The Rochester Rhinos and the city of Rochester announced on Friday that construction on 13,000- to 15,000-seat Paetec Stadium on a 15-acre downtown site will begin in the spring. It is expected to be ready for the Rhinos in time for the 2004 season.
Costs are estimated between $23 million and $27 million. The state of New York is contributing $15 million and the Rhinos are responsible for providing $8 million to $12 million in private funds.
The Rhinos suffered a setback earlier this week when Monroe County, facing a fiscal crisis, withdrew $7 million of hotel-motel tax that had been earmarked for the project.
TROUBLE IN PORTLAND: Portland Family Entertainment (PFE), which owns the Timbers and Triple-A baseball Beavers and operates PGE Park, went into default in late November on a reported $576,000 in past-due fees to the City of Portland, which owns PGE Park.
While there have been assurances about the future of the Timbers and Beavers in Portland, the future of PFE is another matter.
According to newspaper and television reports out of Portland, PFE lost $8 million in 2001. Its biggest creditor is New York pension fund TIAA-CREF. PFE's hopes of making big money on sports and concerts have not materialized.
DOBALDO LEAVES PATRIOTS: Mitch Doblado left the El Paso Patriots after eight years as general manager, fueling speculation this fall that the Patriots would fold. A recent American City Business Journals study classifying El Paso as a hot market for MLS expansion contrasts with the Patriots' recent history.
Patriots owner Enrique Cervantes, who made his fortune in the El Paso garment industry and started the Patriots in 1991, says declining attendance may force him to rethink his commitment to A-League soccer.
''It's been very tough supporting the team for the 11 years,'' Cervantes told the El Paso Times after Doblado's departure. ''It's been very expensive. I'm looking to see if people really want something like this in El Paso, because it's getting harder and harder to support.''
LASSITER SIGNS WITH MARINERS: After being waived by D.C. United, Roy Lassiter, the MLS's all-time leading goalscorer, signed with the Virginia Beach (former Hampton Roads) Mariners. … Canadian international Nick Dasovic has been named player-assistant coach at the Vancouver Whitecaps.