Good article but it stretches its own comparisons. When the Bears stadium was built, the Metrostars were comfortably nested in East Rutherford (I don't even think there were plans to move b/c Red Bulls Corp didn't own the team yet). My tune would be a bit different if they were built around the same time but the Bear's Stadium is over a decade older (and a lot happened in that decade).
Plus, comparing the success of a MLS stadium to a minor league baseball stadium doesn't make much sense to me.
I think the best bet Newark could have had in getting the Red Bulls was trying to attract the team when Red Bulls Corp bought the franchise and wanted to move them; perhaps build them in the Ironbound's industrial corridor (even though, w/ 'NY' in the name they can keep them, I wouldn't want them in Newark on the strength of that alone. It's our largest city; wouldn't seem right IMO)
Also, as long as a significant stretch around the Red Bull Arena remains undeveloped then Newark can still benefit from the fans going to the Ironbound before/after a game.