PAETEC Park

PAETEC Park is home to the Raging Rhinos. Since their start in 1996, the Rhinos have made six championship appearances and claimed the title three times. They are also the only minor league team to have clinched a U.S. Open Cup Championship, defeating a number of Major League Soccer teams during their quest.

Rochester Raging Rhinos (Men’s)

Sport: Soccer
Stadium: PAETEC Park
League: United Soccer League’s First Division
Regular season: Typically May to September
Tickets: Tickets start at $9
Mascot: Rex the Rhino; and they also have the Rochester Rhinestones, their official dance team
Web site: rhinossoccer.com

OK, so the name “Raging Rhinos” may not conjure up thoughts of classic futbol, but don’t let that lead you astray - the Rhinos are one of the most dominant teams in minor league soccer.

Since their start in 1996, the Rhinos have made six championship appearances and claimed the title three times. They are also the only minor league team to have clinched a U.S. Open Cup Championship, defeating a number of Major League Soccer teams during their quest.

The Rhinos have developed a large fan base in the Rochester area and have even started their own youth soccer program, the Rochester Junior Rhinos.

Rochester Rhinos Women

Sport: Soccer
Stadium: PAETEC Park
League: United Soccer League’s W-League (Eastern COnferernce/Northern Division)
Regular season: Typically May to July
Tickets: Tickets start at $9
Mascot: Rex the Rhino
Web site: rhinossoccer.com

The Rochester Rhinos Women began life as the Rochester Ravens, and were rechristened as the Rhinos when they moved into PAETEC Park in 2006. The young team (none of the current players were born prior to 1981) came up one win short of making the W-League’s championship this season.

The team features many locally-grown players, including Tiffany Ebner (Penfield High School) and Nicole Hercules (Rush-Henrietta Senior High School and Monroe Community College).

Rochester Rattlers

Sport: Outdoor Lacrosse
Stadium: PAETEC Park
League: Major League Lacrosse (Eastern Conference)
Regular season: Typically May to August
Tickets: $9 to $20 for single game sales
Mascot: N/A
Web site: rochesterrattlers.com

If a city has a world-class indoor lacrosse team, it has to have an outdoor one to match, right?

In 2001, the Rattlers took the field as one of the founding members of Major League Lacrosse (MLL). While their success hasn’t been quite as profound as their indoor counterparts, the team has still managed to attract top-notch area players like Casey Powell, who lead the Syracuse University Orange (well, Orangemen at the time) in the late ’90s.

After a slow start to the 2007 season, the Rattlers hit a winning streak that has propelled them into first place in the Eastern Conference. It may have taken some time for things to click, but the Rattlers look like they’re beginning to establish themselves as a winning club in their own right.