Red Bulls Blast MLS Over "Unacceptable" Field Conditions Following Victory Against Real Salt Lake
The New York Red Bulls secured a 2–1 victory against Real Salt Lake on Sunday in Major League Soccer competition, however their manager, Sandro Schwarz, expressed dissatisfaction for different reasons.
For many years, Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey has represented the gold standard of MLS playing fields. Since its inauguration in 2010 as Red Bull Arena, it functioned as one of the top MLS soccer-dedicated venues and featured a pristine grass surface during an era when numerous clubs competed on synthetic turf.
On Sunday, however, Schwarz might have preferred a synthetic surface, with the field dotted with dead grass and uneven areas, which affected the game's rhythm.
"Playing on this surface makes things more challenging," Schwarz commented following the match, which witnessed Eric Maxim-Chuopo Moting net the decisive goal during second-half injury time after his team was down 1–0. "For a year and a half, we possessed one of the finest pitches in the competition, but currently it's the poorest... This is something everyone must comprehend. It becomes more challenging when hosting a home match."
"I regret having to say this... when you need to dictate the game, you want to play with dominance or you must compete against a defensive opponent. But in that case you require a superior pitch."
Both squads had difficulty establishing their rhythm during the contest, and it was clear that the playing surface was a major contributing factor. The Red Bulls recorded 85 percent pass completion, while Real Salt Lake achieved 81 percent.
Nevertheless, the summer temperatures in the Tristate region and additional weather factors likely contributed to the field's condition, along with the heavy usage it has experienced over the past two weeks—three Red Bulls fixtures, two New York City FC contests and a Gotham FC NWSL game all since July 29. The facility also recently welcomed electronic music performer Rufus Du Sol.
The schedule won't ease up significantly either as the Red Bulls and Gotham advance through their campaigns, and the stadium also gets ready for both the U.S. men's national squad and Canadian men's national team for exhibition matches this autumn against South Korea and Colombia, respectively.
"When we play at home, it should provide us with a substantial advantage, but it's impossible to perform well on this surface, with precision, and this is something we must accept," Schwarz added. "This was not acceptable today."