The New York Red Bulls have a big game on Saturday as they look to shake off a 1-3 start with a win over Sporting Kansas City (7pm ET, MLS LIVE, match preview).
But the game is also important for another reason, as the Red Bulls will host Autism Awareness Night at Red Bull Arena -- an especially meaningful cause for the club.
The club's in-stadium graphics will be in blue to reflect the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, and an autistic singer will perform the national anthem. There will also be a “Quiet Zone” available for fans in attendance affected by Autism looking to take a break from the game.
Earlier in the week, Red Bull Arena was lit up blue for the occasion, and the club has since been sharing facts about autism and relevant videos through its social media platforms.
The inspiration for all of these efforts stems from Red Bulls general manager Marc de Grandpre’s daughter, Julia, who is autistic. Julia has developed a special bond with Red Bulls captain Dax McCarty, and the match poster for Saturday’s game was created by children in Julia’s class:
Fans looking to support the issue can visit the Red Bulls’ Autism Awareness page, where they can find a tickets link to Saturday’s match with a promo code that contributes money to Autism Speaks with every purchase.
