Jeff DiVeronica

@RocDevo

A belief in preserving history led David and Wendy Dworkin to become part owners of the NBA's Sacramento Kings in 2013. That same sentiment is the reason they're expected to become the new owners of the Rochester Rhinos soccer team.

The city of Rochester announced Friday it has agreed to a 10-year lease with the Dworkins to operate Rochester's downtown soccer stadium. It'll be put to a City Council vote on Tuesday. The USL is then expected to formally announce it has a franchise agreement with the Dworkins, who have Rochester pro sports ties that run deep. Wendy Dworkin is first cousins with Les Harrison, the original owner/coach of the Rochester Royals NBA team who was inducted to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980. The Royals played from 1945-57. After moving to Cincinnati in 1957 and Kansas City in 1972, the team went to Sacramento in 1985. Dworkin and his wife joined an investment team in 2013 to buy a part of the Kings, who looked like they were headed to Seattle.

“We are excited to keep the Rhinos in Rochester,” said David Dworkin, 46. “This team has had great success and we plan on continuing that tradition going into the future. Our goal is to keep the Rhinos relevant and to contend for the playoffs year after year. I am committed to making this one of the premier outdoor entertainment venues in western New York and improving the fan experience at Sahlen’s Stadium.”

The Dworkins have been married 20 years. They have a 12-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter. They live in Brighton. David Dworkin, a 1991 Syracuse University graduate who received a Master of Science in real estate from New York University in 1995, has other properties in Rochester. Wendy is an attorney. David is a Managing Partner of LLD Enterprises and a Partner in JADD Management, which in 2014 bought Panorama Plaza in Penfield and Culver-Ridge Plaza in Irondequoit.

“This partnership will bring necessary upgrades to the stadium — including a new turf — more dynamic operation of this important community facility and ultimately, jobs for our residents," Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said.

The 10-year-old turf, which is in poor condition, will cost more than $500,000 and is expected to be ready for this season. It'll come at no expense to the city, Warren said. Dworkin will become the third owner of the Rhinos, who celebrated their 20th anniversary season last year by winning the USL championship, their first since 2001. The lease news comes nine days after the USL announced it had terminated its franchise agreement with former Rhinos owner Rob Clark.

DiVeronica: New owner could be boost Rhinos need

USL Chief Marketing Officer Tom Veit, who has been in Rochester running the Rhinos the past two weeks since the league took over the team from Clark, said the USL wanted a local owner. Clark, a bank executive, moved to Rochester in 2008 when he bought the team, but he moved back home to the Utica area in 2011. Last month, the city of Rochester exercised an option to terminate Clark's 15-year lease to operate the $32 million city-owned soccer stadium where the Rhinos have played since 2006. Clark bought the Rhinos in 2008 after their original ownership group lost control of the team under a mountain of debt, including $10.6 million in bank loans it used to partially fund the stadium and run the Rhinos.

Clark, 43, blamed annual financial losses in the "several thousands" for deciding to not run the Rhinos and stadium anymore.

The Rhinos ranked third in the USL in attendance last year, averaging 5,570 fans, a figure that includes tickets distributed. Sacramento, which is hoping to become an MLS franchise much like Rochester was during its glory days of the late 1990s, led the USL with an average of 11,323, up slightly from 11,293 in its 2014 inaugural season. Only 12 of last year's 24 teams averaged more than 3,000 fans per game.

USL: Response strong for potential new Rhinos owner

The USL is expanding to 31 teams this season and David Dworkin said he wants to make Rhinos matches a place for fans to be seen again.

"From the first meeting it was, 'What do we need to keep this team here?' " Veit said about David and Wendy Dworkin. "They didn't want Rochester to lose this franchise."

David Dworkin is aware of the Rhinos' history, their four USL titles and the 1999 U.S. Open Cup title, which is still the only won by a minor-league team since Major League Soccer started in 1996. The Western New York Flash women's professional team, who play in a league with superstars such as Alex Morgan and Hope Solo, are also expected to be tenants at the stadium for a sixth straight year.

"Wendy and I feel privileged to be able to do this," he said. "It's not just about the Rhinos. It's about creating a venue in western New York, an incredible venue. But we want the Rhinos' legacy to continue, too."

JDIVERON@Gannett.com

Clark out as Rhinos owner; USL takes control of team