Re: We're Staying in Cleveland So USL pushes CCS, a pretty successful USL-2 franchise, to jump up a division when they aren't ready - then terminates their franchise a year later? Insane. And a really, really raw deal for Cleveland fans. My condolences, everybody.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland The current City Stars owners wanted out of pro soccer. And the group they were selling to were dragging their feet. I guess its possible and I hope for Cleveland fans it does happen. Just not likely.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland Yes, it's complete bullshit. The league is in NO position to be terminating franchises, especially if the rumor is true that the deal was close to being done. USL HQ ruined this team. I only hope some new investors are able to get a new team, hopefully in this new league.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland We'd need a new ownership group as the current owners don't have the money to operate. And I hope a new group does not become the Stokers. That name needs to be retired. We're not Stoke City anymore. Cleveland City is a good name and I hope someone can step forward and revitalize this team in a new league.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland Well, since they bought all the other NASL names, well, you know. Better Stokers than the Cleveland Jaws (an old NASL name I hope they didn't buy the rights to).
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland Allow me to add to the chorus. Cleveland was hosed by USL, plain and simple. My condolences and apologies to all devoted to your organization.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland So the new investor would have to taken on the debts of Cleveland which are rumored to be $450,000? Wouldnt USL suspending the franchise allow the potential new owners to get a fresh USL2 franchise without those debts? Wasn't that their intention of moving Cleveland down anyhow? I think the franchise fee for a USLD2 is only $250k (if that) Considering they were talking I could see this as a move by USL to accomidate the new investor I can't imagine why USL wouldn't want facilitate the sell and im sure this exact senerio crossed the new investors minds.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland You would think with everything the USL is going through right now they would want to try and keep the Stars around or afloat. Sounds to me that the USL is cutting ties with everything and looking to declare bankruptcy. Shame really, I was looking forward to seeing you play my Hounds again.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland Taking on $450K worth of debt would be insane -- it's not like the City Stars brand is that established. Plus from the league's perspective they'd prefer another $250K franchise fee. So, maybe there's a back room deal going on. Although I'm doubtful of that scenario at this point.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland USL and Nike put the league into this mess. Members of the TOA were smart to go on there own. Seattle Sounders will tell you what a joke the USL front office is.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland I think that it would more be a case of the group that tried to buy the City Stars buying an NASL franchise (or maybe even a USL franchise - I wouldn't be shocked if this is a cash play by the USL to force the buyers to buy an expansion franchise). If Western Mass and Bermuda drop or fold, I can see the entire third division going bust (only 6 teams - 2 of them being Real Maryland and the Rivermutts). If this group (the potential CCS buyers) don't start a team, I think you can write off minor-league soccer in Cleveland (MLS could probably work here if someone was crazy enough to buy a franchise, Clevelanders will watch anything if its "major league" - i.e. the original Force) for 100 years.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland That would only make sense if the USL were run by clever, shrewd businessmen. My only business credentials are an economics minor and coming up 2 accounting courses short of a business minor (long story), but I could probably run the USL better than it is currently. See my above post, methinks USL is all but done as a pro league. btw, I'd love to have the Crew's NASL affiliate here.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland one of the aricles I read said the City stars were in debt to the tune of $450,000. With the termination of the Franchise, the potential new owner wont take on that debt. they could buy a new USLD2 franchise for considerably less. and if they were consider dropping back to USLD2 as mentioned. wouldnt that make business sense? some backroom talks going on?
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland If I may engage in a bit of mild hyperbole, I can see only two possibilities here: 1) A new Cleveland pro soccer club will shortly be established to join USL-2 -- or -- 2) USL is getting out of the pro soccer business altogether. I mean, think about it. Cleveland is one of only three remaining clubs in USL-1. USL-2 is now showing signs of severe distress. A league doesn't eject teams in a situation like this --they do everything they can to keep the club alive so the league can remain in business. So either, as others have speculated, USL terminated the franchise because they have a deal to sell a new franchise to the buyers, or USL has given up on professional soccer and will just run the PDL and Y-League going forward. In which case I would like to direct at NuRock a hearty Nelson-esque "HA ha! You bought nuthin'!" Like I said, this is mild hyperbole. There are probably other explanations. Unfortunately, the only one I can think of is that the people running USL are complete retards who haven't realized yet how badly it's going for them. If there is a new team, I hope they can arrange to purchase the CCS name and logo from the old team. I love the name and the badge. (And the Nairobi City Stars need a sister club.) ------RM
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland half of me would like to laugh @ the Shitty Stars...the other half is outraged by the USL for ruining a potential rivalry and 3-4 exciting games in 2010 I too hope that you get some new owners and keep the name and logo - wouldn't be the same any other way.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland There's still a chance we will have a team in Cleveland this season. From Cleveland.com I'm not confident, but all hope is not lost.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland I guess there is a chance that USL is negotiating directly with the group that the City Stars were trying to sell to... just an idea.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland That could be true. If it is, it's kinda shady on the league's part; that could have undermined the deal and been the reason the prospective owners stalled.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland Normally, I wouldn't think USL would do that (screw their own clubs... hmmm...). But with them losing so many already, they might have seen it as a ends justify the means type scenario. Again, just speculation. I kinda wish USL would do something like that, it would keep pro soccer in Cleveland.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland where's Drew Carey at when you need him? i wonder if anyone has approached him about saving the Shitty Stars? his minority stake in the Sounders is probably worth more than the whole Cleveland franchise anyway...
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland Probably 10x+ more.... It would of been so awesome if all the research he did in Cleveland came back saying we would've been a great place for an MLS squad.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland Wasn't for lack of trying. There were a number of conversations that took place between City and Drew Carey 2 years ago during their championship run. Let's just put it this way: the whole "I'm just a regular guy from Cleveland" thing only exists as an act, it does not factor in to anything he does from a business point of view. Not saying that's wrong, it's just that it is clear that Cleveland has no special place in his heart when it comes to business...so he isn't about to ride in and save the day. The rumor (and this is clearly one of those Internet rumors, I really don't have a strong source on this, just passing along scuttlebutt) that I heard yesterday is that there is a 2nd ownership group involved. The league apparently thinks that this other group offers more stable ownership, and so they basically pushed the current City deal over the edge. That's probably not the full truth, but there is an absolute vacuum of news, so the rumors persist.
Re: We're Staying in Cleveland At this point, I don't care, just as long as we have a pro team in the city this season.