Raging Bull Nation
Encyclopedia
RagingBullNation, formerly known as MetroNation, is a supporters group for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. It is a New Jersey non-profit corporation (Corp. ID #0400085504.) MetroNation was founded on February 21, 2005http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20050221&content_id=22668&vkey=news_met&fext=.jsp&team=met in Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
by Marc "Chief Metro" Bernarducci as a way of fostering increased support for the predecessor to the Red Bulls, the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
.
The MetroStars were purchased by the Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n beverage company Red Bull
Red Bull GmbH
Red Bull GmbH is an Austrian company which sells the Red Bull energy drink. In 2010, more than 4.204 billion cans were sold in over 161 countries. 7,758 employees generated 3.78 billion euros in revenue...
on March 9, 2006 and were rebranded as the New York Red Bulls. The club continues to exist and function under its new RagingBullNation name.
RagingBullNation encourages its members to become the “12th man
12th Man
The phrase 12th Man or Twelfth Man can refer to:* The Twelfth Man, Billy Birmingham, in satirical cricket commentator parodies* The 12th Man , an album by rap duo High and Mighty* 12th man , the fans at a football game...
” for the Red Bulls by leading creative chants and encouraging players on the field. RagingBullNation's section at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
on gameday was 115 in the lower bowl. This section is referred to as “Citizens Corner” or "The Corral" as it is positioned in the corner by one goal.
Charitable activities
RagingBullNation is well-known for its charitable endeavors. In its first year of existence, MetroNation raised $1015.20 in donations for the Leukemia & Lymphoma SocietyLeukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society , founded in 1949, is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. LLS's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of...
. MetroNation also raised funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. When evacuees from New Orleans resettled temporarily in the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area, MetroNation hosted them at a MetroStars match on September 17, 2005 -- a wild 5-4 MetroStars victory over New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
.
Group culture
RagingBullNation is well known for their "RoadSide Roundup" (formerly "MetroGate") game day tailgate parties, located in parking lot 15 outside the South Tower entrance of Giants StadiumGiants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
. On the occasion of USA international matches being scheduled on the same day as Red Bulls matches, Raging Bull Nation has organized watch parties in the parking lot using portable satellite equipment.
Raging Bull Nation organizes its away game road trips to DC United and New England Revolution in coordination with other Red Bulls supporters clubs, such as Empire Supporters Club
Empire Supporters Club
The Empire Supporters Club, or ESC, is the oldest supporters club in Major League Soccer and the largest supporters club dedicated to the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.-History:...
and First Row Idiots.
Raging Bull Nation has an official theme song written by Mike Apple.
On Red Bulls home opening day 2006, Raging Bull Nation unveiled its tribute entitled “From the Stars and Stripes to the Red and Black.” It will be a tribute to the MetroStars who played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
and it will be kept at the Pride and Passion Pub at Giants Stadium until its move to the new stadium pub at Red Bull Arena. The players honored include Hall of Famer Tab Ramos
Tab Ramos
Tabaré Ramos Ricciardi, known as Tab Ramos is a retired U.S. Olympic Team and National Team soccer midfielder. He played professionally for 13 seasons in Spain, Mexico and the United States. Ramos was the first player to sign with Major League Soccer, where he played seven years with the MetroStars...
and future Hall of Famers Tony Meola
Tony Meola
Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former soccer goalkeeper who played for the United States national team at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, and from 1996 to 2006 played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors...
and Alexi Lalas
Alexi Lalas
Panayotis Alexander Lalas is a retired American soccer player who played mostly as a defender for the United States national team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup...
.
Recognition
MSG NetworkMSG Network
The MSG Network, now shortened to simply MSG, is a regional cable television and radio network serving the Mid-Atlantic United States. It is focused on New York City sports teams...
color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
Shep Messing
Shep Messing
Shep Messing is a former American soccer goalkeeper and current broadcaster. He played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S...
has taken to referring to all Red Bulls supporters as The MetroNation after noticing MetroNation scarves held aloft at games. In actuality, the largest and most influential Red Bulls supporters club is the Empire Supporters Club
Empire Supporters Club
The Empire Supporters Club, or ESC, is the oldest supporters club in Major League Soccer and the largest supporters club dedicated to the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.-History:...
.
MetroNation member John "Johnny Metro" Russo was named 2004 MetroStars Fan of the Year. It has become tradition for all newly signed MetroStars players to sign Johnny Metro's shaved head.