By Rochester Rhinos ,

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (January 26, 2018) –The Rochester Rhinos announced on Friday that four 2018 USL regular season contests would be hosted at Capelli Sport Stadium across the upcoming summer, continuing the history of professional soccer at the venue this year.

Toronto FC II will serve as hosts for the four contests, which will see the Pittsburgh Riverhounds visit on May 5th, Indy Eleven on June 16th, Nashville SC on July 28th, and Bethlehem Steel FC on August 16th.

“We are ecstatic that there will continue to be professional soccer in Rochester during the 2018 USL season,” said Rochester Rhinos Co-Owner David Dworkin. “Toronto FC is one of the highest-regarded clubs in North America and we are proud to partner with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and host such a successful organization.”

“Rochester is a city with great soccer history,” said Toronto FC President Bill Manning. “We are happy that we can give the fans four USL games to attend this season as the Rhinos prepare for their return to action in 2019.”

Among the highlights of the four games will be the return of Pittsburgh Riverhounds Head Coach Bob Lilley and Assistant Coach Mark Pulisic to Rochester. The Riverhounds’ current roster includes five players who suited up for the Rochester Rhinos during the 2017 season, including Penfield, N.Y. native Dan Lynd (GK), Christiano François (F), Raymond Lee (D), Jordan Dover (D) and Kenardo Forbes (M).

The series will also mark the first time that Indy Eleven and Nashville SC will appear at Capelli Sport Stadium, with Nashville’s squad including another member of the Rhinos’ team of a year ago in midfielder Ryan James.

“We are pleased that professional soccer will continue at Capelli Sport Stadium this season as the Rhinos continue their progress toward a return to the field in 2019,” said USL President Jake Edwards. “We hope the fans in Rochester enjoy the action, which features two of the Eastern Conference’s newcomers – Indy Eleven and Nashville SC – visiting to take on Toronto FC II.”

Four-pack, corporate hospitality, group and individual tickets to this summer’s action at Capelli Sport Stadium will be available to purchase online at rhinossoccer.com, by calling (585) 454-5425, or at Capelli Sport Stadium in February. Please check rhinossoccer.com for box office hours and updates.

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About Rochester Rhinos

The Rochester Rhinos were founded in 1996 and are the only non-MLS team to have won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup since Major League Soccer’s formation. The club has won five championships: U.S. Open Cup (1998), USL A-League (1999, 2000, 2001) and the USL Cup (2015). The team plays its home matches at Capelli Sport Stadium and just finished its 22nd season of professional soccer competition in the United Soccer League, placing fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 14-7-11 record and reaching the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs.

About USL

The USL is one of the most prominent Division II professional soccer leagues in the world, reaching a population of more than 75 million people to fuel the growth of professional soccer across North America. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida., the USL provides unparalleled club support with a growing team of more than 50 professionals across 17 departments, ranging from operations to marketing, communications and sponsorship.

The USL has national media partnerships with ESPN and SiriusXM, and operates USL Productions, which includes a state-of-the-art facility that will produce and distribute more than 500 league matches and more than 1,000 hours of original content to national partners, local affiliates, the USL’s Match Center and international markets over the 2018 season.

About Toronto FC

The first Canadian soccer club to compete in Major League Soccer, Toronto FC began play in 2007. The club is owned and operated by the Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and plays its home matches at BMO Field on the Exhibition Place grounds. Toronto FC are the reigning champions of Major League Soccer and are coming off a 2017 season that saw them become the first team in Major League Soccer history to capture a domestic “Treble” (winners of the MLS Cup, the MLS Supporters Shield and the Canadian Championship). The club works out of the state of the art BMO Training Ground, which is also home to the TFC Academy.

Contacts:

Scott Miller, Sr. VP of Business Development & Communications, (585) 454-3000, ext. 111

Mark Washo, Chief Business Officer, (585) 454-3000, ext. 117