New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There’s nothin’ you can’t do
Now you’re in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
Big lights will inspire you
Let’s hear it for New York, New York,
New York

Sorry, I had to.

The New York Red Bulls is one of the original ten MLS clubs playing since the league’s inception. They’ve always been a major player in the league, only missing the playoffs four times in 17 seasons (not counting 2013). Unfortunately even though they’ve been consistently a top 4 team (in their conference) they are the only original MLS team to not have any major hardware to display from either regular season play, playoffs, or any other major competition. A partnership with the Riverhounds could finally give them the push they need to win titles while providing the Hounds quality players and U.S. Soccer Development Academy support.

PROS

• 2013 is a rebuilding year for the Red Bulls both on the field and in the front office. What better time to strike up a partnership and establish a strong connection between the clubs when there’s a lot of new folks in the front office who don’t have any old baggage. The Red Bulls also lost a number of veterans before the 2013 season and will be looking for young players to step up. Having the opportunity to play for the Hounds could do wonders for them while giving the Hounds some quality players. Just look at the success of the first wave of affiliates around the USL.
• The Hounds and the Red Bulls have like-minded, former player coaches. This year the Red Bulls named Mike Petke as their head coach. The former MLS Defender of the Year implemented a 4-4-2 defensive oriented scheme (similar to what the Hounds ended up with) which helped put the club on the right track after only getting 2 points in their first 4 games. Both Petke and Justin Evans had to take a team that didn’t have much play time together and form them into a superior squad. The Hounds defense was lights out the second half of the season.  With both coaches on the same wave length we have the chance to establish two defensive power houses in the USL and MLS.
• It’s no secret the ultimate goal for the Hounds academy is to become an officially sanctioned U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The Red Bulls already have a strong academy system established with this designation. If we were to affiliate the Hounds could get the guidance and supported needed to get to that next level which will establish their already successful academy as THE academy system in the region.
• Bonus: Like Highmark Stadium Red Bull Arena is a privately funded stadium. Both clubs know how to not rely on tax payer dollars like many other teams do.

CONS 

• The Red Bulls already have an NPSL team which they use as a U23 squad. While not the same situation as what is going on in Oklahoma, things could get weird. The already murky loan contracts could be even more confusing if they want one of the guys from that squad to come up. We also run the risk of the Hounds becoming just a stepping stone for the NPSL players to get to the MLS.
• Red Bull, aka resistance is futile. Simply put everything Red Bull touches sports wise gets its branding and colors slapped all over it. Hell even their NPSL team is the New York Red Bulls. Do we want to become the Pittsburgh Red Bulls? Red Bull has more money than they know what to do with. If they start throwing money at the Hounds ownership to buy them out so that we become fully integrated into the Red Bull soccer pyramid, are they going to buckle?

VERDICT

On one hand there’s a lot to like about the Red Bulls new direction on the field as well as their academy system. It really meshes with what the Hounds currently do as well as what they’re looking to do in the future. On the other hand the Red Bull branding collective kind of scares me. The Hounds ownership are classy smart folks so there probably isn’t anything to worry about, but I wouldn’t want them to be put in that situation. In the end I trust the current ownership group (besides who needs Red Bull when we have Tuffy),  and the on the field direction of both teams would mesh nicely with an affiliation.