More Rhinos questions to ponder
Last night a weird and very frustrating thing happened to me. On Friday, I left a message for Carlos Carballada, the city of Rochester's economic-development commissioner, in an effort to discuss the city's role in all the recent developments surrounding the Rhinos, i.e. lawsuits, Daniel Williams, the $4 million, etc.
Being the annoying schmuck I am, I called again yesterday and left another message around 4:30 p.m. Needless to say, I was somewhat anxious, because for me, landing an interview with a high-ranking city official is quite the rarity.
I spent the next hour and a half getting some work done. Around 6 p.m., I had to go to the bathroom. I came back five minutes later to find out that Carballada had called while I was indisposed, and he didn't sound to happy on the message he left.
I called him back this afternoon, left a message and apologized profusely for the missed call, but I'm assuming the damage was already done. I promptly decided to never go to the bathroom without my phone again. However, that gave rise to certain logistical issues, and I softened my bathroom-phone policy and accepted the fact that bad timing is a freelance blogger's worst enemy.
Anyway, if Mr. Carballada is reading this, I want to apologize to you again. I swear I didn't blow you off!
Now, I told that story to arrive at the point of this post. After assimilating all of the news of the last 24 hours or so — and failing to speak with city officials — I've got a few questions to ponder about the Rhinos' situation:
• PAETEC Park: a bigger debacle than the fast ferry?
• Have I already mentioned that I reported months ago about NBT Bank's loans to the Rhinos and the possibility that the bank or the city could seize the stadium? And by asking this question, will my head become more swollen than Barry Bonds' melon?
• Today's article in the D&C referenced the millions of dollars in additional debt the Rhinos might owe — and get sued for — to other creditors. LeChase Construction was tabbed to get paid millions of dollars to construct PAETEC Park, a project that remains unfinished. LeChase people continually fail to answer my inquiries about the company's position on the Rhinos' status. Coincidence?
• Yes or no: will PAETEC Park even exist in 10 years?
• Should we be talking about the 10-letter B word?
• Bob Duffy in the D&C: "Did we need a second stadium? It is my opinion that we did not." It's a little late for that, isn't it?
Being the annoying schmuck I am, I called again yesterday and left another message around 4:30 p.m. Needless to say, I was somewhat anxious, because for me, landing an interview with a high-ranking city official is quite the rarity.
I spent the next hour and a half getting some work done. Around 6 p.m., I had to go to the bathroom. I came back five minutes later to find out that Carballada had called while I was indisposed, and he didn't sound to happy on the message he left.
I called him back this afternoon, left a message and apologized profusely for the missed call, but I'm assuming the damage was already done. I promptly decided to never go to the bathroom without my phone again. However, that gave rise to certain logistical issues, and I softened my bathroom-phone policy and accepted the fact that bad timing is a freelance blogger's worst enemy.
Anyway, if Mr. Carballada is reading this, I want to apologize to you again. I swear I didn't blow you off!
Now, I told that story to arrive at the point of this post. After assimilating all of the news of the last 24 hours or so — and failing to speak with city officials — I've got a few questions to ponder about the Rhinos' situation:
• PAETEC Park: a bigger debacle than the fast ferry?
• Have I already mentioned that I reported months ago about NBT Bank's loans to the Rhinos and the possibility that the bank or the city could seize the stadium? And by asking this question, will my head become more swollen than Barry Bonds' melon?
• Today's article in the D&C referenced the millions of dollars in additional debt the Rhinos might owe — and get sued for — to other creditors. LeChase Construction was tabbed to get paid millions of dollars to construct PAETEC Park, a project that remains unfinished. LeChase people continually fail to answer my inquiries about the company's position on the Rhinos' status. Coincidence?
• Yes or no: will PAETEC Park even exist in 10 years?
• Should we be talking about the 10-letter B word?
• Bob Duffy in the D&C: "Did we need a second stadium? It is my opinion that we did not." It's a little late for that, isn't it?
posted by Ryan Whirty at
8:54 PM
9 Comments:
The mayor is out to lunch on this one. If he had any awareness of the sports that once shared use of Frontier he would know it destroyed the surface for ALL THREE teams.
Before he opened his mouth on that one he should have requested some guidance from the experts who care for the fields and they would have been unanimous in telling him that the North East is not friendly to outdoor sports like baseball, lacrosse, and soccer sharing the same field.
Doesn't he have contacts with people who have school age kids involved in outdoor sports? Why are most of the schools developing separate fields for those sports if maintaining the field was not an issue? And for those with limited space, they are opting for turf.
Come on mayor, it is just an example of you running your agenda and continuing your criticism of the previous mayor. Time has a funny way of revealing things. Wait until you are out of office and the public takes a look at what you have not invested in, like the future of the community.
It seems to me we hear a lot of what "We didn't need" but not much from Mayor Duffy about what his solution would have been and are for the present time and the future.
I am also wondering how it is that WHAM cited Mr. Duffy as the source for the new investor for the Rhinos and Paetec. I hope it is true if it will get some of this mess behind us as a community but again I am wondering why is he making the announcenemnt? Where are Donner and DuRoss, wouldn't this be their opportunity to say "See, we told you so ... Here is the future ..."
This entire scene continues to amaze me.
By
Anonymous, at 5:04 AM
The 4 Million from the state needs to be used for something else, besides the stadium. SO many other things it can be used for. PUBLIC MONEY should be spent on the public. Expand a Rec Center or use it on a old folks home, better yet spend it on developing a fitness trail system. SNAFU
By
Anonymous, at 5:35 AM
I need to strongly disagree with the last post. As someone who uses the Press area at Paetec, that $4 million is needed to finish off in at least a basic way, an area for broadcasting, an area for official scoring and statistics and, an area for the press. Oh yes, I almost forgot ... I am sure the players would appreciate some reasonable, locker rooms.
The stadium is not going to go away. It is not going to be torn down. As a community we need to figure out ways to best utilize it so that it can be an asset to the greater Rochester community. Most people I have spoken with that have gone there appreciate it as a sigh for entertainment.
It has already been a successful sight for many High School soccer and football games. There is no reason for that to stop. Lacrosse could be played there as well.
Last Summer there was a terrific Marching Band Competition there. It is a very good stadium that can host many forms of entertainment.
Let's get to the point. As Jeff D. noted on Hot-Talk 1280 on Wednesday, the log jam continues to center around Steve Donner's role in any future management with RSG teams. In this case, the Rhinos.
I was excited by the vision and assets the potential investor can bring to help change some of the issues that surround Paetec Park. $20 million can complete some of the projects I referenced above. It could also solve the parking issues.
Beyond that he also appears interested in helping bring some new perspective to redeveloping the surrounding community. Isn't that what we want, to solve problems and not just try to act like they are beyond hope to change?
As Jeff D. said on the radio, the major obstacle is getting Steve Donner out of the management picture. I was also pretty clear that he doubted this deal would happen if Steve continued to be part of the Rhinos management. Jeff D. was also clear that the potential investor wants no part of political messes.
In closing, I want to note that while I can not speak for all those who work as off-field scorers and statisticians; in general I think we would agree that Mr. Donner and his staff have generally treated us with respect and managed our role, as volunteers who are integral to each game, well. My point, there is no evidence of any mis-management, from our perspective when it comes to making sure the games are played and everything goes smoothly.
Good luck to Mr.Duffy and all the politicos as you move ahead. There is a lot riding on how you resolve this thing.
By
Lee, at 5:41 AM
I talked with a city official who says that the city is very interested in working with Dan Williams about the stadium and also about the adjacent neighborhood, especially the strip of Oak Street that runs from Frontier Field to PaeTec Park, but only on condition that Donner is not part of the negotiations. In other words, if Donner somehow bows out then the city will contract with Williams directly and also release the $4mil to finish the stadium. Donner, as you would expect, is being resistant, while Williams has let the city know that he's ready to invest whether it's with or without Donner. That's all the city official would say. He wouldn't comment on whether the city is trying to oust Donner so they can deal with just Williams, or whether Donner is holding out as long as he can in hopes that Williams signs some checks and saves the team and keeps him in management.
It seems 2 things are going on ...
1) Donner is holding out, hoping Williams signs the checks and saves the team and keeps him in management and then the city releases the $4mil.
2) The city is holding out, hoping Donner either goes bankrupt or is unable to field a team (in which case the stadium defaults to the city) and then they can deal directly with Williams about the stadium and neighborhood with Donner out of the picture.
By
jack, at 10:41 AM
I can't believe some of you people who continue to stick up for Steve Donner. He hasn't been paying his bills for 10 years in this town. It's finally catching up to him. I stand and applaud the city for sticking to their guns and putting an end to this insane cycle. Somebody start a web start DONNER MUST GO . com
By
Anonymous, at 11:59 AM
It's Friday afternoon, 2/1/08, and I'd like to know exactly what's going on, and what exactly we're waiting for ... Is the city currently checking on Williams cred?, Is the city waiting for Williams checks to clear?, Has Williams written any checks?, Is Williams now taking his time to better check out Donner before he antes up any cash?, Is Williams stalling with hopes that the Rhinos go bankrupt so he can then buy the team cheap and then lease the stadium from the city?
I wish these were things that we could be reading about in the paper more.
My guess is that one of two things will happen, I just don't know at what point the negotiations are, maybe someone can offer some current and factual information as to what IS happening right now and not what they think is happening or should have happened or should happen.
My guesses ...
1) Williams bails out the Rhinos' debt, his credentials pan out and the city accepts him as credible, the city releases the $4mil, Williams and the Rhinos plunge ahead with making the team and stadium better.
---or---
2) Williams, for whatever reason, does NOT bail out the Rhinos, the Rhinos are unable to operate and field a team, the stadium defaults to the city, the city then leases out the stadium to a soccer team run by Williams or D&D or them together.
By
jack, at 10:00 AM
Hey jack,
Why don't you just ask your city official for some additional "inside" information?
By
Anonymous, at 3:15 PM
How about this for an idea for this upcoming season.
Close PTP and use it only for HS sports and have the Rhinos use Frontier field like the good old days. It would bring the fans back
The team might go belly up anyway and this might be there only option
By
Anonymous, at 2:32 PM
There's no doubt the fans would follow the Rhinos back to Frontier Field, but sending the team back there probably wouldn't work, largely because there's no way the Wings (or the Sports Authority or GROSFC) would let them come back. They just installed a brand-new field at the baseball stadium, and I'm guessing they wouldn't want a soccer team to tear it up again. I think for the Rhinos, it's PAETEC Park or nothing.
By
Ryan Whirty, at 5:56 PM
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