Rochester Lancers fold

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Fran
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Rochester Lancers fold

Post by Fran » Tue Jul 07, 2015 8:59 am

Wonder how this effects the other sports teams in Rochester.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/sto ... /29793869/

After four seasons, the Rochester Lancers are done — telling their players and season-ticket holders on Monday that skyrocketing insurance premiums have made it impossible to continue.

"We cannot get insurance," Salvatore "Soccer Sam" Fantauzzo, the Lancers' president, CEO and founder, said in an interview. "No small business can afford to pay $200,000-plus for workman's comp, so we're done. We're done, man. We've tried every angle."

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preeths
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Post by preeths » Tue Jul 07, 2015 3:00 pm

Wonder how the insurance rate compares to other MASL team rates in other states. Wouldn't Syracuse have a similar rate with which to contend?

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Post by Sam Hill » Tue Jul 07, 2015 3:44 pm

Maybe they could save up to 15% on workman's comp insurance in 15 minutes somewhere.
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Post by tops804 » Tue Jul 07, 2015 4:14 pm

Is the issue really insurance, or do they just want to be in a league with Baltimore? That league has been awful quiet so far, and time is becoming a factor.
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Post by Fran » Tue Jul 07, 2015 6:22 pm

Here is their press release today. Looks like they won't be joining another league.

//www.oursportscentral.com/service ... id=5005961

Last September we received notice of a 800% NYSIF increase. Lawyers and insurance experts assured us this wasn't legal and they would fight this Workmen's Comp battle. We paid attorneys and our new rate of $200k last season with the understanding we would win and be refunded. On July 3, 2015 we found out our new rate is $200k per season with a $77k overcharge from last season. I have exhausted every option to fight these crazy insurance premiums. We allowed claims to be filed and there's no going back.

Our comp insurance rate was $20k for the first 3 seasons. $180k increase is hard to absorb for any small business or local team. We have 10 home dates per year with limited parking and concessions revenue. If we controlled our own building like the Red Wings and Rhinos do everything would be different with unlimited revenue streams.

Last season I overlooked several items I didn't agree with, this insurance nightmare came to us days after Doug Miller and Rich Randall convinced me to give it another year. Both guys did an amazing job in areas they could control. We thought for sure we would beat the NYSIF increase in the off season.

I had the greatest 4 years of my new life, I thank all of you amazing fans !!!

This whole Lancers thing started to help me reconnect with my past love for soccer in my first life. It worked, indoor pro soccer is the greatest game on earth! Chris Wilmot, Steve Stokes, John Coraggioso, Luis Ribiero and Dom Vieira helped make this dream come true with the guidance of Tony Gabriele and Sebastian Curatolo. All great friends and honorable people, thanks guys!

My staff ran the show and made each game an event. Thanks to Rich Randall, Kayla Klark Kent, Donna Waasdorp and my Salvatore's dream team Mike Moran, Patty Powers, Lyndsay Houghton, Chucky Arbore and Ashley King. You guys made this very special and made me look good everyday. Thank you!!

We had the most amazing game day staff and support team ever and great interns and staff each season, thanks to all of you! Our dance teams, their coaches and our mascots made each game an event. I appreciate each and everyone of you dedicating your time to our team. Thank you so much!

My good friends that worked with me in my past soccer endeavors. "The Voice" Rocky Perrotta, Phil Mercado, Jill Rizzo, Eric Trendel and John Catalano, you made it look easy. Joe Guiliano, the best play by play guy in the game, Joey the road game memories and airport fun make me smile everyday, bro.

To all our amazing sponsors. Thank you for supporting a true Rochester-owned pro sports team. Your support helped change the lives of so many young kids falling in love with this great game and we helped several non-profits together.

From our coaches, trainers, team staff and each and every player that wore our Lancers Blue & Yellow, this City will never forget you. You guys all helped raise thousands of dollars for so many local charities and made me and my family proud each and every game. Thanks for all the amazing life long memories!

Special thanks to my cheerleader, Linda and my kids and grandkids. We all had an amazing time doing this and we all enjoyed meeting all you great Rochester fans.

I hope someone brings back indoor soccer to Rochester in the near future. I will be the first season ticket holder and I won't miss a game. Thanks again for all your support and helping make these past 4 seasons amazing!

I will continue to support the game each week on Kick This and I plan to travel around the country watching games. My staff was special and we surprised the City and made life long memories for fans and raised thousands for non profits. Several players became household names and devoted so many hours promoting our sport.

Feel The Kick For Life ! ss

Salvatore "SoccerSam" Fantauzzo

President/CEO/Founder

Fantauzzo Family Brands Inc.

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Post by nksports » Tue Jul 07, 2015 10:50 pm

[quote=""tops804""]Is the issue really insurance, or do they just want to be in a league with Baltimore? That league has been awful quiet so far, and time is becoming a factor.[/quote]

Workman's comp is what killed indoor football other than the AFL in California and that's what nearly did in Sioux Falls, when the owner tried to do it on the cheap.

I heard the interview with the Blast owner, where he said he was leaving the MASL, but that was a couple of months ago and the league logo is still on the Blast page and the Blast is still on the league page.

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Post by Pounder » Wed Jul 08, 2015 2:53 am

From the article.
But Fantauzzo, in a letter to the league, wrote, "we allowed players to milk the system," asserting in an interview that system is broken as disability payments were paid to players who in some cases were still actively competing. The state neither informed the Lancers of those claims nor fought the awards, he said.
Sounds more like the state punished the team for not monitoring the previous year's insurance payments. The Lancers claiming the state should have monitored? My asteroids! The Lancers probably forked this up on their own.

I think that's why Syracuse survives and Rochester folds, anyway.
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