Recently, Don Garber of the MLS made a "low key" visit to Rochester, New York, home of the Raging Rhinos. Garber left the city after a 5-hour visit that entailed a tour of the city, a look at the Rhinos' current home at Frontier Field, and a look at the scaled prints of Paetec Park, to be built by 2002. He was quoted stating that the visit was positive, but with no further developments. The Rhinos "Big Three" of Frank DuRoss, Steve Donner, and Chris Economides reiterated the remark.
The Rhinos organization has gone out of its way to appease the MLS; when Douglas G. Logan was commissioner, he stated that Rochester was a strong consideration for expansion-if the city built a "soccer specific" stadium. Garber has reiterated this message and taken it a step further, evident in his visit to Rochester.
A number of things, however, are disturbing about this whole MLS ordeal. First, the MLS isn't exactly so well rooted that it can't close up shop one day, and fade away into the annals of failed US sporting attempts, ala the NASL. Currently, the MLS caters to large cities only, with the consideration of adding 2 more larger cities to the league rather soon in Philadelphia and Houston. So where does this leave Rochester?
Rochester is a medium-sized city at best, especially when you consider that New York/New Jersey may have more than one team in the not-so-distant future. Without the allure of the big cities' bright lights, can Rochester come up with enough money to actually pay players of MLS caliber? Maybe, maybe not.
Another factor is that MLS kept the meeting in Rochester low-key, in order not to ruffle the feathers of the Miami Fusion, a struggling MLS franchise in which Rhinos owner Frank DuRoss has a minor ownership. The status of this meeting essentially should have put up warning flags to fans in Western New York that the Rhinos WILL NOT be a new team in the MLS, but an inherited loser. Miami will move to Rochester, change its name, and continue to produce poorly played soccer. That is, unless, the Rhinos speak up when and if they move to MLS, and insist on taking some of their homegrown players like Yari Allnutt, Craig Demmin, and Scott Vallow.
So, what's the best decision for Rochester? They can stay and play dominant soccer in the A-League, or move to the MLS and most likely struggle their first few years. I have no doubt in my mind that the crowds will show up for the Rhinos, even if they do not fare well immediately. But how long can a losing product produce decent numbers at the gate? Gate profits are a major concern of the MLS, obviously, no matter what they say to the media. And that's also to say that the Rhinos would be a losing product on the field. That may not be the case, if the team plays their cards right. I guess the whole Miami thing scares me more than anything.
For now, I am pleased to report that the stadium is a reality, although not really new news. If the Rhinos remain in the A-League forever, I have no qualms. We can finally put the disgust and irritation of having to play on a small baseball field covered with unsuitable sod behind us. I am also pleased to convey that Rochester is committed to putting the best team they can afford on the field, as far as A-League standards go.
The fact that Mr. Garber couldn't produce anything else from the visit except that it was "positive" concerns me. What I was hoping for was a better response, perhaps something along the lines of stating that Rochester will be its OWN expansion team and some reinforcing words of how the MLS won't renege on their promise to expand in this great soccer city.
What the future holds for Rochester remains to be seen-MLS expansion into Rochester most likely won't happen until 2004. But then again, there may be no MLS come that time, either.
It's just my opinion, but I could be right
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