Red Bull and George Gillett

[Marshy]

The Canadian and Austrian press are reporting rumours of secret talks between our new co-owner and Red Bull 'billionaire' Dietrich Mateschitz. The speculation is Gillett is seeking to sell his NHL 'franchise' Montreal Canadians to Mateschitz. Another possibility is that maybe Red Bull is a possible additional or replacement sponsor for us or maybe naming rights for the stadium.

Anyway it is sort of related to LFC so i thought i'd post it;

Report: Montreal to be bleu, blanc et Red Bull?

NBCSports.com staff report
Posted: Apr.17, 2007, 4:35 pm EDT

Austrian billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz might not be a household name, but he might become one in Canada if he ends up buying the Montreal Canadiens.

As reported in the Montreal Gazette, websites in Austria are claiming Mateschitz, who is the founder of the Red Bull energy drinks empire, is involved in "top secret" negotiations to purchase the Habs from current owner George Gillett.

Though the Gazette reiterated a Canadiens official's statement that the team is not for sale, Gillett is said to be very unhappy that the club stumbled and missed the playoffs.

Mateschitz has persistently collected a host of sports franchises: the New York Red Bulls of MLS, FC Salzburg, Formula One teams Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, a NASCAR Nextel Cup squad, Team Red Bull and EC Salzburg, the reigning champions in the top Austrian hockey league.

He also is partners with Los Angeles Kings owner Philip Anschutz in the ownership of the MLS Red Bulls' stadium in New Jersey, which is slated to be opened in 2008.

In fact, the Kings are opening the 2007-08 NHL season in London, and will play a few exhibition games against EC Salzburg as a favor to Mateschitz

Gillett is the former owner of the Miami Dolphins and Harlem Globetrotters, who bought the Canadiens in 2001 from Molson Coors for $275 million.

[ningnangnong]

Liverbull FC

[Johnny]

Gillett is said to be very unhappy that the club stumbled and missed the playoffs.
.

Will he sell us in a few yrs if we don`t reach his expectations.

[The Glove]

Maybe he thinks they are **** compared to us so is getting rid and using that money for us.

[Fowler_God]

Did this bloke become a billionare just from selling Redbull??
*runs off to invent a new drink that tastes like *****

[Gray]

Then adds Vodka.............still ****.

[rodo]

redbull is everything thats wrong with football just ask sv austria salzburg fans

[Guest]

redbull is everything thats wrong with football just ask sv austria salzburg fans

I don't know of any austria salzburg fan, apart from Maestro probably, so would you care to elaborate ?

[rodo]

FC Red Bull Salzburg was founded on September 13, 1933, as SV Austria Salzburg. In 1978 the name was changed to SV Casino Salzburg and in 1997 to SV Wüstenrot Salzburg. Red Bull bought the club on April 6, 2005. Famous players who played for the club include Oliver Bierhoff, Thomas Häßler, and Toni Polster.


[edit] The Red Bull takeover
After the takeover, Red Bull changed the club's name, management and staff, declaring "this is a new club with no history". Red Bull initially claimed on the club website that the club was founded in 2005, but was ordered to remove this claim by the Austrian FA. Although the official colours in the statutes are still violet and white, no trace of violet can be found in the club's new logo and the team plays in the new colours red and white. This complete re-branding of the team is very similar to Red Bull's treatment of its two Formula One racing teams, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso. However, Red Bull would not completely follow this precedent when it acquired the MetroStars club in Major League Soccer in the USA; while it rebranded the team Red Bull New York, it chose to recognise the MetroStars' history.


Red Bull Salzburg, October 2005The traditional supporters tried to resist the radical changes and formed their own movement in order to regain some of the tradition. Several fan-clubs throughout Europe voiced their support in what they saw as a fight against the growing commercialisation of football.

But after five months of protests, and talks between the club owner and the traditional fans, no compromise was reached. Thus, on September 15, 2005, the "violet" supporters stated that the talks had finally failed and they would end their efforts.

This gave rise to two separate fan groups : the "Red-Whites", who support the Red Bull club and its management, and the "Violet-Whites", who wanted to preserve the 72-year-old tradition, but refused to support the rebranded club, and ultimately formed a new club, SV Austria Salzburg.

[Guest]

I don't think it could ever happen with us anyway. Imagine the rioting.

[rodo]

agreed probably would never happen but it goes to show how far sponsorship can ruin football

[RedJedi]

FC Red Bull Salzburg was founded on September 13, 1933, as SV Austria Salzburg. In 1978 the name was changed to SV Casino Salzburg and in 1997 to SV Wüstenrot Salzburg. Red Bull bought the club on April 6, 2005. Famous players who played for the club include Oliver Bierhoff, Thomas Häßler, and Toni Polster.


[edit] The Red Bull takeover
After the takeover, Red Bull changed the club's name, management and staff, declaring "this is a new club with no history". Red Bull initially claimed on the club website that the club was founded in 2005, but was ordered to remove this claim by the Austrian FA. Although the official colours in the statutes are still violet and white, no trace of violet can be found in the club's new logo and the team plays in the new colours red and white. This complete re-branding of the team is very similar to Red Bull's treatment of its two Formula One racing teams, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso. However, Red Bull would not completely follow this precedent when it acquired the MetroStars club in Major League Soccer in the USA; while it rebranded the team Red Bull New York, it chose to recognise the MetroStars' history.


Red Bull Salzburg, October 2005The traditional supporters tried to resist the radical changes and formed their own movement in order to regain some of the tradition. Several fan-clubs throughout Europe voiced their support in what they saw as a fight against the growing commercialisation of football.

But after five months of protests, and talks between the club owner and the traditional fans, no compromise was reached. Thus, on September 15, 2005, the "violet" supporters stated that the talks had finally failed and they would end their efforts.

This gave rise to two separate fan groups : the "Red-Whites", who support the Red Bull club and its management, and the "Violet-Whites", who wanted to preserve the 72-year-old tradition, but refused to support the rebranded club, and ultimately formed a new club, SV Austria Salzburg.

Weve already got this

Scousers v Woolys

[rodo]

yeah i know i posted it previously

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Though the Gazette reiterated a Canadiens official's statement that the team is not for sale, Gillett is said to be very unhappy that the club stumbled and missed the playoffs.

Christ, win the title or I'll sell you.

[RedJedi]

Christ, win the title or I'll sell you.

Not as bad as Roman, win all 4 and i'll still sack you