Juan Carlos Osorio wasn't the New York Red Bulls coach when the ground was broken at Red Bull Arena and he didn't attend the ceremony for the first piece of steel that was erected nine months ago.
And Osorio made sure he didn't check out any pictures of the soccer-specific stadium or watch the progress of the construction on the live web cam.
But on Tuesday afternoon, Osorio walked into the Red Bulls' home next season for the "topping off" ceremony, which saw the final piece of steel placed on the state-of-the-art structure.
"I just decided that was the way I wanted to experience the stadium, just walk in and see what I feel," Osorio said. "I think it's impressive. I think it's going to be beautiful and it's indeed the type of stadium the club has promised."
So what was the first thing that struck Osorio's fancy as he walked inside the venue?
"How close the fans will be from the ground," he said. "I think that's probably the most important thing, that the fans are so close that the players can really feel their support. I think it's very similar to European stadiums."
Osorio joined legendary players Tab Ramos and Claudio Reyna and former Red Bulls fan favorite Steve Jolley as well as several New Jersey politicians, including U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, Town of Harrison Mayor Ray McDonough, New Jersey Governor's Office of Economic Growth Chief Jerry Zaro and MLS Commissioner Don Garber for the ceremonial "topping off."
The last piece of over 7,100 tons of steel that has been erected since the first piece was set on Aug. 19, 2008 was placed in one of the end zones.
"It's an important day for us," Red Bull managing director Erik Stover said. "Just nine months ago it was one piece of steel and now we've put the last one in. You can really see the shape of the building coming together now."
A stadium project that has more than its share of delays is now one step closer to reality.
"To stand here less than a year away from being in the building and seeing the progress especially with how difficult and challenging a winter we've had, it's a testament to everybody who has worked on this project, the construction workers all the way up to the people in our front office," Red Bulls sporting director Jeff Agoos said. "It's a testament to their hard work and dedication to this project."
The stadium, scheduled to be opened for the 2010 season, will have 25,000 seats, including 30 suites and 1,116 club seats. The stadium design incorporates a unique rooftop, which will extend from the last seat to just over the touchlines, with 60 feet of the roof will be translucent in order to allow natural light to enter.
On a 12.34-acre site on a Hudson County brownfield site, Red Bull Arena will be the eighth, and arguably finest, soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer.
"When I walked in here I got a little bit emotional," Garber said. "We've worked really hard on this building. It's going to be fantastic. It's going to take soccer facilities to a higher level in our league and set the bar higher for the next guy that comes along. I'm convinced it will be successful and convinced that it will help give this team what it needs to get another bounce in its step."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
