ROCHESTER, N.Y. (NCC News) – After nearly five years off the pitch, the Rochester Raging Rhinos are back in action this week with a new name and in a new league. The only minor league side to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup since 1999, the club rebranded as Rochester New York FC under the leadership of Syracuse alums David and Wendy Dworkin. The pair have worked alongside Premier League champion Jamie Vardy to bring the club back to central New York. Local fans like Fayetteville resident Will Summers can’t wait to catch a game.
“Growing up in central New York all my life, I’ve always kind of waited for a new pro team to come back,” said Summers. “Now that Rochester has one, it’s very exciting.”
The team will be the only independent club competing in the debut season of MLS Next Pro, in the third tier of the American soccer pyramid. The league is designed to give young players of Major League Soccer clubs a chance to prove themselves in a professional environment and get playing time against other players vying for a shot in the big leagues. Syracuse University sophomore Jared Johnston worked as the broadcaster for Tampa Bay United last summer in the semi-pro team’s first season. Johnston said new lower level teams help inspire the next generation of soccer players.
“When Tampa Bay United was created, it had a huge impact on the community because it painted a picture for what young people could work towards,” said Johnston.
Johnston added that more competitive minor leagues is a step in the right direction for soccer in the States, with a league structure more akin to that of professional leagues in Europe.
“If you think of established soccer countries in Europe, all of those countries have lower-level leagues that are able to feed players into the professional game,” said Johnston. “The big problem the U.S. is trying to leapfrog right now is how can they grow a system of soccer and the players in it that can not only be beneficial for the owners of teams, but that’s what’s beneficial about a league like this that’s growing and giving players a chance to prove themselves.”
Eli Lesser, better found on Instagram as https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinmls/, is one of the premier online content creators with a focus on covering Major League Soccer. He says as the game continues to grow in the country, he sees more fan communities like the ones in Rochester sharing their passion for the beautiful game.
“More people are wanting to come in and be a part of the community. We’re seeing supporters’ sections fight and get so much bigger, where you now have to fight to get into the section as opposed to when the teams would pay you to be in there.”
The new league is designed to bridge the gap between MLS Next, the youth league started in 2020 that has over 590 member clubs, and Major League soccer itself. Lesser says he remains a big fan of college soccer, but is welcome to what the new league can bring to the game.
“It’s the logical next step for kids that have been signed from the academy that want to fight for the first team contract, but obviously there’s only so many roster sports. It’s the next step for these players and helps keep them in the system, so I’m all for that.”
For new and old soccer fans alike, Lesser’s parting words are very simple – support your local club.
“It doesn’t matter if you watch overseas leagues. Find your nearest watch party and go. The second you become a part of it, you’ll go wild. That’s what drew me into the sport, and it’s kept me going to this day.”
