The team needs to raise $1.3 million by Nov. 30 in order to operate for the 2018 season.
By CRAIG POTTER
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Will there be a Rochester Rhinos team on Dec. 1?
That question will be answered by Nov. 30 as the team needs to raise $1.3 million in order to operate the franchise in 2018.
“We are at a crossroads, and need to find a path that will bring sustained success for the Rhinos and all they mean to Rochester,” said co-owner David Dworkin. He and his wife Wendy purchased the franchise in March 2016 to prevent Rochester from losing professional soccer.
“We want the Rhinos legacy to continue, and doing so means creating a partnership that includes more than just the players, die-hard fans, and a few dedicated corporate supporters,” Dworkin continued. “New sponsors and the community have to join us – it takes a team to successfully run a team.”
After averaging the lowest in the team’s history this past season, Dworkin said of the team’s bleak outlook, “We’re taken for granted.”
The team’s current financial situation led to coach Bob Lilley accepting the head coaching job with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds earlier this week.
Citing ongoing challenges with non-existent hotel tax revenue sharing, lagging sponsorships, and season ticket sales, the Rhinos issued a critical call to action on Wednesday afternoon during a press conference at the team’s headquarters at Capelli Sport Stadium.
The owners, along with Chief Soccer Officer and former Rhinos coach Pat Erocli, said they wanted to put out a plea to the community before it was too late.
“We’ve realized we cannot and should not be doing this alone,” said Wendy Dworkin.
The couple already has invested $3 million into the operation, admitting the amount was more than they had planned to do.
Capelli Sport Stadium is owned by the City of Rochester and the Rhinos pay $50,000 annually in rent to operate the stadium.
The stadium already lost the Western New York Flash to North Carolina following the 2016 NWSL season. The other pro sport using the stadium is the Rochester Rattlers of MLL, and they are rumored to be moving to Dallas as the league already has registered the Dallas Rattlers name.
Financials
David Dworkin displayed a pie chart of how they could raise the $1.3 million.
$600,000: From a combination of luxury suite sales and approximately 2,500 new season-ticket holders. A down payment of $50 is needed for the season tickets. A down payment of $50 is needed for the season tickets.
$160,000: From a sponsor for the Rhinos’ jersey. They have not had a sponsor for the jersey the past 2 seasons. They tried to sell them for $75,000 for the 2017 season and could not find a sponsor.
$540,000: From corporate sponsorship and some portion of the Monroe County’s hotel-room occupancy tax.
David Dworkin said that the team has never received a cent of that money, like other city venues.
Ercoli said that $1.7 million of the tax revenue was allocated by Monroe County to city facilities, such as the Blue Cross Arena ($905,000), the Joseph Floreano Rochester Convention Center ($795,000), and Frontier Field ($500,000).
“Capelli Sport Stadium got nothing,” Ercoli said. “I ask why?”
Ercoli also detailed the economic impact the stadium had had annually by being host to a drum-and-bugle corps competition that attracts 10,000 visitors to the community. The stadium has held the 3-day event for 9 years. It generates $6 million annually in hotel rooms, according to Ercoli, which is an estimated $54 million. The Rhinos have not seen a penny of those funds over those 9 years.
Bottom line, if the Rhinos cannot raise the $1.3 million by Nov. 30, the team will not operate in 2018. It might go dormant or be relocated to another community.
David Dworkin said, in response to a question, that he has NOT contacted any other city about relocating the team.
“But would other cities like to get the Rhinos? Yes,” he said.