MLL Commissioner Dave Gross yesterday confirmed that the Rattlers "will return to Rochester" for the '15 season, according to Will Cleveland of the ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE. However, the long-term future of the team in the region "remains up in the air." Gross said, "We have every intention that the team is going to be in the Rochester area for the long term. We're still a young league. If I were to sit here and say to you that no team is moving anywhere for the next 10 years, unfortunately the history we've got on our side doesn't show that to be the case. For any team to be healthy and successful, we've got to get people to come to the games." The Rattlers "averaged 1,329 fans per game this season, seventh-best in the eight-team MLL." Gross also said that the team is "no longer owned and operated by the MLL." He added that league co-Founder and New Balance Chair Jim Davis "now owns the franchise." Gross: "Jim is the owner of the team, but Jim's a very private individual. He doesn't really like his name thrown around too much." He added that the MLL "doesn't own any franchises at this point" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 8/21).
