Saturday night: Let's give Frank DuRoss a standing ovation!

This is a letter I sent out to everyone in 2006. Frank DuRoss deserved every bit of appreciation possible.

For the past six years, Rhinos owner Frank DuRoss has been relentlessly drumming up support for a soccer-specific stadium. Despite obstacle after obstacle, Frank never gave up. At the groundbreaking ceremony, Steve Donner summed it up by saying, "Our group, led by Frank DuRoss, has traveled a long and winding road for the last four years to get to this point. Frank DuRoss' efforts epitomize the 'never-say-die' spirit of our organization. I believe the entire community appreciates his efforts, along with the efforts of our local politicians, to finally give us an opportunity to break ground on PAETEC Park."

"It's a wonderful asset for the neighborhood," John Lippa, head of the Lyell Avenue Business Association, added later. This state-of-the-art facility replaces almost 20 acres of abandoned brownfield land on the northern edge of our Center City which sat idle for decades. The city is paying about $4 million for road improvements around the stadium, Rochester officials said.

Several abandoned properties adjacent to the stadium have been purchased since construction began and they will return to productive use and occupancy. In addition to this, 12 of the 13 houses slated for demolition have already been torn down. Mayor Duffy calls the empty houses beyond rehabilitation, and hotbeds for crime, drugs and loitering. “These will be vacant houses that in our estimation cannot be renovated. They need to be removed. We need to expedite the demolition of these houses and spark the way for future development.”

PAETEC Park has also given the local economy a boost. About 636,000 visitors will come to the stadium through 65 events each year, Rhinos owners estimate. Local vendors will be able to sell their food and beverages at events. Team officials estimate the stadium will generate about $600,000 a year in sales taxes. Franks' efforts also helped Monroe County get a increase in the Hotel/Motel Bed tax from 4 to 6%; that additional 2% generates in excess of $2M/year.

The stadium will be going on the tax rolls and the International Drum Corps Competition alone, planned for Labor Day weekend, will generate over $12 million in local spending at area hotels, restaurants and shops. Without PAETEC Park, Rochester would never have secured this event. 

PAETEC Park will be a wonderful compliment to Frontier Field and our other public facilities. In addition to the Rhinos, PAETEC Park will also be the home of the Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse and host events such as Buffalo Bills controlled scrimmages, men's and women's high school and collegiate soccer, lacrosse and field hockey, women's professional soccer and high school and collegiate football. Drum and bugle competitions, community events, concerts, youth sporting events and outdoor shows will also be scheduled into the stadium. The first community event is Saturday June 10th, the Rochester area AIDS walk, right at PAETEC Park. In addition to all of this, our soccer-specific stadium will help us attract fledgling Major League Soccer, the top US pro league, and make Rochester an MLS team.

The Rhinos — which average close to 10,000 fans a game, usually tops in its league — expect an attendance boost with the new stadium, which is more fan-friendly for soccer than their prior home at the baseball-designed Frontier Field.

"The move to PAETEC Park means we'll finally have our own revenue streams from concessions, parking and naming rights. We appreciate that. Most teams raise ticket prices when they move into a new stadium, but most of our seats will be cheaper.”

We're about to celebrate the outcome of Frank's efforts. Tonight, we'll finally be able to call PAETEC Park home. We owe it all the Frank DuRoss and his staff. I'd like to propose a standing ovation for Frank when he's introduced. On our feet in thunderous applause that they'll hear all the way to Frontier Field and City Hall!

Everyone contact every other soccer fan that they know and tell them to spread the word. Frank's a good man. We owe him a lot. Let's make this an evening he'll never forget!

Say amen, somebody!