As an old vulture who's been on the scene since the glory days of the Stokers on the old lakefront pitch, it's great to join this board and read all the interest in a possible new major league side, may it be run by Wolstein or whomever. Had the pleasure of acquaintence with the Wolsteins when they ran the original Force, and, although I was as angry as anyone when Bert "took his ball and went home", they struck me as honest and sincere soccer-friendly people. I would like to see some iron-clad commitment (8-10 years) for an expansion team... just so we skeptics can't say that history would quickly repeat itself with Mr. W at the helm. Would Cleveland support MLS? If it was marketed intelligently with a minimum of insulting gimmicks. The Stokers could have worked at Byers Field or Finnie Stadium if they weren't run by people who knew little of soccer fans and were only looking for a quick profit (and had the survival of the Tribe as their major concern). Despite the front office follies, Gabe Paul , Metzenbaum & co. found themselves with a very good side... good enough to defeat Pele & Santos... and within an overtime goal of the '68 championship finals. Today, ESPN and other US cable outlets have created a nation of intelligent fans of world soccer. I would encourage Wolstein or other interested parties to stage games between the Crew or US National Team and, say, Arsenal or Man U, or even dear-ol' Stoke (!).. rather than the KC Wizards, Raging Rhinos and such. For starters, give us some good stuff. Build interest on dignity and quality, not just gimmickery. Stake out a family section, too. Oh, yes. Bring back the name Cleveland Stokers. Like "Force", IMO it's worth a revival. Sales pitch: Yikes! Stripes! They're Back!
It seems to make more sense to me to have games played between MLS teams since that is the league that they are looking to be in. Not to mention I can't see any Euro teams wanting to play friendlies in Cleveland of all places. C14
Well, Crew14, whatever works. I would hope that the new ownership first studies the soccer fan market here inside out before implementing multi-millions into what they may narrow-mindedly convince themselves will work (ala 1967-68). IMO, for the right $$$, the Euro clubs would consider a summer excursion across the pond (See ISL early '60s, USA 1966, NASL '69). Past the east coast, all the burgs start to look alike to 'em. Wolstein's green would be as good as any. Unlike Man U, some of 'em (Italian & German major teams come to mind) could really use the income. I believe both our ideas could work. Younger fans know the MLS, while us geezers likewise appreciate the internationals. Hey, they should hire us to organize these exhibitions! Just show us the money! And a decent place to play.
Your talking about the 60's dogg... This is 2003, we want MLS, I could give a flying *************** about international exhibition whatever... I would rather watch a Copa Carnival match before watching two foreign teams play in the US... Why the hell would potential investors stage a match between the Crew and Stoke...how would that judge anything??? Crew verse Wizards, or any of the other 8 teams... You would think a potential investor would have a match between MLS teams to see if fans would come out to watch MLS....unless i'm flat retarded???
Hey guys, take it easy! Welcome to the boards, Stoke. I would suggest that you peruse the MLS news forum. Take a look at many of the old threads (you can page back) and look for threads about the business of MLS. The league's first goal is survival, and to do that they are limiting salaries and costs (thus preventing the kind of internationals you would like to see.) The league is trying to build a solid following over several years. That is why they do not spend too much money on marketing; they want to preserve cash, and they know that you can't win a fan in a day, anyway. It is true that Cleveland is one of the front runners. Try finding others in Cleveland to form the beginnings of a fan club so that if you do get a team, you can form the core of a rabid cheering section like most of the other MLS teams. Good luck Cleveland!
Thanks, Mountania. Well, MLS3 does have a point. Ideas that kept the ASL & NASL alive thirty and more years ago may not work against current demographics. Safe to say that many who remember the Santos-Stokers' match are no longer breathing. A whole new breed of dogg, indeed. And those of us old "doggs" can catch the FA and Euro teams quite regularly on the satellite. Not to say we should become overly provincial about our allegiance to MLS, but, yes, the goal of MLS is to produce a World Cup winner for the country. And to do that, they obviously need to operate a successful business. Here's hoping a Cleveland-area MLS exhibition is a success... but they need a decent facility to stage it. High school football fields or the Rubber Bowl (which was once tried with the old Force & barely attracted 1000) won't do it this time. If all fails, at least I have a lot of great memories of the games and players I saw pass this way. Pele (both with Santos & Cosmos), Gordon Banks and the Stoke contingent, and local heroes such as the MacMillans, the Nanchoffs and Vito Colonna, to name only a few. Rochester seems a good bet for expansion. They are passionate about it. Will be interesting to see who else shows enough passion to make MLS happen in their backyard. Good to hear from all, pro and con.
Excitement brewing for possible MLS team in Cleveland - The Plain Dealer: http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1049881040281582.xml
This article has a hilarious opening line. "No, you don't have to show proof that an uncle on your mom's side of the family once worked in a Communist tractor factory before declaring soccer as your favorite American sport."
Team name? I think if Cleveland does get a team, they should call them the Cleveland Clams.....then if all the players grew beards....
I think the Bulldogs would be good... colors: Brown, Blue, Orange or some variation. Tying them in a distant way to the Browns (& the Dawg Pound) would be a way to go and possibly generate more interest from the non soccer crowd IMO Or even bring back an old/current name.... Force would be alright, but the MISL team has that still.
I think the clear choice for a name is to honor Ohio's most famous rural, communatarian, chair-making celibates - the Shakers. Outfit them in plain uniforms and put straw hats on the cheerleaders.
No thanks I'd hate it if Cleveland got a team. I live in Ohio, and live closer to Cleveland than Columbus. . but I'd still support the Crew, and probabaly end up hating the Cleveland team. Give some other state one team, before giving us two.
Re: No thanks Agreed. Also, I'm worried about market saturation, that Ohio is not big enough to support two teams at this point. Remember, Cleveland has a basketball and baseball team, and a hugely popular NFL team. Yeah, I know, Columbus has the Buckeyes, but the Cleveland market seems too crowded.
Re: No thanks I grew up in the NE part of Ohio (screenname is part location/hockeyteam), and personally I'll be happy to see this happen if it is as close as portrayed. While I would like Philly, Seattle, Houston, & the smaller soccer-friendly cities to get them soon, I think the Columbus/Cleveland rivalry would turn out good, and think Cleveland soccer history is supportive enough to make this work. Other than that, I'm just selfish