State OKs $15 million grant for Rhinos stadium

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- A state board gave final approval Friday for a $15 million grant to build a professional soccer stadium in Rochester.

The Legislature approved the grant in 2000 for the stadium to be used by the A-League Rochester Rhinos beginning in June. The $22 million downtown stadium will be owned by the team, but the land will be leased from the city.

The stadium will have 12,500 seats which could be expanded to 20,000 seats if the Rhinos are elevated to the Major League Soccer, the nation's top soccer league.

"In order to recruit good workers we need to provide other quality of life issues and this is certainly part of that," said Sen. Michael Nozzolio, a Seneca County Republican. "It potentially helps market Rochester in every corner of the nation. It is an investment that will reap economic benefits for a long time."

The team is spending $1.5 million on the stadium so it can leave nearby Frontier Field, a minor league baseball park the Rhinos consider poorly suited for soccer.

The balance of the $22 million will come from loans and other payments from private firms.

The team agreed not to seek any additional state funding or bonding backed by the state that could default to taxpayers, said Assemblyman David Gantt, a Rochester Democrat.

"I think taxpayers need to raise up and say if you want to build these facilities, it must be a public-private deal and not allow ball teams to rip us off," Gantt said.

Gantt also won guarantees to hire some minority workers and companies.

The state funding was approved by the Public Authorities Control Board.

The stadium will also be home to the Rochester Rattlers professional lacrosse team, high school and college sports, community events and concerts.