News Release - City of Rochester Reaches Agreement for Locally Based Management at Sahlen’s Stadium

City of Rochester

News Release

(Friday, Jan. 15, 2016)—Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced today that the City will seek a lease agreement with a new firm, to be created by local residents David and Wendy Dworkin, for the operation and maintenance of Sahlen’s Stadium (contingent on the Dworkins successfully completing the purchase of the Rochester Rhinos, a franchise of the United Soccer League).

“It is my great pleasure to announce that the Rochester Rhinos will remain in Rochester,” said Mayor Lovely A. Warren. “This partnership will bring necessary upgrades to the stadium—including a new turf—more dynamic operation of this important community facility and ultimately, jobs for our residents.”

The new arrangement will result in replacement of the “turf” at no expense to the City (a near $500,000 commitment to install one of the top artificial playing surfaces in the United States), additional investment in the facility and $500,000 in revenue to the City over the ten-year length of the agreement.

The Dworkins are part owners of the National Basketball Association’s Sacramento Kings (formerly the Rochester Royals) and are the principal owners of a local, Rochester-based property development, management and brokerage company -- LLD Enterprises.

“We are excited to keep the Rhinos in Rochester,” said David Dworkin. “This team has had great success and we plan on continuing that tradition going into the future. Our goal is to keep the Rhinos relevant and to contend for the playoffs year after year. I am committed to making this one of the premier outdoor entertainment venues in western New York and improving the fan experience at Sahlen’s Stadium.”

The Mayor has submitted the necessary legislation to City Council to authorize approval of this agreement at its January 19 meeting.

The USL took over the Rhinos franchise from the team’s previous owners in December. The sale of the franchise is pending final league approvals and the City expects to hand over operations of the stadium on February 1 pending City Council and league approval.

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News Media: For more information, contact Press Officer Jessica Alaimo at 428-7135.

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