NY Gov. George Pataki announced yesterday that a new
$78B state budget includes a $15M grant for a proposed $47M
soccer stadium in Rochester for the A-league Rhinos,
according to Jeffrey Blackwell of the ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT &
CHRONICLE. The budget could be approved as early as next
week. Rhinos officials say that a multi-purpose, 20,000-
seat stadium, which they hope will completed by 2002, will
increase the city's chances of acquiring an MLS team. The
announcement marks a "dramatic turnaround" for the team's
owners, "who less than a month ago could only get long odds
on receiving state funding." But state leaders credited the
stadium grant to the Rhinos' "detailed plans" and
"aggressive lobbying campaign." The facility will also be
funded by a $26M private investment from the Rhinos, $4M in
cash and $22M in bonds backed by the team and $6M from
Monroe County (DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 4/13). While MLS
Commissioner Don Garber said that he's "really excited"
about Rochester's plans for a new stadium, he "held his
stance" that the city remains "only one of a few expansion
candidates." Garber added that the league's expansion plans
are close to being "officially pushed back" to 2002
(DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 4/13). In Rochester, Bob Matthews,
on the proposal: "This is Rochester's only realistic chance
to get a major-league team. Of course, that is assuming one
considers MLS to be major league" (DEM. & CHRONICLE, 4/13).
