Red Bull Arena’s tax battle is not over yet. In fact, New York’s ownership has taken their fight to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Red Bull has been at odds with Harrison township over the tax-exempt status of Red Bull Arena; the over $200 million dollar stadium just east of Newark. Red Bull argues since it is owned by the Harrison Redevelopment Agency and leased to the Hudson County Redevelopment Authority, they should receive a tax-exempt status.

Thus far, the courts have not seen it that way. Both trial and appellate courts have stood alongside Harrison on the matter, forcing the Red Bulls to cough up $3 million in taxes stemming from their occupancy in 2010 ($1.5 million) and 2011 ($1.3 million).

According to NJ.com, the Red Bulls’ new petition, filed on September 25th, claims they were “undoubtedly the victim of a ‘bait and switch’ in this case, as its promised tax exemption vanished into thin air.” Further, they cite Red Bull Arena as an “essential public purpose,” espousing the arena’s public and private usage.

Harrison officials argue “Red Bulls attempt to manipulate the exemption provisions of these laws for its individual financial gain, to the detriment of the public (residents of the town and Hudson County), is not only improper, it is baseless.”

LADE STAYS ON LONG ISLAND

While Red Bull head coach Mike Petke entertained the idea of calling up Connor Lade for a busy stretch of matches this week, including a throwaway CONCACAF Champions League encounter against the Montreal Impact, Cosmos boss Giovanni Savarese was having none of it.

Just last month, both clubs came to a verbal agreement that Lade would not be called in for the rest of the NASL season. In his conference call Tuesday afternoon, Savarese reiterated the club’s agreed position.

“From my perspective, something that is verbally agreed for me is bigger than a contract,” Savarese said. “For now, where we stand is where we [last] spoke and what we said a few weeks ago about the player.”

As of Tuesday, the Red Bulls did not reach out to Savarese or the Cosmos for the player.

NO DISTRACTIONS

Despite a week filled with rumor, controversy and speculation, Petke insists the chatter has not penetrated his lockerroom.

“The thing is that everybody is concentrated,” he said. “Nothing happened last week, and I said it a number of times, nothing happened last week that threw anybody for a loop. Nothing was mentioned about a sale of the team or Thierry’s future in practice until Thursday or Friday from a reporter to me.

“There were no issues, there were no headaches for the players standpoint at all last week.”

The sale rumors and Henry’s future were only part of the problem, as an EOS story citing friction between the club and star-player Tim Cahill made headlines leading into Saturday’s encounter against Houston.

NEWS AND NOTES