The soccer stadium in Rochester has a new name. And it’s a familiar one. David and Wendy Dworkin, who own the Rochester Rhinos, say that the Marina Auto Group is the new naming rights partner, for 'Marina Auto Stadium.'
That auto dealer group had held the naming rights to the stadium during the 2009 and 2010 Rochester Rhinos seasons.
The facility was called the Capelli Sport Stadium since January of 2017. Capelli is an apparel and accessory business based in New York City.
David Dworkin said that, “Wendy and I have stated since we acquired the operating rights of the stadium, that our desire is to partner with as many locally based companies as possible to collectively support our community and keep professional soccer in Rochester.”
John Gabriele, President of the Marina Auto Group, says his company is “proud to once again have the naming rights to the longtime home of Rochester’s proud soccer heritage.”
Marina Auto Stadium will host four regular season USL soccer matches, kicking off with the Toronto FC II match on May 5th at 6pm.
There are also other events this season including the Taste of ROC, the Little Italy Festival, AutismUp Kite Flight and the Chrons and Colitis Charity Walk.
The operation of the stadium was in flux for a few months after a lease dispute between the City of Rochester which owns the stadium and the Dworkins.
In March, both sides announced a lease agreement that calls for the Rhinos’ owners to field a team next year.
The soccer stadium had some other names in recent years including Sahlen's Stadium, Rochester Rhinos Stadium, and PAETEC Park.
Wendy Dworkin tells WXXI News that the Marina naming rights agreement is a one-year deal, as was the Capelli sponsorship. She says Capelli continues to be supportive of the team in other ways, including supplying some apparel.
She spoke highly of Marina, saying that the people who own the company "understand soccer, the sport is personally important to their family, their kids play soccer, so that’s wonderful. It’s wonderful from the promotion side that they’re local and it’s easy to get in contact with them and they understand the mindset and what people here in Rochester want."
