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The city and metropolitan area ofRochester, New York, has several sports teams.Rochester was named the top minor league sports market in the country byStreet & Smith's Sports Business Journal in July 2005, the number 10 "best golf city" in America byGolf Magazine in 2007,[1] and the fifth-best "sports town" in the country byScarborough Research in September 2008.[2]
Although Rochester is home territory to theBuffalo Bills and theBuffalo Sabres, Rochester has several professional sports teams of its own.[3]
Rochester does not have a team in any of the top leagues in major North American team sports (American football,Baseball,Basketball, orIce Hockey). Of the current teams, two play in affiliated minor leagues: the baseballRochester Red Wings, affiliated with theWashington Nationals, and the hockeyRochester Americans, affiliated with theBuffalo Sabres. Only one professional team in Rochester plays at the highest level of its sport, theindoor lacrosseRochester Knighthawks; all others are independent minor-league teams.
As recently as 1994, there were only two professional sports franchises in Rochester: the baseball Red Wings and the hockey Americans. Since then, a number of new teams have been instituted and several have folded. In 2007, among cities in North America with at least seven (at the time) professional teams, Rochester was determined to be the only one whose teams all had cumulative winning regular season records.[4]
| Club | Sport | Began play | League | Venue | Titles | Championship years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Knighthawks | Indoor lacrosse | 2019 | NLL | Blue Cross Arena | 0 | N/A |
| Club | Sport | Began play | League | Venue | Titles | Championship years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Red Wings | Baseball | 1899 | IL | Innovative Field | 20 | 1899, 1901, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1939,1940, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964,1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1997 |
| Rochester Americans | Ice Hockey | 1956 | AHL | Blue Cross Arena | 6 | 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1982–83, 1986–87, 1995–96 |
| Club | Sport | Began Play | League | Venue | Titles | Championship years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester Royal Ballers | Basketball | 2023 | ABA | Roberts Wesleyan University | 0 | |
| Flower City Union | Soccer | 2021 | NPSL | Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium | 1 | 2023 (NISA) |
| Flower City 1872 | Soccer | 2023 | UWS | Rochester Community Sports Complex Stadium | 0 |
TheRochester Red Wings baseball club, the AAA affiliate of theWashington Nationals, are one of the oldest existing franchises in all of professional sports. They play in theInternational League and have won at least one pennant or championship in each decade of the 20th century. TheRochester Americansice hockey team are theAHL affiliate for theNHLBuffalo Sabres and are known as the "Amerks."
Lacrosse has seen some popularity in Rochester. TheRochester Knighthawks playbox lacrosse in theNational Lacrosse League during winter and spring. The current Knighthawks team replaced the formerRochester Knighthawks that played in Rochester from 1995 until 2019. In outdoor lacrosse, theRochester Rattlers were a charter member ofMajor League Lacrosse, but the franchise was transferred away after winning the championship in 2008; the Rattlers were then re-established in 2011 before being relocated a final time in 2017.
There have been several basketball teams over time including theRochester Razorsharks who were active from 2008 to 2017 most recently in thePremier Basketball League and the Rochester Kingz from 2023-2025.
Professional soccer, once a popular sport in Rochester, has declined over the years. TheRochester Rhinossoccer club played for many years in theA-League, which was the second-highest level American soccer league; the Rhinos won theU.S. Open Cup against Major League Soccer competition in 1999 and won league championships in 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2015. Despite the success, the popularity of the club declined into dire levels and the club suspended operations in 2018.[5] The Rhinos team was rebranded asRochester New York FC and in 2022 played one season prior to again ceasing operations.[6] TheRochester Lancers started in indoor soccer in 2011 and folded by 2015. The Lancers were re-launched in 2018 and played inMajor Arena Soccer League 2 until the end of the 2024 season.[7] In 2020, theNational Independent Soccer Association approved a team for Rochester and theFlower City Union took the field in 2022. For the 2024 season, they moved play to theNational Premier Soccer League.
In women's sports, Rochester was formerly the home of theWestern New York Flash, 2011Women's Professional Soccer champions. In prior years, theRochester Ravens have competed in the semi-pro W-League under a few different names. TheFilarets were a notable women's basketball team that played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. In 2023Flower City 1872 was formed as an affiliate of Flower City Union[8] and plays in theUnited Women's Soccer league.
The absence of a major professional sports team has not always been the case. From 1920 to 1925, Rochester was home to theRochester Jeffersons, a charter member of theNational Football League. From 1948 to 1957, theRochester Royals played in theNational Basketball Association, winning the NBA championship in 1951. In soccer, theRochester Lancers played from 1970 to 1980 in the top-levelNorth American Soccer League and became NASL champions in the 1970 season.
Since 1877, 29 teams in eight professional sports have represented Rochester, according toThe Rochester Sports Project by local sports historianDouglas Brei. In spring 2006, Brei showed that Rochester's professional sports teams were collectively approaching 25,000 games played. That game was played on June 16, 2006, when Red Wings hosted theIndianapolis Indians at Frontier Field. He also reports that only six active franchises in the history of North American professional sports have played in the same city and same league continuously and uninterrupted since the 19th century:Chicago Cubs,Cincinnati Reds,Philadelphia Phillies,Pittsburgh Pirates,St. Louis Cardinals, andRochester Red Wings.[citation needed]
TheUnited States women's national soccer team has played atEunice Kennedy Shriver Stadium,Frontier Field and most recentlyRochester Community Sports Complex Stadium (under a number of previous names).
Rochester has a rich history in golf dating back to the 19th century. The area's oldest club, TheCountry Club of Rochester was founded in 1896.Oak Hill Country Club, which is often included in America's Top 100 Courses[9] is in the suburb of Pittsford. Oak Hill has hosted all 6 of the men's major championships: theRyder Cup (1995), Men'sU.S Open (1956, 1968, 1989) andPGA Championship (1980, 2003, 2013, 2023). TheWegman's LPGA was played atLocust Hill Country Club from 1977 to 2009. TheLPGA Championship was played at Locust Hill from 2010 to 2013 and at theMonroe Golf Club in 2014. The Xerox Classic was a golf tournament on the Nationwide Tour from 2005 to 2008 played at Irondequoit Country Club. Numerous golf magazines have praised Rochester for its rich passion for the game and its high level of competition.[citation needed]
The following is a list of golf courses located in Rochester, New York:
Rochester is the largest Metropolitan Statistical Area in the U.S. which does not include at least one college or university participating at the NCAA Division I level in all sports.Roberts Wesleyan College competes at theNCAA Division II level. But most other area college sports are played at theNCAA Division III level. The only exceptions are theRITmen's andwomen's ice hockey teams, which compete at the Division I level. The men's team made it to the NCAAFrozen Four in 2010 and the women's team won the Division III national championship in 2012, just before switching over to Division I. TheNazareth Golden Flyers men's volleyball team won the 2011 NCAA DIII national championship. Also the Nazareth Lacrosse teams won a pair of national championships in the late 1990s. University of Rochester teams have won four national championships at the NCAA Division III level, with women's soccer winning in 1986 and 1987, men's basketball winning in 1990, and men's cross-country winning in 1991. Rochester Institute of Technology men's soccer team finished national runner-up at the NCAA Division III tournament in 1988.
Among junior colleges,Monroe Community College has had some success inNJCAA Division II sports, including golf. The school won back-to-back national championships for women's lacrosse in 2010 and 2011.[citation needed]
Rochester, New York, has a robust cycling community supported by several prominent cycling clubs, including The Genesee Valley Cycling Club, Genesee Region Off-road Cyclists, and the Rochester Bicycling Club. These organizations offer a range of services for cyclists, from group rides and competitive races to training programs and events. The clubs cater to cyclists of varying skill levels, from recreational riders to seasoned athletes. In addition to providing opportunities for local engagement, these clubs also advocate for improved cycling infrastructure and promote cycling as an environmentally sustainable mode of transportation. Notable events attract participants from across the region. The cycling community in Rochester plays a significant role in enhancing the city's reputation as a hub for cycling activities and a proponent of active transportation initiatives.
The Genesee Valley Cycling Club (GVCC) is dedicated to the promotion and development ofroad bicycle racing andCyclocross in and around Rochester, New York, including Monroe and surrounding counties. Founded in 1976 and affiliated withUSA Cycling since 1983, GVCC's membership boasts a rich history of local, regional, national, and international success. Comprising multiple teams, GVCC hosts and participates in numerous bicycle races across New York, the United States, and internationally. Riders such asMagnus Sheffield andAndrew August were members of this club.[10] GVCC is one of the sponsors of theRochester Cyclocross[11] and previously ranRochester Twilight Criterium.[12]
Genesee Region Off-road Cyclist (GROC) is a nonprofit organization striving to improve public lands and community wellness in the Genesee Region by providing great off-road cycling experiences, advocacy, and education for trail users. GROC is a chapter of theInternational Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA), covering the upper Genesee Valley region of New York State.[13]
The Rochester Bicycling Club is a social and fitness bicycling club.[14]
Rochester is home to two men'srugby teams, theRochester Aardvarks R.F.C. and theRochester Colonials. Both have long histories, with the Aardvarks celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2016, and the Rochester Colonials celebrating 40 years in 2020. Both rugby clubs are among the few in the country to own their own pitch: Aardvark Park inHenrietta, New York, while the Colonials play their matches at Marianne Cope Parish inHenrietta, New York. The Aardvarks and the Colonials both have hosted local and statewide tournaments. The Rochester Colonials hosted the 2007 USA Rugby National Collegiate All-Star Championships, Rochester's first national tournament, as well as the 2009 NYS Rugby Upstates Tournament and the 2009 New York State High School Rugby Championships. Both teams participate in the annualCan-Am Rugby Tournament inSaranac Lake, New York in early August. Rochester also has a Women's Rugby club, theRochester Renegades, who celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2017. The Renegades started the New York State Rugby Women's Division.[citation needed]
Rochester Erin's Isle is agaelic football club located in Rochester.[15]
Rochester is also home to Rochester Rhythm the three-time champions of the American Extreme Paintball League or AXBL.[citation needed]
The Rochester, New YorkLPGA Amateur Golf Association chapter (formerlyEWGA) organizes leagues, golf training, and golf events and networking for the area's amateur women golfers.
Monroe County supports two adult baseball (hardball) leagues – the Rochester chapters of theMen's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) andNational Adult Baseball Association (NABA).
The Rochester Curling Club is the westernmost curling club in New York.[16]
TheRochester Yacht Club held the 1991 OlympicSoling World Championship.
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