The late Jean Baudrillard may have gushed “what is thought in Europe becomes reality in America”, but his goodwill hasn’t rubbed off on Red Bull. The United States is not yet utopia achieved for the Austrian firm. Far from it, in fact.

The imminent David Beckham has set Hollywood’s soccer moms dreaming, but over in the city that never sleeps, the arrival of Claudio Reyna has done little to excite New Yorkers ahead of the new season.

All the jabber has revolved instead around Red Bull New York losing more money than any MLS side before it. The $14m loss registered in little over twelve months includes the $3.5m they splurged on marketing and entertainment for the wash-out that was their inaugural fixture: small change for Red Bull, as is currently demonstrated much closer to home.

The Bundesliga, which their Salzburg franchise sit expensively atop, was rocked this week by a series of punishments dished out to the insolvent clubs from the city of Graz.

One-time Champions League outfit Sturm Graz received a 10 point penalty while neighbours GAK were hit to the tune of 22 points and face extinction. With the country gearing towards staging Euro 2008, its flagship competition faces embarrassment should a second major club vanish in as many seasons.

Well, I say vanish – as we know, Austria Salzburg are actually alive and well danke schön, and their brand new terrace was the perfect backdrop to a display in memory of Gerhard Weiss, the young ultra killed on an autumn trip to Borussia Dortmund.

Fans of the German side were in attendance as Austria Salzburg sent Trimmelkam packing in fine style, scoring seven goals without reply to send Gustl Kofler’s men five points clear at the top of 2. Klasse Nord.

One year in, and the upstarts continue to grow. For a club which will shortly be able to field five youth teams upwards of the under-7s, the future looks increasingly bright. No doubt Red Bull wish they could say the same.

See also: Austria Salzburg, MLS, Red Bull by TBG | Comments Off