There will be professional soccer at PAETEC Park this summer and the Raging Rhinos have a new owner.

In a joint press conference at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Utica businessman Rob Clark was introduced as the soccer team’s new owner, pending approval from City Council.

Mayor Bob Duffy, City Council President Gladys Santiago and Tim Holt, vice president of the United Soccer Leagues, also attended the announcement.

"This is a great day for Rochester. The Rhinos will be playing this summer," Duffy said.

Santiago said she does not expect opposition from City Council.

Clark, 35, is a vice president for Utica-based Adirondack Bank, which kicked in $2.1 million toward $10.6 million in loans given to the former Rhinos owners by NBT Bank, based in Norwich, Chenango County. Clark is buying the team from NBT with his own money.

The complexity of the team's financial woes had put the 2008 season in jeopardy. But this final agreement with Clark will allow the Rhinos to play their season opener on May 2 in Charleston, S.C., then their home opener at PAETEC Park on May 17.

NBT, city officials and the USL all worked with Clark to close the deal. There were at least two other bidders for the team before Clark emerged at the beginning of March.

Clark has worked with the city on a lease of the stadium, built on city-owned land at 460 Oak St.

The team’s former owners have at least five different lawsuits against them and accrued millions in debt. The original ownership group — Steve Donner, Frank DuRoss and Chris Economides — are being sued by NBT for $10.8 million. They are still personally liable for that, but Clark’s firm — Adirondack Sports Club LLC — is the new corporation that owns the team and stadium.

This could have been the death blow for USL. Losing Seattle due to MLS going in 2009 and then losing a pillar in Rochester, would not have been good. Personally I think USL might want to re-organize a bit regionally to cut down costs, it did well for many sides that dropped down to USL D2 and others down to PDL. Fact is interest is not at the point to support a second tier league with MLS rapidly expanding into markets. If USL loses Montreal or Vancouver in the next five years they'll have little left.

Just to state, I don't hate USL, I like it it and have watched my Kings play over two dozen matches these past few years. Hoever, there is a relaity that the league is not on sturdy ground and losing any major club is a massive blow, specifically for USL D1.

Tell you the truth, I would like to see the USL succeed (a lot of teams have very good support), but every year there's always teams with financial problems. I say get rid of USL D2 totally (because thre really is no financial gain from promotion, instead much more loss), and give those teams to PDL.

The longer the USL hangs around the better though, as the top teams from there always have a chance to promote to MLS and there's always (in the future) a chance of a merger of some sorts. Maybe get MLS teams U-23s in the USL (like Colorado) as a start.

What exactly is going to happen to the Sounders anyway?

USL D2 has proven to be good for USL in that it limits travel and player costs. PDL does okay because it is very regional. For MLS travel costs are minor expense, but for USL sides it is very significant, cutting that is huge.

There are several PDL sides with ties to MLS. USL is stubborn though in that is does not want to be the AHL to MLS' NHL. it sees itself as a second tier, not a farm league.

Sounders? SP would know better, but I believe they are moving to town nearby, not sure.

I see. A lot of the USL 2 teams are in the Southeast.

I guess the MLS can stick to its reserve division then.