MLS Next Pro FC Rochester New York FC is out of action.
Rochester made the announcement on March 10, citing insufficient funds “along with other challenges that have resulted in a lack of a path to sustainability.”
The team had a long history under its previous iteration, the Rochester Rhinos, before discontinuing it in 2017 and returning as Rochester New York FC in 2021 under new ownership.
A new ownership group has taken over, including Leicester striker Jamie Vardy. At the time, Vardy expressed his excitement at the opportunity to invest in American football: “I had been looking at opportunities in the US for a while, but there was just something about the Rochester and Rhinos that just felt right.”
After the rebranding, the club began play in MLS Next Pro in 2022 as the only team in Division III not affiliated with an MLS franchise.
It only lasted one year.
Update on Rochester New York FC and MLS NEXT Pro: pic.twitter.com/uvlkS6W9n1
– MLS NEXT Pro (MLSNEXTPRO) March 10, 2023
club said in statement. “As we started the off season it became clear that to stay competitive we would need to invest a lot more in many aspects of the club.
“Despite an increase in attendance, including the addition of nearly 600 temporary seats for our last match, the unfortunate reality is that the existing infrastructure along with other challenges has not led the way to sustainability.
“We were in advanced discussions with an ownership group to acquire a majority stake in RNYFC. However, the buyout group decided not to move forward earlier this week as we were closing in. This left us no time and no choice but to decline to field a team in 2023. “.
