ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Irondequoit native and Assembly Majority Leader, Joe Morelle is entering the stalled negotiations between the Rochester Red Wings and Monroe County, as a long-term lease deal at Frontier Field remains unsigned.

Thie stalled discussions comes after the two parties agreed in principal to a new deal last summer. 

Morrelle penned a letter to county executive Cheryl Dinolfo and team president Naomi Silver asking for an update on the negotiations.

 

Currently, the Wings are operating on a month-to-month stadium agreement. Silver says since agreeing to a lease extension in August, the county changed its position on a number of items, including upgrades to the stadium.

The Red Wings have played at Frontier Field since the late 90s, but the Wings say if a deal isn't reached they may be forced to move for the 2019 season. 

Morrelle's letter says in part, "The long-term operation of a Triple-A franchise at Frontier Field is essential to ensuring the financial viability and successful operation of this facility and most importantly safeguarding county taxpayers."

"Assemblyman Morelle is correct. He and others were supportive of my application to the State for funding, but the lack of a long term lease made it impossible for them to advocate for the project," Silver said. "Typically, the county would have made application for funding, and I would have supported that application, had a lease been in place."

Monroe County officials say they sent an updated draft of a new long-term lease for the team's final review and are waiting for a response. A county spokesperson says the proposed lease is, "the product of joint negotiations and reinforces the county’s commitment to keeping the Red Wings in Rochester for years to come."