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 Rochester Rhinos

Rhinos Matthew Ford receives Executive of the Year

November 27, 2006 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Rochester Rhinos News Release


(Rochester, NY)... Rochester Raging Rhinos Executive Vice President Matthew Ford was named the United Soccer Leagues First Division Sprinturf Executive of the Year. Ford was honored at the USL Annual General Meeting, held at the Hyatt Regency Tampa, last Friday during the Awards Dinner presented by Fox Soccer Channel.

The W-League Rhinos also received an award as they were recognized, along with the Boston Renegades and Vermont Lady Voltage, as the co-winner of the Fair Play Award. The Rhinos finished their inaugural season with a 4-8-0 record.

Last season, Ford spearheaded the opening of PAETEC Park as the new home of the Rhinos, W-League Rhinos and Rochester Rattlers of Major League Lacrosse. The stadium opened to a capacity crowd of 13,700 with a USL First Division match between Rochester and Virginia Beach on June 3, 2006.

Ford arrived in Rochester in January after having most recently worked as the Director of Special Events and Entertainment for the Hersheypark Sports and Entertainment Complex in Hershey, Pa. His extensive experience also includes time as the General Manager of the Hersheypark Sports and Entertainment Complex and General Manager of the Hershey Wildcats of the USL A-League.

In 2002, Ford oversaw operations for the opening of the Giant Center, Hershey's state of the art arena, home of the Hershey Bears American Hockey League franchise. Prior to working as general manager of the Wildcats, Ford was a not only a member of the front office staff, but also a member of the Wildcats soccer team. In 1998, Ford was awarded the "Key Grip" Award by the USL as Operations Director of the Year.

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