Rochester: A Valuable Sports Market

Posted at: 06/20/2012 5:50 PM | Updated at: 06/20/2012 7:15 PM
By: Robin De Wind | WHEC.com

Rochester has a number of sports teams, but local fans are also spending their money on the Bills, Sabres and Syracuse University sports.

Syracuse University and the Buffalo Bills have been increasing their visibility in Rochester. They see the city as a necessary market to draw fans and financial support.

Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is getting used to making trips down the Thruway. On Monday, he took in a little batting practice at Frontier Field. Last month, he attended the Rochester Press Radio Club Dinner.  Receiver David Nelson even made an appearance at the Lilac Festival.

The team’s presence in town is more than just some good public relations. The Bills have made it no secret, they need to regionalize.

Greg Smith, Jay Advertising President, said, “We're smaller market in the media sense but we have a big-time thirst for big time sports.”

Greg Smith is president of Jay Advertising. He says besides passion for major sports, Rochester has proximity being positioned right between Division I Syracuse and Buffalo with the Bills and Sabres, who now own the Rochester Amerks and have reinvigorated local hockey fans.

Smith said, “Major markets like Detroit or Tampa where every day you're minimally driving 45 minutes to an hour, Buffalo is an hour and change same with Syracuse, more and more people are commuting.”

SU Football is eyeing our city as it moves toward rebuilding its team and the fan base. It was head football coach Doug Marone’s call to hold a team scrimmage at Sahlen’s Stadium the past two springs.

But Rochester already has seven of its own sports teams that all need local support.

Pat Ercoli is the General Manager of Sahlen’s Stadium. He says despite the push from Buffalo and Syracuse, local corporate sponsors continue to do their part. As for the average fan, local sports continue to be money well spent.

Ercoli said, “You could come to Frontier or Sahlen’s and you get away with $100, you have a great night and a great activity. It’s not top level but it's still entertaining and a night out with the family.”

Ercoli says while local teams are cost effective; teams do need to work harder at putting on a good quality product because they are competing with bigger popular teams who need fans from this market in order to survive.

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