SECAUCUS, N.J. - Red Bull New York announced today that for the second time this year, they are giving soccer clubs the opportunity to win a "Field of Dreams." The organization plans to lay natural sod over the FieldTurf at Giants Stadium for the team's August 12 friendly against UEFA Champions League winner, FC Barcelona. Following the match, one lucky soccer club will win the actual field that is used during the Red Bulls-Barcelona match.
"We are excited about offering our 'Field of Dreams' promotion for the second time this year," said Red Bull New York Managing Director Marc de Grandpre. "Aside from hosting a fantastic match against FC Barcelona, we are looking forward to giving one local club the chance to win a world-class soccer field."
For every 20 tickets purchased for the Red Bulls-Barcelona game, matched with another purchase of 20 tickets for any 2006 Red Bulls regular season home game, the respective soccer club will receive one entry to win the "Field of Dreams." One club will randomly be selected and notified on the evening of Wednesday, August 9 and representatives of the winning team will be recognized on the "Field of Dreams" during halftime on August 12.
Red Bull New York held its first-ever "Field of Dreams" promotion on April 8 in the team's home opener against the New England Revolution. The winner was Manalapan Soccer Club, a youth team located in Manalapan, NJ.
"This field is as good as any in the state and the great part of it is it's for our kids," Manalapan Soccer Club President Mike Hammer said during the unveiling of the pitch earlier this year. "The children of Manalapan will be able to play soccer on this first-class field for years to come."
Delivery of the field to the winning club's location of choice will begin Monday, August 14. The field will be transported to a pre-determined location agreed upon by both parties. Red Bull New York assumes no financial responsibility for additional transportation required beyond the initial delivery of the turf. The Red Bulls will provide information on companies qualified to provide this delivery service. However, preparation and application of the field is the responsibility of the winning club. The winning club assumes sole responsibility of the field once delivery is complete.
For more information, contact the Red Bulls at 1.877.RBSOCCER.
About the New York Red Bulls: The Red Bulls are currently riding a three-game winning streak after defeating the Kansas City Wizards, 1-0, on Saturday, July 22 at Giants Stadium. New York is now in third place in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind second-place New England, and will face the Houston Dynamo this Saturday, July 29, at Robertson Stadium. Game time is at 8:30 p.m. and it will be televised live on FSN NY.
In addition, the Red Bulls-FC Barcelona match will mark new Sporting Director and head coach Bruce Arena's official debut in his new role with the team. Arena, who ended a successful eight-year term as the head coach for the U.S. Men's National Team prior to joining the Red Bulls, has the best MLS winning percentage as a coach in league history, compiled during his time at the helm of D.C. United.
About FC Barcelona: FC Barcelona, the reigning UEFA Champions League winner and La Liga champions, boast a number of world class super stars led by Brazil's FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, 19-year-old sensation Lionel Messi (Argentina), and African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon).
Along with Ronaldinho and Messi, the Spanish giants have 11 other players who featured in the recent 2006 World Cup in Germany. This list includes Mexico's standout defender Rafael Marquez, Portuguese star Deco, Javier Saviola (Argentina), Lilian Thuram (France), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy), Giovanni Van Bronckhorst (Netherlands), Mark Van Bommel (Netherlands), Carlos Puyol (Spain), Xavi Hernandez (Spain), Iniesta (Spain), and Henrik Larsson (Sweden).
About the "Field of Dreams": Approximately 90,000 square feet of thick, cut bluegrass will be delivered to Giants Stadium for the Red Bulls match against FC Barcelona on Monday, August 7. East Coast Sod and Seed - who has provided the grass for Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., and Yankee Stadium in New York - in collaboration with Kingston Turf Farms, provided the services to grow, transport and lay the grass. The field surface currently measures 116 yards by 66 yards.
