Frank DuRoss
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank DuRoss is the owner of multiple professional sports franchises in the United States. His most recent acquisition is Carolina RailHawks F.C., USL First Division soccer team located in Cary, North Carolina.
DuRoss began his climb in the corporate community in 1976 when he entered a partnership with his brother Jim and was named vice president of Oneida Building Services, Inc. – a company the DuRoss brothers would sell in 1986 to International Service systems, Inc.
In 1980 Frank again teamed up with his brother to create Oneida Asbestos Removal, Inc. This highly successful property had $24 million in annual sales, and at the time, was one of the 350 fastest growing privately held companies in the country.
In 1987, DuRoss ventured into the sports industry when he was named President of the Utica Devils of the American Hockey League (AHL). Four years later he co-purchased the Maine Hockey Club and moved them to Providence, Rhode Island where it became one of the league’s strongest franchises, winning the Calder Cup Championship in 1999. On April 10, 2001 Frank purchased 100% of the Providence Bruins from his former partner Ed Anderson. He serves on the Executive Committee of both the American Hockey League and the United Soccer Leagues.
Frank DuRoss has owned the Rochester Raging Rhinos soccer team, a USL First Division since the team’s inception in 1995. A native of Utica, New York, DuRoss has been the catalyst in the Rhinos drive for PAETEC Park, a new multi-purpose outdoor stadium in Rochester, New York. Frank’s tireless efforts, including working with local and state political leaders, has secured funds for the new stadium, a 17,500 seat soccer specific stadium. The State of New York has committed $15 million for the project.
DuRoss, along with partners Steve Donner and Chris Economides, formed the Rhinos in the fall of 1995. They founded the team in the then independent A-League and quickly turned the franchise into a juggernaut in the minor league sports industry. The club was a league-leader in attendance from 1996-2004 and was named one of the Top Five Minor League Sports Franchises by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal. Their success at the gate is matched by the teams’ three league titles (1998, 2000 and 2001) and the 1999 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup title, in which they defeated three MLS teams en route to the historic championship. The Rhinos ownership trio was inducted into the USL Hall of Fame in 2005 as builders.
DuRoss a co-founder in Major League Lacrosse operates the Rochester Rattlers lacrosse team, a member of the ten-team league.
DuRoss was part of an investment group that managed the restaurants, concessions and novelty operations of the ESL Sports Centre, a four-arena, multi-purpose complex on the campus of Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. Co-founder of the National Lacrosse League (NLL), DuRoss at one time owned the Boston Blazers.
Presently DuRoss owns Sylvan Strands Realty Corporation and DuRoss Realty Corporation, commercial real estate property development companies, he formerly owned various media properties including radio station (WOWZ FM-97.9) in Utica and the rights to a television station in Des Moines, Iowa and Greenville, SC.
Frank and his wife Liz have two children, a daughter Noelle and son-in-law Tom Accuri, a son Frank Jr., and daughter-in-law Anne and three grandchildren, Taylor, Alyssa Bella and Olivia.
