The A-League Rochester Rhinos soccer team made its
"public sales pitch" yesterday for a new soccer stadium,
detailing its "vision of combining private and public money"
to finance the $44M facility, according to DiVeronica &
Blackwell of the Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE. Rhinos
owners said that they are "willing to spend" $4M in cash,
borrow $22M in bonds and "cover any losses themselves" from
the operation of the 20,000-seat, "multipurpose" facility.
But they also want $2M from the city of Rochester, $6M from
Monroe County, $10M from the state and a land donation for
the site. DiVeronica & Blackwell write the team owners
"didn't answer several key questions" during Tuesday's
presentation, including "who would own the stadium" and "who
would operate it." DiVeronica & Blackwell: "Receiving state
funding might be tough to come by unless political leaders
come together to support the project." With a new facility,
DiVeronica & Blackwell write there is "a good chance" the
team "could move up" to MLS (DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 1/12).
In NY, Bob Matthews writes the Rhinos "made a terrific
presentation. ... But it figures to be a tough sell for non-
sports loving taxpayers." Rhinos President Frank DuRoss:
"With a new soccer stadium, we'd go to the top -- or near
the top -- of [MLS'] expansion list. They think we can be
the ... Packers of that league" (DEM. & CHRONICLE, 1/12).
