AFC Cleveland wins 2016 National Premier Soccer League title

 

www.afccleveland.com

 

@afccleveland

 

 

Who?

The Champs!  That's who!

Congrats to the Royals, but 'premier' should be no where in that league name

Never heard of them.

I consider myself an avid soccer fan and I had no idea Cleveland had a team.  I thought the City Stars were the last team to call Cleveland home.  Congrats!  I think they need to play in or near Ohio City and capitalize on the brewery and generation X scene, imho.

I believe they play in Independence

As much as I love soccer, I can't seem to get excited about any team that plays at a high school.

 

Anyhow, congrats AFC Royals.

 

CLE = Titletown

^They do, and that is part of the problem, there is no atmosphere in the 'burbs and while they encourage tailgating there is also a strict no alcohol policy.  Look to FC Cincinnati for some best practices, urban stadium, close to bars.  Obviously, FC Cincinnati is a higher level of soccer, but I could see Cleveland being a little higher profile than it is.

^Detroit City FC and Chattanooga FC are examples of successful attendance in the NPSL

2016 is not the year of the Monkey....it is the year of Cleveland!

As much as I love soccer, I can't seem to get excited about any team that plays at a high school.

 

Anyhow, congrats AFC Royals

 

Sums up my feelings exactly. I believe they used to play at Krenzler Field, but have been rather nodamic over the last few years.

If Cleveland had a team playing at USL level in anything like a dedicated or serious stadium in a remotely urban setting my kids and I would be season ticket holders. There's plenty of people I know who feel the same.

 

I love what's going on with FC Cincinnati and am planning to take a trip down there before the season is out. Just to put that in context, although I often watch their games on tv, I've never once seriously considered going to see Columbus Crew.

Ive been hearing rumors on some soccer forums about a possible ownership group looking to start a team here and build a stadium, specifically division 3, although I think the right owner with the money to invest could handle division 2 requirements. Havent heard anything about it being in USL or something else.

 

If this happens, it might not bode well for AFC Cleveland. I would love to see a potential ownership group partner with or acquire them and move them up to USL, maintaining this championship winning teams identity.

 

Regardless it got me thinking about stadiums. Im not from Cleveland and dont know the land/real estate/development scene well. What are places that could be viable for a soccer specific stadium, in an urban setting with other things to do within walking distance? Some of the riverfront land looks interesting in areas like the flats, Ohio City, Tremont based off a quick glance from google maps but i dont know about current or future uses/plans for anything in Cleveland.

 

I am a supporter of Cleveland sports teams and want to see professional soccer succeed here. I think the USLs Louisville City is a solid example to aspire too.

Regardless it got me thinking about stadiums. Im not from Cleveland and dont know the land/real estate/development scene well. What are places that could be viable for a soccer specific stadium, in an urban setting with other things to do within walking distance? Some of the riverfront land looks interesting in areas like the flats, Ohio City, Tremont based off a quick glance from google maps but i dont know about current or future uses/plans for anything in Cleveland.

 

 

I'd pitch a shared venue with Cleveland State. And I'd integrate it with existing infrastructure, right in between the Tower Press Building on Superior and the Public Safety Building on Payne. It would make the most unique stadium in American sports.

 

 

The group may be seeking a move to USL D3. It's a new league that will start in 2019. The league is owned by USL and will have easier requirements to qualify (easier stadium requirements, lower cost to buy a franchise, and lower required budget/ownership wealth). I wouldn't be surprised if that's what they are going for.

If you want it in an urban setting, I agree that partnering somehow with CSU may be the way to go.  But no need to build new.  How big are the crowds at these games?  Might just be wise to build a larger stadium on the east side of the CSU field on Payne and 18th

I would definitely prefer starting in USL D3 and possibly moving up to the main league. Ive heard rumors that Peter Wilt  (whos involved in the creation of a possible competing D3 league) is advising the Cleveland ownership group and that would make me think they might stay away from the USL/MLS network and opt for this other new league with maybe eventual NASL potential. Im not a fan of that as i see NASL as a sinking ship.

If CLE does get a new team I think a good name could be Sixth City Foresters or the Cleveland Foresters.

Tremendously exited at the prospect of this happening. In a nod to the old downtown club, I've always thought Cleveland Athletic(s) would be a great name.

Regards the stadium, I love the idea of it behind the old police hq, but I'm really not sure that plot's anywhere near big enough.

Regards the stadium, I love the idea of it behind the old police hq, but I'm really not sure that plot's anywhere near big enough.

 

I thought that Columbus Mapfre stadium would fit in there from cutting and pasting in google maps, but I admittedly suck at that sort of thing.

Yeah that would be a cool spot between those two buildings but it definitely isnt big enough to get a full size field and stands surrounding most of it.

 

That area is a good location though, and a partnership with CSU could be beneficial. I wonder if Krenzler Field could just be rebuilt on the same land but rotated to be parallel to Chester as opposed to 18th St and just relocate the baseball field. I think that would probably provide sufficient space. I think you would need no less than 500x400 ft plot of land for a 2nd or 3rd division size stadium.

Keep in mind, that even the best attended teams in the NPSL typically only draw a few thousand people (Detroit drew just over 5,000 last year per game). Mapfre is much larger than AFC Cleveland would need if they are looking for a Division 3 move. If they wanted to eventually move up to NASL or USL, they would likely want a ~10,000 capacity stadium, so still much smaller than Mapfre. If they are going to build a new stadium, it would be smart to get a location where they can build a ~4,000 seat stadium at first, but have enough land to expand the stadium if they need to.

Cleveland Foresters sounds legit and is culturally/historically relevant. I like the name of the old 1870s baseball team, Cleveland Forest City. Stealing the name for a new team that isnt even baseball might be disrespectful to baseball history though. Cleveland Foresters is cool though. Sounds very similar to Portland Timbers but nobody could accuse us of jocking their style since its Cleveland history.

Why must we start below USL. Did we not have the CLeveland City Stars at CSU Krenzler Field a few years ago.

Why must we start below USL. Did we not have the CLeveland City Stars at CSU Krenzler Field a few years ago.

 

And they are no longer here... Hence us starting lower.

 

I do agree, though. It is not necessarily the fact that they play at a high school; rather, the fact that they play at a "suburban" high school. The soccer scene is big with the 20-40 year olds that love the idea of making the Anglo-pub walk to games. I think playing at St. Ignatius would be a perfect start. Establish a fan base, get a consistent crowd to games, get a fun atmosphere before the games, then use that feedback to figure out where to put a stadium, should expansion into a higher tier become a possibility.

 

Cincinnati FC is doing well for their size. However, it is also noteworthy that Cincy has one less major sports team than Cleveland, and thus might not be the best comparison for AFC Cleveland.

^ True that. I love soccer, but the idea of driving to the burbs to watch pro soccer at a high school depresses me.

 

It's unfortunate that our MLS push ended when Bert Wolstein died. If only he had partnered with CSU instead of his recession-sensitive outlet mall stadium idea we would have a very interesting Cleveland vs. Columbus rivalry going on. It might even spur Northeast Ohio to branch off into its own state or something.   

It might even spur Northeast Ohio to branch off into its own state or something.

 

:laugh:

^ again with this? yeah as soon as california splits off lol. dont we all need to stick together in the trump era?

I am not in favor of a MLS team in Cleveland anymore than I am in favor of an NBA, MLB, or NFL team in Columbus.  I do think the Crew would do well to re-brand itself as the Ohio Crew..... much like the Cavs would benefit by doing something similar (Ohio or Erie).  Not gonna happen, but JMHO.

^ again with this? yeah as soon as california splits off lol. dont we all need to stick together in the trump era?

 

He was joking about it (we had another NEO split from Ohio thread that went sour fast).

I am not in favor of a MLS team in Cleveland anymore than I am in favor of an NBA, MLB, or NFL team in Columbus.  I do think the Crew would do well to re-brand itself as the Ohio Crew..... much like the Cavs would benefit by doing something similar (Ohio or Erie).  Not gonna happen, but JMHO.

 

For whatever reason neither the Crew, nor the Blue Jackets, have really caught on in Northeast Ohio. I'm actually friends with the Crew's brand ambassador, I should talk to him about this. It would be awesome to have CBJ and Crew play games in Cleveland sometimes. Anyhow, we should really have a larger soccer presence than what's going on currently.

would the southwest corner of euclid and e55th be big enough?

I am not in favor of a MLS team in Cleveland anymore than I am in favor of an NBA, MLB, or NFL team in Columbus.  I do think the Crew would do well to re-brand itself as the Ohio Crew..... much like the Cavs would benefit by doing something similar (Ohio or Erie).  Not gonna happen, but JMHO.

 

For whatever reason neither the Crew, nor the Blue Jackets, have really caught on in Northeast Ohio. I'm actually friends with the Crew's brand ambassador, I should talk to him about this. It would be awesome to have CBJ and Crew play games in Cleveland sometimes. Anyhow, we should really have a larger soccer presence than what's going on currently.

 

I had heard the Cavs and Jackets were VERY close to exchanging home

Games ... and then Lebron came back.

I realized this is getting off-topic, but since it started here....

 

I spoke with the Crew's brand ambassador today and they are working on getting a shuttle aka "party bus" from Cleveland to Columbus in the near future. I appointed myself as unpaid consultant. I'll make sure that only the finest Cleveland and Columbus breweries are involved in these excursions.

AFC Cleveland played really well last night. It's a team of all amateurs, and they held FC Cincinnati scoreless for 115 minutes. Just 5 minutes shy of bringing the game to penalties.

 

Their strategy was clearly to outlast us, and take it to penalties. They had 6 shots all night, Cincinnati had 44.

Not actually pertaining to AFC Cleveland.....just lower division soccer in our region.....reps from the upcoming USL D3 league office have been touring regional cities as prospective expansion cities for the league. They just visited Fort Wayne, Grand Rapids, Lansing, and Dayton and are coming to Toledo soon.

 

Im excited about the prospect of having professional soccer (not to knock amateur and semi-pro teams) in a lot of cities.

Have they toured Cleveland.

Has anybody heard anything about the potential pro team lately?

 

As a diehard Crew fan.....the news of our impending move to Austin has me wishing this team would happen and be announced soon. Even though FC Cincy exists I have no connection to that region of the state....and while Im a Toledoan (we normally gravitate toward Detroit sports wise)....i support Cleveland sports as my family is from CLE and it's the only other place I could get passionately behind a team.

 

I still really think a potential team owner should partner with CSU to build a new, bigger, modern Krenzler "Stadium".  Cleveland USL soccer as well as CSU soccer  can use it. It could also host lacrosse teams,  and be a central location for area high school football teams to use for big games occasionally. Actually, has CSU ever had plans for a football team in the future? This would be a good opportunity to save money on a proper stadium.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed.

A poster in the Big Soccer forum posted that AFC Cleveland Royals are not coming back to the NPSL next Year,

but supposedly will be playing.

 

Does anybody know anything about this?

A poster in the Big Soccer forum posted that AFC Cleveland Royals are not coming back to the NPSL next Year,

but supposedly will be playing.

 

Does anybody know anything about this?

 

I believe that was from supporters group Twitter (who subsequently posted it on bigsoccer). No official announcement yet.

A poster in the Big Soccer forum posted that AFC Cleveland Royals are not coming back to the NPSL next Year,

but supposedly will be playing.

 

Does anybody know anything about this?

 

I believe that was from supporters group Twitter (who subsequently posted it on bigsoccer). No official announcement yet.

 

League tweeted it out. AFC Cleveland was not "in good financial standing with the league."

 

They will not be in NPSL for 2018.

 

A new team named Cleveland SC will be playing in in the NPSL this year.

http://www.npsl.com/news_article/show/888463?referral=rss&referrer_id=2168389

 

Further @NPSLSoccer news: Cleveland will field a team this year, but it will be under different owners than '16 league winners @AFCCleveland, which folded after '17.

 

Follow-up to last night: Hearing 'new' Cleveland #NPSL squad will be comprised of many of the same players from AFC Cleveland last year. Expect a different org. setup, though.