overarching theme. A club that had so often been embroiled in controversy found themselves once again tending to a fractured and frustrated fan base.
Eight months removed from that vitriolic first encounter, there exists a sharp change in perception of Curtis by the Red Bulls community.
“This town hall was a lot different than the first time around,” said Curtis, smiling. “I thought it went well. A lot of the folks that were there asked some good questions and made some really positive comments about the team and what was going on, so that’s really comforting and positive to hear. [They] were very appreciative about the way in which the team is playing and how much they put into each game.”
The results on the field have helped ease the pain that was so prevalent in January, but the cause for the turnaround runs deeper still. A new unity has manifested between the club's players and staff, as well as the casual fans and diehard supporters.
Though it may seem like a fresh mentality, Curtis was quick to point out the new Red Bulls regime maintained its fair share of backing, even amidst the abundance of negativity surrounding the club at beginning of the year.
“Sometimes those voices that are a little bit negative are a little bit louder than all the other fans," Curtis said. "I had a few folks come up to me and say, ‘We really love what’s going on with the club and we’re proud of what’s going on,’ so that was really good to hear. The coaches and the players have worked extremely hard over the last seven, eight months and I’m really proud of them in that respect.”
The Red Bulls have enjoyed some resounding victories in 2015, including a derby sweep of expansion side New York City FC and reclaiming the Atlantic Cup from D.C. United. While it would be easy to stand pat, there is much to be accomplished: the infamous chip on their shoulder remains.
“I think there’s a general appreciation for how the team plays and performs and the mentality that they’ve shown,” Marsch said. “The only thing I want to make sure of is that, while we all feel good about what’s going on here, it’s not time to congratulate ourselves. There’s a lot of work to be done not only for this year but for years to come. We know that, and our work ethic is good around here.”
- The latest RBNY headlines from NewYorkRedBulls.com
Curtis echoed the sentiments of his head coach, doubling down on his commitment towards the future, citing work underway with the team's academy and affiliated USL side Red Bulls II. He targeted scouting and analytics as areas with targeted measures for improvement.
Though impacts from January's Town Hall are still being felt, the current front office has managed to make headway in a manner that previously seemed impossible. Curtis has seized the opportunity and isn’t looking back.
“The fans are unbelievably passionate,” Curtis said. "That’s one of the reasons you want to come to a club like this. I had the good fortune, or maybe bad fortune, of seeing that since Day One. Even during my playing days, I knew that New York’s fans were some of the best in the league, so being part of this club is something special. It’s something I’m humbled by everyday, and I feel grateful to have the position that I do.”
