Wolstein would wait for 2006 for downtown site

[BulaJacket]

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/sports/7474355.htm
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/breaking_news/7471422.htm

Summit not likely to pick up MLS team
League would wait on Cuyahoga, if needed
By Tom Reed
Beacon Journal staff writer

Anyone who thinks Cleveland's budget problems could help lure a recently awarded MLS franchise to Akron or Summit County is probably mistaken, said the man spearheading the effort to bring professional outdoor soccer to Northeast Ohio.

Bert Wolstein said despite Cleveland's economic woes, he is working with city and Cuyahoga County officials to make a downtown soccer-specific stadium a reality -- even if it means sitting out until the 2006 season.

``Everyone is bullish about this project; we have heard nothing negative,'' said Wolstein, whose Heritage Development Co., of Moreland Hills, reached an agreement last month to be a Major League Soccer investor-operator.

Wolstein spent Thursday entertaining MLS commissioner Don Garber, who was in Cleveland to discuss expansion plans.

Wolstein is looking to build a 25,000-seat multi-event stadium funded by public and private money. He declined to say what percentage of the estimated $110 million project he hoped the city and county would absorb.

Wolstein doesn't think Summit County is a viable option, but added that ``you never say never.''

``I just don't think Summit County could come up with a lot of money,'' said Wolstein, who claims to have had no discussion with Summit officials.

Wolstein understands that Cleveland is experiencing tough economic times and said that his group's focus is on the county.

He is hoping to secure some kind of stadium commitment in the next 45 days to ensure the franchise starts play in the 2005 season. He has set a June 1 deadline for a stadium deal to be reached or his group would withdraw its expansion bid.

``I think it could be an economic engine for Cleveland,'' Wolstein said.

Wolstein said the venue could be used for soccer, football and concerts. He envisions attracting international soccer matches featuring top-flight club teams.

...(more)...

[Joe Stoker]

Thanks for sharing this online. Caught it at lunchtime. Same ol' "Stein song & dance. I won't build in Summit. But maybe so. If I don't get money from Cleveland by my deadline, there will be no pro soccer for you. Same softsoap petulent manipulative blather as always.

Better deal... come out and support the Nanchoffs' real-for-certain grassroots soccer next summer at Byers Field.

That, & the remote possibility of another international at Browns Stadium, might well be the best we'll see around here for a while. No offense, Lake Erie Leaguers.

[QuarkspaceDotCom]

Interesting that there was nothing in the Plain Dealer about the Garber trip, and that this article was from the BJ.

I really don't think Cleveland cares about the potential team, and the public surely won't vote to contribute to any future "Wolstein Park".

My gut tells me MLS will NOT end up in Cleveland.

[Crewmudgeon]

Originally posted by QuarkspaceDotCom
I really don't think Cleveland cares about the potential team, and the public surely won't vote to contribute to any future "Wolstein Park".

My gut tells me MLS will NOT end up in Cleveland.

I couldn't have said it better myself!

[Ruud Boy]

I agree that the public would not vote to finance a stadium, but that was never mentioned. Help from the county and city does not mean that a public referendum would be involved. If the scenario was that complicated, I doubt we would have had wolstein signing a letter of intent, or the league announcing Cleveland as an expansion city.

I have a feeling that the poor economy in Cleveland may actually help out the project a bit. The city and county leaders have long favored development as a sacred route to financial success for the city. The city will be looking at this project as well as a potential house of blues project in order to help the financial crisis. I'm not saying any of this makes sense, but the politics in this area rarely do.

[Joe Stoker]

Yea, Ruud Boy, I suppose that's looking at it thru Dennis Kucinich glasses... or any other bass-ackwards politician's convoluted mind. A spiffy new soccer stadium will do more for the constituency of Hough & other equally lovely Cleveland neighborhoods than a police force or firefighters. Heaven forbid Mayor Jane & the Comedy Central Council allow taxpayers a say in how tax dollars are spent.

Little wonder they outlawed lynching up north.

Of course, if common sense would happen to prevail, and the politicos tell 'Stein to build his own gilded playpen with his own cash, the man could turn to Akron. After all, here's a city so well off that the govt built one modern ballpark (Canal Park), bought & refurbished another (Firestone) and then bought themselves a pro women's softball franchise. You'd think you wouldn't see a single pot-hole here as generous as these guys are with our tax money in taking good care of us. No voting necessary, just leave it to them.

[metros11]

He is hoping to secure some kind of stadium commitment in the next 45 days to ensure the franchise starts play in the 2005 season. He has set a June 1 deadline for a stadium deal to be reached or his group would withdraw its expansion bid.

Where is MLS3 now to tell us that Cleveland is a done deal...

[Joe Stoker]

Roger Brown, the Plain Dealer's off-the-cuff columnist, included this tidbit in today's observations. I quote:

"Contrary to reports in other publications, Summit County officials are still interested in building an outdoor stadium for Cleveland's 2005 Major League Soccer franchise. And the Summit County officials are seriously lobbying Bart (sic) Wolstein, future owner of the Cleveland MLS team, in hopes of reaching a stadium deal."

As I said, seems in character of sports-crazy Akron politicos and their county cronies in courting 'Stein, although he publicly speaks as if he's not eager to play john to their advances. Surprised we haven't yet seen Pro Lacrosse. But you wonder where MLS will fit in versus the baseball Aeros, the Soap Box Derby, & womens pro softball down here amongst the yokals (spoken with thick jabbing sarcasm)?

Oh well. As long as they keep filling the pot-holes down here, and stay away from my paycheck & property taxes, fine. Keep the safety forces intact in Cleveland, build the SSS in Akron & let's get the boys on the pitch. A crowd is a crowd is a crowd... whether they come down from Cleveland, Medina, Strongsville, (as with the Aeros) or from the local hood.

But remember that Bert is, in his words, intent on a stadium with peripheral hotels & restaurants... and a place for his clients' high-schools to play pointy-ball. Doesn't sound as if he's interested taking the Cuyahoga Valley Line south to Hooterville. We'll see.

[doliveti]

I wonder if the city of Akron is involved in any of this or if they are talking about the site at the Boston Hills Country Club. It would be great if the City of Akron and the University could put a package together to lure Wolstein south. The Rubber Bowl is falling apart and has been for many years. A new stadium downtown could do a lot to boost the program. The University has plans for one, but at the present time has absolutely no money to build it without help. It would be interesting to see if the City and University could put together a deal coupled with some of Wolstein's money to get this thing built.

[CrewToon]

I think it will be in southeast Cuyahoga County.

[Bonji]

I am totally impressed that Wolstein is looking for a $110 million project downtown. That will be a great stadium! What was the HDC, something like $150 and that is a 110 acre project. A downtown project will not be a huge complex so more will be spent on the stadium. Way to go Wolstein!

[USKiwi]

Where exactly would you put a stadium in downtown? In the soon to be vacated port area (that's supposed to be redeveloped into park and residential land)? In the flats on a bend in the river? Whiskey Island? In some crap parking lot/run down area east of E 13th (north of the Greyhound station)?

[Ruud Boy]

I believe the downtown area would be the land that wolstein owns just south of jacobs field. He offered this site when the city was looking for places to build a convention center.

[USKiwi]

Hmm, on the other side of I90 from the Jake, or North of 90, on the other side of Ontario?

[slapmebaby]

Originally posted by USKiwi
Hmm, on the other side of I90 from the Jake, or North of 90, on the other side of Ontario?

I think it's South of 90. Sort of where the large taxi parking lot is (or used to be). Not the most attractive area by any stretch.

Here's a pic: http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=12&x=553&y=5741&z=17&w=1

Jacobs field is upper center. I-90/Innerbelt bridge runs from the bottom curving to upper left. The Cuyahoga river snakes from the left. The area in question is the triangle bounded by 90 to the north and the river to the south.

I think this is right. No guarantees. Besides the neighborhood the other minus is that it's basically under the bridge.

[Cleveland FC]

as a life-long clevelander--and i don't mean the stickin' suburbs--i want to see the new pitch built near downtown. i think that the 'ohio city' neighborhood at w 25th st. would be a good spot. it's already experiencing a rebith, with new apartments, a remodeled West Side Market, and new store fronts too.

question: if chicago can do it for $70 million, then why the hell does cleveland need $110??

if i even hear mention of summit county come april, i will disown cleveland and move to pittsburgh...or akron...or not!

[Sanguine]

Originally posted by Cleveland FC
question: if chicago can do it for $70 million, then why the hell does cleveland need $110??


Chicago is building it way out in the burbs.

[Joe Stoker]

Cleveland isn't the one needing 110 mil for the complex. Cleveland can get along without it (Less safety force layoffs, for the money). Wolstein is the one who apparently needs it. Cleveland turned thumbs down on his covention center song & dance, and chances aren't good they'll be more responsive to his current scheme given Mayor Jane's current fiscal mess up there. So, in direct contradiction to what 'Stein said earlier on, rumor has it that he's once again testing the murky waters south of the (Cuyahoga) border... Summit County. Sorry, FC, but don't let this spark a move. Cleveland to Akron is like Kabul to Islamabad.

The more one thinks about it, wasn't it odd that, for all of Wolstein's noise, the rumors, and reported meetings, the ABC announcers made no mention of Cleveland during the MLS championship telecast (unless I missed something)?
Leads me to believe more than anything that this entire Cleveland thing is all purely speculative... all contingent on Wolstein convincing some government agency for free play money by which he can create new ventures. The Game and area soccer fans may not be first & foremost in his heart here. Why wouldn't that surprise us.

Downtown beneath the bridges. We can have our oun Randall's Island of soccer, with kids sitting up on the Innerbelt just like they did on the Triborough when Pele first arrived.

Compared to Rochester, OKC, or even San Diego or San Antonio... where's the excitement over proposed MLS in Cleveland? Where's the anticipation? Where are the billboards? Why isn't 'Stein doing the sports-talk shows? Who currently cares? Oh, about the 12 or 13 of us here on Cleveland BS board.

BTW, bravo to the Chicago Fire.

[Crewmudgeon]

What he said!