A-League.com: What are the team's most pressing needs in your opinion coming into the 2003 season?
Frank DuRoss: The most pressing needs for all teams regardless of the League is to connect with our local fan base and commit all the necessary resources, both human and financial, to ticket sales.
A: How far has work come on the new stadium? Will there be an actual ground breaking ceremony?
FD: We have completely redesigned the Stadium. We have negotiated and signed an Option Agreement on the 16 acre City site. We are negotiating with various concessionaires, construction management firms and local financial institutions. We anticipate a groundbreaking ceremony sometime in late spring of this year.
A: Now that the stadium has been O.K.'ed what are some things you plan on doing with it besides having the Rhinos play there?
FD: Our current event calendar shows us having approximately 47 different events at PaeTec Park. The Rhinos and the Rochester Rattlers (Major League Lacrosse Team) that we own, will be the primary tenants. We may be able to bring a WUSA Team to Rochester. We also intend to host 4 concerts, 4 Drum & Bugle
Corp. competitions, some high school and college lacrosse games and we will open up the Stadium to the local community for 6 additional events.
A: How realistic is it for some to think the Rhinos are definitely headed for MLS now that the stadium seems to be an almost sure thing?
FD: We have not made any final decisions relating to which League the Rhinos will play in at PaeTec Park. All of our current projections are based on the Rhinos playing in the A-League.
A: Do you even want the team to join MLS or do you rather enjoy being the flagship franchise for the A-League?
FD: We have had discussions and will continue to have discussions with MLS as we get closer to our groundbreaking. We need to further refine the Rhinos pro forma if we are an MLS Team before making a final decision.
A: What kind of impact do you think there would be on the A-League if the Rhinos were to leave?
FD: We have the A-League's blessings if we decide to go to MLS. One can look at it in two ways, it shows that with the proper ownership, management and a SSS other A-League teams and cities may have the option of joining MLS. Or you can take the position that losing one of the marquee teams will have a negative impact on future A-League expansion. I happen to believe, if we do move to MLS it will not have a long-term negative impact on the A-League.
A: Has there been any more discussion between yourself and the folks with the NHL's Sabres?
FD: I am abreast of the current situation and have had various discussions with investors in a couple of the groups.
A: There were some rumors that the Rhinos ownership would retain the rights to a Buffalo USL franchise should the team "move up." Is this true and how much of a soccer market do you believe Buffalo to be?
FD: If we become an MLS Team it is our intention to maintain our rights to an A-League Team. With the recent addition of Syracuse to the A-League, Buffalo may be a logical location for our A-League Team. I believe with the proper management and a great Lease Agreement at an acceptable facility, Buffalo would be a very successful city.
A: What feelings do you have towards the new Syracuse franchise?
FD: I believe that Tim Kuhl and his staff have put together a very attractive model to insure a successful operation. We look forward to having Syracuse as another natural rivalry for the Rhinos and it should help both clubs' attendance. We are working on various joint marketing opportunities relating to both sponsorship and ticket sales.
A: What were the meetings like with their staff?
FD: I have had more meetings with the Ownership Groups than the Staff, but based on my limited time with the existing staff, I feel Tim has put together a "First Class Operation."
A: How do you normally keep apprised of the fans' opinions and how much stock do you put in those opinions?
FD: I pride myself on being fully accessible to our fan base and their input is always welcome. I am an active member of the Rhinos Web Board, I typically participate in Soccer Sam's post game radio show, consistently communicate with our fans via e-mail, and have participated in numerous local round table
Discussions. Also, with the successful announcement of PaeTec Park, fans know exactly where the Ownership Group of the Rhinos stand.
A: What kind of things do you folks do in the Rhinos' front office that helps keep the organization successful?
FD: Our entire Organization prides itself on being very responsive to our fan's needs. We have a very extensive community outreach program, we interact with the youth soccer leagues, we have a very active Public Relations Department and we dedicate a great deal of our efforts on selling tickets.
A: What do you think of the perception that the Rhinos are more "affluent" than other clubs in the league?
FD: If that is a perception, I don't know what we can do about it. We go about running our Organization in a First Class manner treating our fans as our guests. Our total revenues may be higher than most teams, but so are our expenses.
A: Do you think your players are necessarily paid any more than those at other clubs?
FD: Our total player budget is probably not as high as most people expect. We are certainly at the higher end in our League, but I believe we are not in the top 20%.
A: How much of a disappointment was it to be knocked out in the playoffs last season in the manner that you guys were?
FD: It's always a disappointment to get as far as we did and then lose in sudden death PK's, but you have to accept losses as gracefully as wins.
A: Coming into another season does the main goal for the club remain to win the league championship?
FD: Our goal continues to be to win the A-League and US Open Cup Championship(s).
A: Is this a goal which the team tries to attain at all costs?
FD: We will not expend exorbitant resources to attain our goal. Our desire is to field a championship team but stay within our prescribed player budget.
A: Will the Pan-Am Cup happen and will the fan groups of the individual teams have any say in it?
FD: We are working, with the other teams, in the hopes of solidifying the creation and playing of the Pan-Am Cup. It is a new and exciting idea which will give our players and fans another goal.
A: What would you like to say to the fans as we head towards the 2003 season?
FD: We appreciate your support and will continue to do our best to provide an exciting family oriented event. With the groundbreaking of PaeTec Park around the corner, we need to continue to show the strong support that all of Western New York has for the Rhinos.
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