ROCHESTER RHINOS

[Frank Cunha]

Originally Posted by pirate

in 1976 Rochester had 5 Players from Portugal

believe 1977 they went all the way to the semi-finals and lost to the Cosmos in front of 72,000 at Giants stadium

[Frank Cunha]

what was the year the Rochester won the NASL championship? believe in O/T against St. Louis, they played until they dropped, 3 or 4 Ot/s

[Frank Cunha]

Originally Posted by pirate

Yes But Live in England

You know a lot about Rochester, I hope they get pick by MLS

[pirate]

In the NASL A Complete Record of the North American Soccer League Book it says John Pedro played for Rochester from 1976-1977

[Frank Cunha]

that's him, he was a great playmaker, he made the team go

[pirate]

Rochester won the NASL championship in 1970 Beat the Washington darts Won 3-0 in rochester Lost 3-1 in Washington won 4-3 on Aggregate Attendance in Rochester 9,321 Attendance in washington 5,543

[pirate]

I hope Rochester Get Major League soccer.

[Frank Cunha]

who played on the 3 or 4 OT? maybe was St. Louis, not sure.

[Ricochet]

http://www.foxsportsworld.com/conten...tentId=1943398

WHEELOCK: Rochester deserves to be promoted to MLS

Over the coming months, there's going to be a great deal of discussion regarding the issue of MLS expansion both in the short and long term. A number of prospective cities and timetables will be mentioned.
League commissioner Don Garber has already announced that two new clubs will be added for the 2005 season; likely based in Cleveland and San Diego.

When I interviewed the Commissioner for MLS Wrap during All-Star Weekend in August, he stated that MLS could eventually become a 20 club league. The financially stability of the league is no longer in question, even to the most pessimistic observers of the sport in this country.

That coupled with the ongoing success of the U.S. national team means the rush to attract an MLS franchise is about to begin full-throttle. Three new multi-millionaire investors, Stan Kroenke (WHEELOCK: Kroenke backs MLS all the way to the bank ), Jorge Vergara, and Bert Wolstein have already joined.

I've already written of my overwhelming support for MLS expansion, and about the virtues of adding Toronto to the league (WHEELOCK: Coming soon: an MLS franchise in your city?). Now I offer another worthy candidate for an expansion franchise: Rochester, New York. Actually, the way I see it, this would really be a promoted club, not a new one. The Rochester Raging Rhinos are one of the best kept secrets in American sports. Since 1996 they have established themselves as the model A-League franchise. The Rhinos have averaged 10,788 people per home match during their eight seasons. That is three times the league average. To cap it off they were the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions in 1999.

All that the club has really lacked is a proper stadium, but that is about to change with plans for the 17,500 seat, $22 million soccer-specific PaeTec Park finally gaining traction. Delays have plagued this project for over three years, but with a $15 million state grant announced in September, the stadium could open sometime in 2004. If you look at the illustrations of PaeTec Park at www.rhinossoccer.com, it looks like a proper football ground, the kind we need a great deal more of in MLS.

In Rochester, we have a city that is mad for the sport, and more importantly mad for their local club, as evidenced by eight highly successful seasons on and off the pitch, and a new soccer-specific stadium. Furthermore, club owner Frank DuRoss has the passion and financial resources to move the Rhinos into MLS.

So what is the hold-up? Unfortunately it is perception. The perception that Rochester, New York is an out of the way city, that's devoid of glamour, and very much minor league. And that's if a perception of the city exists at all! Placing an MLS club in San Diego, Seattle or Houston sounds big-time; choosing these locations would really put forth an image that MLS is really making major strides.

What does Rochester say to the non-soccer media? It reeks of Arena Football and Indoor Lacrosse. I say, so what? Does anyone who loves this game really care what the non-soccer media thinks? I certainly don't.

What I care about is the further development of MLS and the sport as a whole in the United States. Rochester should be a part of MLS. The city has earned it, as has the club.

I think there are a few caveats that must be explored before a deal is struck with MLS.

First, is the completion of PaeTec Park. I've broadcast two Raging Rhinos matches in Rochester for FOX Sports World at the club's present home, Frontier Field. While the crowds were fantastic the venue is all wrong. Frontier Field is a minor league baseball stadium that never lets you forget it.

No matter how the soccer pitch is laid out the sight lines are all disjointed, and the supporters are absurdly far from the pitch. For Triple A baseball, I imagine it's one of the best, but it is simply not acceptable for MLS, no matter how many tickets the Rhinos sell.

Second, it would be a flat-out mistake for MLS to award an expansion franchise to the city of Rochester, but leave out the Raging Rhinos. City and club cannot be separated.

The community loves this team, its coaching staff and players, and will love them even more in MLS. To dissolve the Rhinos, or move the A-League version to another city, and then start a new MLS team would be a fatal error. This must be put in the context of promotion as it's done in the football world: same core or ownership, front office, coaches, and players, just enhanced with new additions for the move to the higher level.

The Rhinos exist with Chris Economides as general manager, Pat Ercoli as head coach, and established players like Lenin Steenkamp, Bill Sedgewick, and Kirk Wilson. Make no mistake, the club will have to sign a number of new and talented footballers to be competitive, as do all promoted clubs. But the nucleus of the Rochester Raging Rhinos must be left intact.

Finally, for MLS to reach its full potential in Rochester, the league must not give any indication that it is less than thrilled to be there. While it's not a megaplex of 5 million people with a thriving tourist industry, it's not a tiny hamlet either.

Rochester is an established sports community, with a history of clubs in minor league baseball, hockey and soccer. Buffalo is not that far away, and would certainly produce a number of supporters for the new MLS club, as well as a possible secondary market for regional radio and television broadcasts.

Although it's an awfully long drive from Rochester to NYC, a New York derby between the MetroStars and Raging Rhinos would certainly be welcomed by supporters of both clubs.

The NFL has Green Bay, the NHL has Edmonton, and the NBA has Salt Lake. There's no shame in, nor intrinsic financial barrier to existing in a non-traditional or small market, as long as the community is supportive and passionate. Rochester can be this type of location and then some for MLS. There has been a lot of public discussion recently by Frank DuRoss and his executives as to whether the club should move to MLS. It should, and DuRoss knows it. He wants the best deal for his club and his city, but make no mistake, his goal is to become a part of the American first division.

PaeTec Park is not being constructed for an A-League club. It's being constructed for one in Major League Soccer. The Rhinos and the State of New York have put their money behind their belief that the people of Rochester will support an MLS team.

MLS has indicated that an expansion candidate must possess a strong owner, a proper stadium, a soccer history, and passionate fans. Rochester has all of these, plus something even more desirable: an established and successful professional club. Once PaeTec Park is completed, there are few better expansion opportunities for MLS than the Rochester Raging Rhinos.

[Frank Cunha]

US NEWS: BREAKING NEWS





Rhinos Sign Zagar For GK Duties 08/01/04

Rochester Raging Rhinos Vice President and General Manager Chris Economides announced today at a press conference that the club has signed Goalkeeper Theo Zagar and re-signed forward Doug Miller to contracts.

Zagar, who was selected by the Toronto Lynx in 1998 out of the University of Toronto, holds every major goalkeeping record for the Lynx. In six seasons with the Lynx, the 29-year old netminder recorded a 44-54-16 mark with a 1.25 goals against average and 30 shutouts. He was twice named Toronto’s Most Valuable Player following the 2000 and 2002 seasons, while capturing 2000 Second Team All A-League honors after leading his team to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the Rochester Rhinos. Zagar has agreed to a two-year deal with Rochester.

“Competing against Theo over the last three or four seasons, he has shown that he is a top goalkeeper in this league” said Rhinos Head Coach Pat Ercoli. “It will be nice to finally have him on our side.”

Rochester has also come to terms with their all-time leading scorer Doug Miller on a two-year contract. Named the Rhinos Most Valuable Player after the 2003 season, Miller finished second among all A-League scorers with 38 points on 17 goals and four assists. Miller began his Rhinos career as an original Rhino from 1996-1999 where he established franchise records for goals (23) and points (51) in a season. In 1997 he was honored as the A-League Most Valuable Player. Miller currently holds 17 Rhinos records including career points (156) and goals (70).

“It was a pleasant surprise to have Doug pick up where he left off without missing a beat” said Ercoli. “We are happy that he is back with us for the foreseeable future.”

[Frank Cunha]

Rhinos Open 2004 Season At Frontier Field
Pair of Matches in Puerto Rico Also Highlights Road Schedule

Courtesy of the Rochester Raging Rhinos
08.Jan.2004
(Rochester, NY)… The A-League has released the 2004 schedule for the Rochester Raging Rhinos. The Rhinos will begin their ninth season of play on Saturday, May 1st at Frontier Field, marking the seventh time in nine seasons the club has begun the season at home. The Rhinos have recorded a 2-4-2 all-time record in home openers.

The Rhinos' 2004 A-League schedule consists of 14 home matches, ten of which will be played on Friday and Saturday nights. Rochester will also play three home matches on Sunday and one on a Wednesday night. The Rhinos season ticket package will provide for 18 home matches, with the remaining four to be comprised of Major League Soccer/International exhibitions ("friendlies"), U.S. Open Cup tournament matches and playoff games.

Rochester will play Eastern Conference foes, which include the Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Montreal Impact, Richmond Kickers, Syracuse Salty Dogs, Toronto Lynx, Virginia Beach Mariners and the expansion Puerto Rico Islanders at home this season. The Rhinos will also see action against the Western Conference Minnesota Thunder at Frontier Field.

The 2004 schedule is marked by Rochester's first ever match off the U.S. mainland when they travel to face Puerto Rico in a two-game set on May 27th and 29th. In addition the Rhinos will also travel to take on the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders in June.

The 2004 season will see the A-League return to the two conference alignment with the Eastern Conference playing home to nine teams, including the Atlanta Silverbacks, Charleston Battery, Montreal Impact, Puerto Rico Islanders, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Raging Rhinos Syracuse Salty Dogs, Toronto Lynx, Virginia Beach Mariners.

The Western Conference will be the home of seven teams which include the expansion Edmonton Aviators as well as the Milwaukee Wave United, Minnesota Thunder, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Team Calgary and Vancouver Whitecaps.

The playoff format will consist of the top four teams in each conference qualifying for the "second season." The top seeds in each conference will take on the fourth seed while the second and third seeds will battle it out in a two-legged aggregate goals series in Round One and in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. Overtime will not be played following the first match, and will only be played after the second 90-minute match if the aggregate score is tied. If the aggregate score is tied after the second match, the two 15-minute "golden goal" overtime periods will be played. If a winner is not determined in overtime, the FIFA penalty kicks will decide who advances to the next round. The A-League Championship will be decided in a one game winner-take-all championship.

2004 A-League Conference Alignment


Eastern Conference Western Conference

Atlanta Silverbacks Edmonton Aviators
Charleston Battery Milwaukee Wave United
Montreal Impact Minnesota Thunder
Puerto Rico Islanders Portland Timbers
Richmond Kickers Seattle Sounders
Rochester Raging Rhinos Team Calgary
Syracuse Salty Dogs Vancouver Whitecaps
Toronto Lynx
Virginia Beach Mariners

Rochester Raging Rhinos
2004 A-League Schedule

Date Time Opponent
Saturday, May 1 7:35 p.m. Toronto Lynx
Friday, May 7 7:35 p.m. Puerto Rico Islanders
Friday, May 14 7:30 p.m. @ Syracuse Salty Dogs
Sunday, May 16 4:00 p.m. @ Toronto Lynx
Saturday, May 22 7:35 p.m. Syracuse Salty Dogs
Thursday, May 27 8:00 p.m. @Puerto Rico Islanders
Saturday, May 29 8:00 p.m. @Puerto Rico Islanders
Friday, June 4 7:35 p.m. Toronto Lynx
Sunday, June 6 6:05 p.m. Atlanta Silverbacks
Saturday, June 12 7:35 p.m. Virginia Beach Mariners
Thursday, June 17 10:00 p.m. @ Portland Timbers
Saturday, June 19 10:00 p.m. @ Seattle Sounders
Saturday, June 26 7:35 p.m. Richmond Kickers
Wednesday, July 7 7:30 p.m. @ Montreal Impact
Friday, July 9 8:00 p.m. Montreal Impact
Sunday, July 11 6:05 p.m. Charleston Battery
Saturday, July 17 7:30 p.m. @ Virginia Beach
Sunday, July 18 7:00 p.m. @ Richmond Kickers
Friday, July 23 8:00 p.m. @ Richmond Kickers
Saturday, July 24 7:30 p.m. @ Virginia Beach
Friday, July 30 7:35 p.m. Minnesota Thunder
Sunday, August 1 6:00 p.m. @ Syracuse Salty Dogs
Friday, August 6 7:35 p.m. Syracuse Salty Dogs
Sunday, August 8 6:05 p.m. Charleston Battery
Friday, August 13 7:30 p.m. @ Charleston Battery
Sunday, August 15 6:00 p.m. @ Atlanta Silverbacks
Wednesday, August 25 7:35 p.m. Atlanta Silverbacks
Friday, August 27 7:35 p.m. Montreal Impact

[Frank Cunha]

Paetec Park Site Approved By NYS Historic Preservation Board

Courtesy of the Rochester Raging Rhinos
13.Jan.2004
(Rochester, NY)… The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has released the findings of a study conducted by the Rochester Museum with regard to the future site of PAETEC Park.

The OPRHP's opinion according to the report states that "PAETEC Park will have No Impact upon cultural resources in or eligible for inclusion in the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places." The site designated by the City of Rochester and the Rochester Raging Rhinos does not contain any historical evidence that would cause any delay in groundbreaking.

"The finding of no impact upon the cultural resources is one of the last regulatory approvals required prior to the start of construction of PAETEC Park" said Rhinos President Frank DuRoss.

PAETEC Park is Rochester's 17,500 seat multi-purpose stadium that will play home to the Rochester Raging Rhinos professional soccer club. In addition to the Rhinos, PAETEC Park will also be the home of the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse and host events such as Buffalo Bills controlled scrimmages, men's and women's high school and collegiate soccer, lacrosse and field hockey, women's professional soccer and high school and collegiate football. Drum and bugle competitions, community events, concerts, youth sporting events and outdoor shows will also be scheduled into the stadium.

For further information, contact the Rhinos Communications Office at (585) 454-KICK.

[Frank Cunha]

http://www.a-league.com/news/2004/news,2004,0007.shtml

[Ricochet]

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/...VGI_news.shtml

Soccer stadium finally kicks off


Today's groundbreaking follows two key agreements for city site.


By Joseph Spector
Staff writer


(January 15, 2004) — The Rochester Rhinos will break ground today on a long-awaited soccer stadium in downtown Rochester.
The Rhinos plan to build a $22 million, 12,500-seat stadium about a half-mile from Frontier Field, where the A-League soccer team currently plays.

Discussions on a new stadium began in the late 1990s, but despite $15 million in state aid secured in 2000, it has yet to be built.

The final hurdles were kicked aside Wednesday when city and Monroe County officials announced they had reached a financial deal to move Empire Precision Plastics Inc., whose factory abuts the stadium site.

The Rhinos also announced that the state approved construction on the 15-acre site, where archaeologists had discovered building foundations along the original Erie Canal.

“We’re thrilled we got over this hurdle,” said Rhinos majority owner Frank DuRoss. “It’s a great day for the city and the county and the Rhinos.”

Rhinos fans were pleased Wednesday that the stadium, called PaeTec Park, is finally getting under way. The team and its fans have long complained that Frontier Field, used primarily by the Red Wings baseball team, is unsuitable for soccer.

Moreover, a new stadium could increase the team’s chances of entering Major League Soccer. The stadium would also host major high school games, concerts and other sporting events.

“It would be fantastic,” said Rhinos fan Kate Quinn, 50, of Chili. “It would be a nice addition to the Rochester area.”

The state is funding almost all of the stadium’s construction, with the Rhinos deferring millions in upfront costs. The stadium is a long way from the initial plan to build a facility costing close to $50 million with 20,000 seats that the Rhinos would have largely funded.

Some fans said the stadium delays were discouraging but still expressed optimism. “In Rochester we have one of the strongest and most loyal soccer fan bases,” said Michael Sciortino, a season ticket holder. “The true soccer fans have not lost their soccer faith.”

The team will likely play its entire 2004 season at Frontier Field, though one or two games, possibly playoff games, might be possible in the new stadium.

Construction is expected to take at least nine months.

In recent months, the major holdup has been securing money to move Empire Precision Plastics to another location. It is currently located at Oak and Smith streets and will move to 500 Lee Road in the city.

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. announced Wednesday that the state and local governments will fund most of the $800,000 move through loans, grants and a lease agreement with the building’s owner. The Rhinos are paying about $100,000.

The Rhinos plan to use the factory for offices, locker rooms and a team store.

Politicians applauded the cooperation among county, city and state governments in getting the deal done. In the last month, the county agreed to pay $100,000 for Empire’s move.

“This is a great story that we’re telling today, and one that we’d like to be able to tell over and over and over again,” Brooks, a Republican, said.

This is the second project announcement that Brooks has been a part of since taking office Jan. 1. Last week, she was in Albany for the unveiling of the Rochester Renaissance Center, a downtown project that would link a new Monroe Community College campus, a performing arts center and bus terminal.

“She has said … she wants to clean the slate, clean the decks, start out fresh,” Johnson, a Democrat, said, “and projects like this really do prove that she is trying to live up to her word.”