Red Bulls' new stadium begins to take shape

HARRISON, N.J. -- Before it was just another construction project, a nondescript piece of the Harrison Redevelopment Project.

But with the ceremonial erection of a steel beam Tuesday morning, the New York Red Bulls new soccer-specific stadium is now officially starting to take shape.

"It's something tangible that people can see," said Erik Stover, Red Bull New York managing director. "If they're driving by on (Interstate) 280 or if they're on the PATH, they see it coming out of the ground and you know it's a reality. Before today you look and it just looks like a dirt field. But over the next few weeks, next couple months, the building is going to start taking shape and there's really no turning back."

On Tuesday, the Red Bulls also announced a change in the name of the facility, which they hope will be open Sept. 2009. The stadium will now be called Red Bull Arena after being called Red Bull Park.

"That concept is something that's been around for quite awhile, to be honest. Now that we have complete control of our project and our own destiny, it's a name that's more in line with what Red Bull is doing worldwide with soccer, with our club in Salzburg, with the academy in Sao Paolo and Ghana and of course the club here and our academy," Stover said. "There's a lot of synergy there with what Red Bull is trying do worldwide."

The steel that was erected was the corner piece of the West building, which will house the home and visitor locker rooms, stadium offices, three clubs, 1,116 club seats, 30 luxury suites and press facilities. In about a month, structural steel will begin for the main seating bowl and roof.

"It's the next phase of the project, but it is also very symbolic," Stover said. "It shows that this group is going to do what it takes to get this project done and take Red Bull New York to the next level."

Over the next seven months, the structural steel will be erected to support the new dynamic form roof, which will create a distinguished identity and unique atmosphere for Red Bulls fans. It will extend from its leading edge over the entire seating bowl and then curve down to the concourse. The roof will extend 120 feet from the last seat to halfway between the field wall and the field's touchlines, with 60 feet of the roof being translucent to allow in natural light.

"We designed the building to be 360 degrees around the pitch with the best possible sightlines, closest possible proximity to the pitch," Stover said. "What we want is a great soccer atmosphere and one that will help elevate the sport in this country."

Joining Stover at the ceremony Tuesday was Harrison Mayor Ray McDonough, who has been through his share of frustration over a construction process that has been a decade in the making.

"Wait until you see what happens from here," McDonough said. "(Red Bull is) on a mission to get this done as soon as possible. Of course there's been all this bad publicity over the years, promises. In fact I told them I'm never going to another press conference again because it seems like every time we have a press conference to announce something, it never materializes."

But on Tuesday, McDonough changed his tune.

"I'm looking forward to opening game and cutting the ribbon," he said. "Harrison, Kearny and downtown Newark are soccer fanatics so I just want to let everyone know you better get your season tickets early because you're not going to be able to get them."

And McDonough said Red Bull Arena's construction, as well as the other redevelopment projects in the area, are things that the residents of Harrison have been waiting a long time for.

"They can't wait. It's taken 10 years to get to this point," McDonough said. "It's very frustrating, you have your ups and downs, but now it seems like all the pieces are coming together. ... I'm excited and the people of Harrison can't wait. Plus it's going to create jobs and help them on their taxes. That always helps."