Where Should Cleveland build a SSS?

[ClevelandMark]

I think that an ownership committee should work with CSU to build the stadium on Krenzler Field near campus. The area is starting re-develop and the cost of combining efforts with the CSU teams would is favorable.

[andinho]

I don't care as long as it happens (and its not 100% public money).

[Joe Stoker]

BulaJacket brought the current Krenzler renovation to light last fall here on the boards. The facility is shoehorned in between sidestreets. The city would have to vacate one or both streets to expand capacity for east and west grandstands for MLS-type numbers. There appears to be some room for seating expansion behind the goals, but the limitations re the main grandstands are IMO the sticky issue.

Field Turf and an air-supported dome "for the winter months"... translated as six months out of every year in Cleveland. To think, one month ago we were fending off the last of the snow (87F today).

[Bill Archer]

Hotter than hell around here these days. Ridiculous.

Who wants to play at CSU? Who wants to play on stinkin FieldTurf?

A soccer stadium needs to be exactly where Mr Wolstein originally wanted it. Downtown in the mix with the other venues. Parking, public transportation, restaurants and bars and all that make a big difference in attracting fans.

That said, there's seemingly no chance it will happen, but it's not going to happen at CSU either, so what the heck.

[CBusCrew12]

Does the SSS have to be downtown? I don't really like downtown Cleveland.

I'd build it in Lakewood and name the team Cuyahoga United or Erie United (I like this one a little better). I think I've said this before somewhere.

[andinho]

Does the SSS have to be downtown? I don't really like downtown Cleveland.

I'd build it in Lakewood and name the team Cuyahoga United or Erie United (I like this one a little better). I think I've said this before somewhere.


Not sure there is a place to put it in Lakewood. For atmosphere and amenities, I think a stadium should be downtown, accessible to bars and restaurants and capable of generating some attention and visibility as people walk and commute by the stadium.

However, I don't think it'll happen in Cleveland since Bert Wolstein passed away. For it to happen it would really need a powerful, wealthy, and motivated Clevelander to pave the way.

[ClevelandMark]

CSU is practically downtown. Krenzler field is located at East 20th and Chester. I still think its the best option to combine resources of both the team and CSU to bring down costs. That area is on the upswing and would create a district similar to Gateway if sports teams were there.

Lakewood is not a viable option has no chunk of usable land and the costs of buy separate parcels would be prohibitive.

I hate the name Erie United. People would think we stole the team from Erie, PA.

[Joe Stoker]

CSU is practically downtown. Krenzler field is located at East 20th and Chester. I still think its the best option to combine resources of both the team and CSU to bring down costs. That area is on the upswing and would create a district similar to Gateway if sports teams were there.

Lakewood is not a viable option has no chunk of usable land and the costs of buy separate parcels would be prohibitive.

I hate the name Erie United. People would think we stole the team from Erie, PA.

Flaming Cuyahoga FC. Right. ;)
And let Erie (PA) attract its own team.

Welcome Cleve Mark. We've touched upon the Krenzler subject in times past here and there. Besides being shoehorned in like Fenway, the Field Turf installation has turned me off almost as much as Bill. Also, the recent muggings in the adjacent parking areas hasn't enhanced matters.

I wouldn't mind attending Sunday afternoon or early evening Inter PDL matches there, but I suppose the rent is probably more than they care to pay... so they play goodness-knows-where these days. It would've been an OK place for the Stokers to have survived the NASL dark ages had it existed back then, but I don't see it as MLS material today... even by a stretch of imagination.

The places that have generated the most noise are RIP Wolstein's proposed convention center area downtown, and the Boston Hills Country Club land in Boston Mills along route 8 by the Turnpike in northern Summit County (which I envision of turning into another Richfield Coliseum story). I put in a word or two for the Strongsville area (but massive youth programs don't necessarily translate into ticket sales). A recent thought I had concerned the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds (Berea), since Crew Stadium is near the State Fairgrounds in Columbus. But it's only a thought left vulnerable to attack.

[CBusCrew12]

I've heard that Drew Carey is into soccer. Has he shown any interest at all in bringing a team to his home town?

[ClevelandMark]

I've heard that Drew Carey is into soccer. Has he shown any interest at all in bringing a team to his home town?

Quite the opposite, Drew was quoted in the PD saying that it would not be economically feasible to bring an MLS team to town especially with the Force competing for business.

However, if the Force folds, who knows what could happen.

[SAGNEST]

<< The places that have generated the most noise are RIP Wolstein's proposed convention center area downtown, and the Boston Hills Country Club land in Boston Mills along route 8 by the Turnpike in northern Summit County (which I envision of turning into another Richfield Coliseum story). >>

Hello, I'm a newbie to this site.

I agree with the above comment about the Boston Hills Country Club site idea. For a soccer franchise to succeed in NE Ohio, it must do what the old Richfield Coliseum did for the Cleveland Force back in the '80s. It pulled from a fan base in Canton, Akron as well as Cleveland to fill the seats up routinely! If not Boston Hills, perhaps somewhere else in that region but having it in downtown Cleveland will be the kiss of death as it was for the Cleveland Crunch / Force.

Nick

[caputobd]

I'll preface this by saying that I am a native Clevelander that lived there for the first 18+ years of my life and my family still lives there so I've been back plenty in the past 8 years since.

I've read many comments about the topic and here are my random thoughts:

1) CSU would not work. First and foremost, as Joe Stoker put it, there just isn't the room. The stadium is not expandable in the areas that need expanding (main grandstands.) The campus/city would have to remove one or two streets to make it happen.

2) Also, having the SSS on CSU's campus would most certainly NOT create an atmosphere similar to the gateway complex. For one, The Jake is on the first downtown exit when entering the city for west siders (easily accessible) Also, with both stadiums, public square, tower city and the Hard Rock cafe all within walking distance, it's a much travelled area of town even sans stadiums. I can say that in my 26 years I have only been to CSU once unless going to a Force/Crunch game at the Convo Center.

3) While the Lakewood area would certainly give the stadium a nice feel (lots of places to go out and a young crowd) there just simply isn't enough land to build a SSS and have enough parking.

4) Unfortunately, I think Cleveland's expansion chances died along with Wolstein. I just don't see another I/O popping up in the next couple of years.

5) If one did, I would suggest doing what Chicago/Dallas/etc are doing in building a suburban youth complex. Just make sure it's on the south side somewhere that is easily accessible from both east and west. I would also try to put it in a suburb that has decent night life. Alas, I do not know where exactly that would be since it's been awhile since I spent more than a week at a time in C-town.

That's it for now....

[AkronSoccerFan]

This may be pie in the sky, but if Cleveland does receive a new franchise, why not shoot for building it on the same location as the Richfield Coliseum. I believe the National Parks Service has control of the land now, but the location makes too much sense for it not happen. It's centrally located, close to the suburbs where soccer is supported the most and easily accessible from I-271.

By the way, if the name game is still up in the air, I'd say go with Northcoast United of Cuyahoga Steel.

[caputobd]

Cleveland Steamers? Okay...kidding...

I think the name HAS to have Cleveland in it, no matter what. Think of who the immediate rivals would be...Chicago, Columbus....

Lets forget the eurotrash nicknames and just make them the Cleveland Force and end this silly indoor nonsense.

I don't really like the whole Cuyahoga Steel for two reasons...
1. I want the name Cleveland in it
2. Steel is what Pittsburgh is known for, and we all should hate them