Rochester New York FC

Rochester New York FC

Founded	1996 as Rochester Raging Rhinos
Dissolved	March 2023;1 year ago (2023-03) [1] [2]
Stadium	John L. DiMarco Field
Capacity	1,500
Owner	David and Wendy Dworkin [3] Jamie Vardy [4]
President	Pat Ercoli
2022	4th, Eastern Conference Playoffs: Conference Semifinals
Website	https://rnyfc.com/
Home colors Away colors

Rochester New York FC, formerly known as the Rochester Raging Rhinos and later the Rochester Rhinos, was an American soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. In 2023, the club withdrew from the professional level in MLS Next Pro. The club won the 1999 U.S. Open Cup, marking the only time a non-MLS team has won the U.S. Open Cup since MLS started play in 1996.

Founded in 1996 as the Rochester Raging Rhinos, they changed their name to Rochester Rhinos to start the 2008 season. The club began a four-year hiatus after the 2017 USL season in the second tier of the United States soccer league system. ^[5] The team then rebranded as Rochester New York FC and played its first and only season in MLS Next Pro in 2022, but departed before the beginning of the 2023 season. ^{[6] [1] [2]}

The club was affiliated with the youth club Empire United Soccer Academy, which rebranded as Rochester New York FC Youth and continues to operate as a separate club. The youth club currently has a team in the United Premier Soccer League.

History

1996–2017

Rochester Raging Rhinos was founded in 1996 and played in the now-defunct original A-League until it merged with the USISL for the 1997 season, creating the new A-League. After reaching the championship game in 1996 they won their first league championship in 1998.

In 1999 the club made it to the final of the U.S. Open Cup, where they defeated MLS club Colorado Rapids 2–0, becoming the first team from outside MLS to win the national cup since MLS's inception. ^{[7] [8]} This win was followed by two further A-League titles in 2000 and 2001.

A year after the A-League's renaming to the USL First Division in 2005, the Rhinos moved into the newly completed PAETEC Park, a 13,768-seat soccer-specific stadium now known as Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium, and again made the championship game. The Rhinos were considered a candidate to be an MLS expansion team when PAETEC Park was in the planning stages. ^[9]

The team was declared insolvent in 2008 after defaulting on their stadium agreement, and PAETEC Park was seized by the city of Rochester. ^[10] After a brief search for a new owner and investor who could improve the team's financial outlook, in March 2008 the club was taken over by Utica businessman Rob Clark. Clark changed the team's name to the "Rochester Rhinos," and assured that the financial situation of the team was stable and it would be able to play the next year. ^[11] After two seasons under Clark the club joined the new NASL for its 2010 season. ^[12] The United States Soccer Federation refused the NASL's application for sanctioning, and instead operated its own temporary second-division league for 2010. The Rhinos were part of that temporary USSF Division 2 Professional League. ^[13] The Rhinos switched leagues again before the 2011 season to the then third-division USL Pro league, who considered themselves equally competitive with the second-division NASL.

The 2011 season ended with the Rhinos first in their division followed by a playoff season that lasted two games. The Rhinos saw off the Pittsburgh Riverhounds 4–0 in first round of the playoffs and then lost 2–1 at home to the Harrisburg City Islanders to finish the season. At the end of the season, head coach Bob Lilley was replaced by Jesse Myers, most recently an assistant coach of the Richmond Kickers. ^{[14] [15]}

In January 2013, the Rhinos became the official USL Pro affiliate of the New England Revolution. ^[16] On May 19, Following a 1–6–1 start to the 2013 season, Myers was dismissed and Pat Ercoli named head coach. They missed the playoffs for the first time ever, finishing with a 6–10–10 record. ^[17]

The league revoked the Clark family's ownership of the club in January 2016, citing the revocation of the lease on Rochester Rhinos Stadium by the City of Rochester. The league took over operations of the club until it could be sold to a new ownership group. ^[18] David and Wendy Dworkin, minority owners of the Sacramento Kings basketball team, were identified as the Rhinos' new owners later in the month. ^[19] The Dworkins were officially announced as the new owners on March 10, 2016. ^[20]

2017–2023

On November 30, 2017, the Rhinos announced that they would go on hiatus. ^[21] After almost a year of silence the team announced that it planned to move to the new third division league USL League One and return to the field in 2020. ^[22] Moreover, the team announced that it had reached a deal with the City to vacate Marina Auto Stadium and stated it would be searching a site to build a new stadium. ^[22] Towards the end of the first USL League One season, the Rhinos' President Pat Ercoli announced on Uncle Sam's Soccer Podcast that due to delays and pacing of the development of the Rhinos' new stadium that the team would likely sit out the 2020 season and relaunch in 2021. ^[23]

On November 30, 2017, the team announced that they would not play in 2018 while additional funding was sought. ^{[24] [25]} On August 22, 2018, it was announced that the club would pursue a new stadium location and attempt to join USL League One. ^[26]

In June 2021, Jamie Vardy was announced as co-owner of the franchise and intends to field a team for the 2022 season. Lee Tucker, who was the project leader at Vardy’s successful V9 Academy – which gave opportunities to non-league players in England seeking to break into the professional game, will be appointed Sporting Director. ^[27]

On September 1, 2021, it was announced that the club had gone through an extensive makeover as part of the club’s rebirth, the Rhinos had a complete rebrand to Rochester New York FC or RNYFC for short, and had a new logo introduced. The new club badge features an abstract rendering of Rochester's High Falls waterfall. ^[28]

The club returned to play in 2022, and were the only independent club in the new MLS Next Pro league. ^[6] They made the playoffs but were eliminated in the quarterfinals. On March 10, 2023, Rochester New York FC withdrew from MLS Next Pro and ceased operations ^[1] citing an "unsustainable business model". ^[29]

Stadiums

John L. DiMarco Field at Monroe Community College

• Fauver Stadium; Rochester, New York (1996)
• Frontier Field; Rochester, New York (1996–2005)
• Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, New York (2006–2017)
• John L. DiMarco Field; Brighton, New York (2022)

The Raging Rhinos first began play in 1996 at Fauver Stadium, a soccer venue at the University of Rochester. They then played at Frontier Field, a Minor League Baseball park, from 1996 to 2005.

Starting in 2006, the team played in Marina Auto Stadium, a soccer-specific stadium built for their use. When the Rhinos went on hiatus at the end of 2017, they originally sought to remain at the stadium, scheduling neutral-site USL matches during the 2018 season to meet the terms of their lease. However, in August 2018 the team announced they would be seeking a new venue. ^[30]

In June 2021, when the team announced a new co-owner ahead of a planned return to play in 2022, they indicated they would play at Empire United Soccer Complex in Henrietta, New York. However, Empire United's field had no stands, concessions, or other amenities, and would have required upgrades for professional soccer use. ^[31] In order to be ready for a March 2022 kickoff in MLS Next Pro, the team announced in December 2021 that they would instead play at John L. DiMarco Field, a 1,500-capacity soccer and lacrosse venue at Monroe Community College in Brighton, New York. ^{[32] [33]}

Club culture

Supporters

Rochester New York FC had two major supporters' groups. Founded in 2011, the Oak Street Brigade previously occupied section 101 at Capelli Sport Stadium, the former home of the Rochester Rhinos. The other major supporters' group is the North Star Ultras.

^

Empire United Academy player.

Notable former players

• See also All-time Rochester Rhinos roster

Rochester Rhinos Hall of Fame

• 2011: Lenin Steenkamp
• 2012: Craig Demmin, Doug Miller, Pat Onstad
• 2013: 1999 U.S. Open Cup Team
• 2014: Yari Allnutt, Scott Vallow
• 2015: Darren Tilley, Mali Walton

Retired numbers

• 14 – Mickey Trotman, MF, 2001 (posthumous honor) ^{[n 1]}
• 19 – Doug Miller, F, 1996–99, 2003–06 ^[35]

Notes

1. Died in a crash car in 2001. ^[34]

Head coaches

• Pat Ercoli (1996–2004)
• Laurie Calloway (2005–2007)
• Darren Tilley (2008–2009) ^[36]
• Bob Lilley (2010–2011)
• Jesse Myers (2012–2013)
• Pat Ercoli (interim, 2013)
• Bob Lilley (2014–2017)
• Bruno Baltazar (2022)

Honors

League

• USL Championship
  • Champions (1): 2015
  • Winners (Playoffs): 2015
  • Winners (Regular Season): 2015
• USSF Division 2 Professional League ^[37]
  • Regular Season Champions (1): 2010
  • USLConference Champions (1): 2010
• USL A-League
  • Winners (3): 1998, 2000, 2001
  • Northeast Division Champions (3): 1998, 1999, 2002

Cups

• U.S. Open Cup
  • Winners (1): 1999
  • Runners-up (1): 1996

Record

Year-by-year

Main article: List of Rochester New York FC seasons

Season	League											Position		Playoffs	USOC	Continental / Other		Average attendance	Top goalscorer(s)
	Div	League	Pld	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG	Conf.	Overall						Name	Goals
1996	2	A-League	27	14	13	0	44	42	+2	42	1.56	N/A	5th	RU	RU	Ineligible		9,991	Doug Miller	23
1997		A-League	28	14	14	0	56	47	+9	42	1.50	2nd	9th	R1	Ro16			10,677	Doug Miller	23
1998		A-League	28	24	4	0	72	15	+57	72	2.57	1st	1st	W	Ro16			11,499	Darren Tilley	21
1999		A-League	28	22	6	0	47	20	+27	66	2.36	1st	1st	RU	W			11,551	Mauro Biello	8
2000		A-League	28	17	9	2	42	25	+17	53	1.89	3rd	6th	W	Ro16			11,628	Yari Allnutt	10
2001		A-League	26	16	6	4	43	27	+16	52	2.00	2nd	3rd	W	R2			10,789	Lenin Steenkamp	9
2002		A-League	28	17	8	3	38	25	+13	54	1.93	2nd	4th	SF	Ro16			10,008	Lenin Steenkamp	8
2003		A-League	28	15	7	6	55	36	+19	51	1.82	3rd	7th	SF	Ro16			10,169	Doug Miller	17
2004		A-League	28	15	10	3	36	32	+4	48	1.71	4th	5th	QF	QF			10,200	Chris Carrieri	8
2005		USL-1	28	15	7	6	45	27	+18	51	1.82	N/A	2nd	SF	QF			9,791	Kirk Wilson	9
2006		USL-1	28	13	4	11	34	21	+13	50	1.79		2nd	RU	Ro16			10,110	Matthew Delicâte	8
2007		USL-1	28	12	10	6	39	36	+3	42	1.50		5th	QF	Ro16			9,705	Hamed Modibo Diallo	9
2008		USL-1	30	11	10	9	35	32	+3	41	1.37		4th	SF	Ro16			8,243	Johnny Menyongar	6
2009		USL-1	30	11	9	10	34	32	+2	43	1.43		6th	QF	SF	DNQ		6,888	Johnny Menyongar	11
2010		D2 Pro	30	16	8	6	38	24	+14	54	1.80	1st	1st	QF	Ro16			6,464	Isaac Kissi	8
2011	3	USL Pro	24	12	8	4	31	23	+8	40	1.67	1st	4th	SF	Ro16			5,339	Andrew Hoxie Kendall Jagdeosingh	5
2012		USL Pro	24	12	7	5	27	23	+4	41	1.71	N/A	2nd	SF	R3			6,233	Andrew Hoxie	6
2013		USL Pro	26	6	10	10	25	39	–14	28	1.08		11th	DNQ	R3			5,876	Tam McManus	7
2014		USL Pro	28	10	10	8	29	25	+4	38	1.46		6th	QF	Ro16			5,972	J.C. Banks	9
2015		USL	28	17	1	10	40	15	+25	61	2.18	1st	1st	W	R4			5,599	Steevan Dos Santos	9
2016		USL	30	13	5	12	38	25	+13	51	1.70	4th	6th	QF	R4			3,655	Christian Volesky	10
2017	2	USL	32	14	7	11	36	28	+8	53	1.66	4th	9th	QF	R4			2,031	Jochen Graf	11
2018	On Hiatus
2019
2020
2021
2022	3	MLSNP	24	10	8	6	37	30	+7	40	1.67	4th	9th	QF	R4	DNQ		1,096	Gibran Rayo	13
Total	–	–	639	326	181	132	921	649	+272	1113	1.74	–	–	–	–	–		–	Doug Miller	75

^ 1. Avg. attendance include statistics from league matches only.
^ 2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league play, playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, and other competitive matches.
^ 3. Points and PPG have been adjusted from non-traditional to traditional scoring systems for seasons prior to 2003 to more effectively compare historical team performance across seasons.
^ 4. Pts in 2008 excludes one deducted point for fielding an ineligible player.

References

1. Rochester NY FC ceases operations, will not play in 2023 by AJ Feldman at Rochester First, 10 March 2023
2. Update on Rochester New York FC and MLS NEXT Pro, MLS Press Release, 10 Mar 2023
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25. Tsujimoto, Ben (November 30, 2017). "Rochester Rhinos to take hiatus from United Soccer League". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
26. "Rochester Approved for USL Division III". USL DIII. August 22, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
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28. Driffill, Matt (September 1, 2021). "Rhinos no more: Rochester New York FC announces 'new era' of local professional soccer". rochesterfirst.com. Nexstar Media Inc. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
29. Woitalla, Mike (March 10, 2023). "Rochester New York FC, co-owned by Jamie Vardy, folds after first MLS Next Pro season". Soccer America. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
30. Reichard, Kevin (August 23, 2018). "Rhinos Leaving Marina Auto Stadium, Shifting to USL DIII". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
31. Lewis, Michael (June 15, 2021). "An Exclamation Point, Then Question Marks: Rhinos will play temporarily at United Sports Complex, but what league will they compete in and how will they rebrand?". Front Row Soccer. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
32. Lewis, Michael (December 7, 2021). "Getting the Right Pitch: When Plan A didn't work out, RNYFC had a back-up one". Front Row Soccer. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
33. "John L. DiMarco Field". Monroe Community College Athletics. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
34. Sancho’s connection to Rochester Rhinos has long history on Socawarriors.net
35. Getting his kicks running his own business by Thomas Adams – August 17, 2012 on Rbj.net
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37. "Division-2 Schedule and Results". USSF Division-2 Pro League. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved June 29, 2011.

External links

• Official website