So much for Cleveland...

[csh2000]

From http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=wolsteinobit&prov=st&type=lgns

Bert L. Wolstein was developer, philanthropist, sports owner
By M.R. KROPKO
The Associated Press
5/17/04 2:08 P.M.


CLEVELAND (AP) - Bert L. Wolstein, a real estate developer, philanthropist and former sports team owner, died Monday at his home. He was 77.

Wolstein owned the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League during the 1980s and last year signed a letter of intent to bring a Major League Soccer expansion team to Cleveland in 2005. Continue (http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=wolsteinobit&prov=st&type=lgns)

[Joe Stoker]

Looks that way, but don't count the chickens yet until we hear it from MLSHQ. We have yet to hear if Bert had a contingency plan in place (possibly involving son Scott?), especially once he learned the worst. And, as I mentioned in the Cleveland/Wolstein Dead at 77 thread, there were others who at one time or another have reportedly given some thought to pro soccer in Cleveland. As with Lurie, McNair, Allen, et al, the single-entity thing probably turns off the NFL Browns on MLS. Frank Stronach, who earlier gave thought to a stadium abutting his horseracing track in North Randall, and who also owns an Austrian pro soccer team, could reconsider. Carl Milstein, owner of Northfield Park (the trotters), could beat Stronach to the punch if he were interested in MLS.

I'd say it's still hanging by a thread, but it may now develop some new twists unless it's yanked for good.