Chris Heck, formerly the Red Bulls’ president for business operation, is no longer with the organization, the Post has learned.
A team spokesperson confirmed the move this morning.
Fair or not, Heck had come under fire among the Red Bulls’ supporters, blamed for middling ticket sales and a continued disconnect with the fan base. He becme the target of an at-times disgruntled fanbase, but they won't have him to kick around anymore.
The Red Bulls had a stretch of three games within a week, all of them afternoon games; and it was Heck’s ill-advised decision to slate the midweek game agans the Chicago Fire at 1 p.m., when – unfortunately – temperatures hit 100 degrees.
Captain Thierry Henry ripped the scheduling that week, and said he’d like to know who was responsible. Now the man responsible is gone.
“I don’t know who put the time of the game we’re going to play. I’m not having a go, but playing at 4, playing at 1, are you thinking about the players? I don’t know,’’ Henry said at the time. “We’re having a heat wave. If you want a great game and the team to run for 1 1/2 hours, putting the game at 1 [won’t help].
“We all want to perform and play well, for the fans and for them to come and make the game. Wednesday, 1 p.m? I hope it won’t be as hot as it has been recently, but yeah ... it’s not what you want.’’
Heck came to the Red Bulls after serving as the NB's Senior VP of Marketing Partnerships since 2004, where he managed the business for the USA Basketball Senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams. Before that, he's been the league’s Senior VP of Team Business Operations. But arrived with te Red Bulls and updating thier season ticket structure, which drew ire from some fans that hadn't seen significant raises in their ticket prices for some time.