April 16Apr 16 17 minutes ago, KJP said: The ask has been made. Check out the cost estimates for a stadium for Division 1 NWSL teams in Denver and Boston -- $200 million-plus. Starting out at that level is a really tall hill to climb. An expandable stadium is probably the way to do it here, and that's what CSG is doing. Care to share details if you're in the know then? The reporting I've seen only states that Murphy still has yet to put the financing package together but that he thinks it should be a public/private partnership. Oh, and that the return on the investment will be huge. I'm not buying it and I hope Cleveland doesn't either. They can play these games at any number of high school fields across the county.
April 16Apr 16 17 minutes ago, MostlyThere14 said: Care to share details if you're in the know then? I reported it in my article posted earlier in this thread. Murphy said he is in negotiations with the city and county. BTW, here's a video shared by WPSL Pro.... https://www.linkedin.com/posts/wpsl-pro_clevelandprosoccer-wpslpro-buildinghergame-activity-7318237818235875328-ykIq?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAADVW4gB9TCBTV-x0kWQxgql5L6VCOrA18k "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 16Apr 16 I agree with others here that this seems like a big ask for what teams are coming. And the main tenant being in a brand new league that could fold before 2030. NWSL or USL team? I think it's justified. But lower level/minor league soccer in a league with no real foundation yet isn't what public dollars should be used on. You can't really compare this to minor league teams in other sports nearby either. Those actually have players signed with the local major league teams. And with the Monsters/Rubberducks/Captains, you can see star players on rehab assignments. These will be players who almost certainly have second jobs and no affiliation to any higher level team. No disrespect to them for that or anything, but it's just the reality of the league we're looking at joining. These leagues will be closer to regional independent baseball leagues or the OHL in hockey in the grand schemes of soccer. Like someone above mentioned, the Crushers would be laughed out of the County asking for sizable help on a $50M+ stadium. For now, add another 4-5k seats and necessary infrastructure to Krenzler, and keep trying for NWSL or USL team for a larger investment.
April 16Apr 16 1 hour ago, KJP said: I reported it in my article posted earlier in this thread. Murphy said he is in negotiations with the city and county. No details on the ask in the article though. Hoping it's not much of a negotiation.
April 16Apr 16 Cleveland eyes WPSL Pro after not getting National Women's Soccer League team Cleveland Soccer Group is launching a franchise in a new professional women’s soccer league just months after missing out on an National Women's Soccer League expansion franchise. Instead of waiting for the next round of NWSL expansion, the investor group led by Gravitas Ventures’ Michael Murphy and Nolan Gallagher is joining WPSL Pro, a proposed Division II league set to launch in 2026. WPSL Pro, a startup professional league from the longtime operators of the amateur Women’s Premier Soccer League, was initially proposed as a Division III league but has instead decided to seek Division II sanctioning from U.S. Soccer. It would become the third women’s professional league in the U.S., joining the NWSL and the recently launched USL Super League, organized by the United Soccer League. Other WPSL Pro markets so far include Atlanta; Dallas; High Point, North Carolina; Oklahoma City; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and the San Francisco Bay Area. Cleveland was one of three finalists to receive an NWSL expansion franchise for the 2026 season alongside Denver and Cincinnati. When NWSL awarded its 16th franchise to Denver in January, Cleveland Soccer Group reexamined its plans for women’s soccer. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/cleveland/news/2025/04/16/cleveland-eyes-wpsl-pro-after-not-getting-in-nwsl.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
April 16Apr 16 6 hours ago, Dino said: I'm surprised by all the negativity. No one really knows what they are even asking for in terms of public money at this point. It's implied that they will request a TIF and decline any new tax proceeds. I have no idea what attendance is like at women's soccer matches, but average attendance at MLSNP is about 4k for teams without another team. (https://nextpronews.substack.com/p/mls-next-pro-2024-attendance-report). So if you're looking to start a team with the hopes it grows, I wouldn't plan anything smaller than 10K. I mean, Lakewood High School has a 10k stadium. One of the reasons it's as big as it is, is that it's seen as a community asset. I gotta believe the City of Cleveland could support this to help benefit local high schools and such, in addition to helping the pro soccer teams. ^I'm with @Geowizical on this. We agree also. Let it play out! We like the energy and efforts these folks are putting into it. While we can attest to the ever growing popularity of the English Premier League, Women's soccer may be the next generation's big thing based on hearing anecdotally from those who say they follow daughters and grand-daughters soccer matches - many in youth soccer but also some at the college/club team level. May be a sleeping cash cow and tourist draw if done right.
April 17Apr 17 https://www.crainscleveland.com/sports-recreation/cleveland-soccer-group-adding-wpsl-pro-team-2026
April 18Apr 18 Columbus Crew expect 60K+ at Huntington Field in Cleveland https://fox8.com/news/soccer-mega-star-lionel-messi-to-take-the-pitch-in-cleveland-as-columbus-crew-faces-inter-miami-at-huntington-bank-field/
April 18Apr 18 https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/soccer/columbus-crew-inter-miam-cf-cleveland-huntington-bank-field-tickets-parking-road-closures/95-31f460d3-bfec-4559-a846-dee04ae642ba
April 18Apr 18 https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2025/04/18/lionel-messi-columbus-crew-inter-miami-mls-wilfried-nancy/83137318007/
April 20Apr 20 Miami beats Columbus 1-0 https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/04/19/cremaschi-lifts-inter-miami-1-0-win-over-crew-before-record-60614-fans-cleveland/
April 20Apr 20 There were a bunch of Crew players on West 25th last night. Only got to talk to 1 but from what he said the whole team was very positive about their experience in Cleveland
April 23Apr 23 ICYMI Women's team survey: https://t.co/0Ym0M6WN1i Men's team survey: https://t.co/Z4wLpyhhMl
April 26Apr 26 The WPSL PRO has got company. NWSL submits application to U.S. Soccer for launch of Division II league starting in 2026 Pardeep Cattry - CBSSports - Apr. 25, 2025 "Eight existing NWSL clubs will field affiliated team for its inaugural season, should the plans be approved by U.S. Soccer. ... The WPSL Pro, which also plans to start play in 2026, is currently awaiting sanctioning from U.S. Soccer and would rival the NWSL Division II league if both get the all-clear."
April 26Apr 26 Notre Dame. https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/04/25/former-womens-college-closer-becoming-hub-new-womens-soccer-team/
April 28Apr 28 On 4/26/2025 at 7:52 PM, simplythis said:Notre Dame. https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/04/25/former-womens-college-closer-becoming-hub-new-womens-soccer-team/I think this makes the most sense. There are already 2 full soccer fields there, plus space to add at least two more with minimal effort. There's also a weight room and indoor rec center, plus residence halls for players to stay in. Presumably they wouldn't need all the buildings and could hopefully use some for redevelopment.
April 28Apr 28 Yes, 2 of the NDC dorms were built in 2008, and the old NDC library building was transitioned into more of a social space after the new branch of the South Euclid public library opened across the street. The old Regina building also has it's own indoor gymnasium and theater, and NDC spent quite a bit of time and money modernizing parts of the building. Plenty of room for multiple team HQs on that property. I wonder if they will allow the main college chapel to be usable for ceremonies again? Quite a few weddings happened on campus when I was a student there.
May 13May 13 Got a mini-bomb coming..... 💣 "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 13May 13 Soccer stadium backers seek another propertyBy Ken Prendergast / May 13, 2025Once again, we’re breaking the news on a pending real estate deal for a Cleveland-area sports stadium. But, unlike the deal by owners of a certain American football team for 176 acres in Brook Park, this stadium site and purpose were already well known.MORE:https://neo-trans.blog/2025/05/13/soccer-stadium-backers-seek-another-property/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
May 13May 13 I think that the future use of the Cleveland Black Oxide building will be dependent upon if they acquire the Notre Dame College site for Headquarters and training site or another site altogether.
May 13May 13 I would love for them to build some kind of food truck park and vendor pop-up area. Places where food trucks and local businesses can set up just for the day on gamedays and sell goods, instead of renting an entire storefront hoping for customers to randomly show up when there isnt a game.
May 14May 14 You can see it in the property listing, but the rear of the property has a bridge that goes to ODOT owned land across the way, I'm sure they could leverage that for parking if needed. Also this map is probably a biohazard, but it'd be cool in someone's garage!
May 14May 14 1 hour ago, GISguy said:You can see it in the property listing, but the rear of the property has a bridge that goes to ODOT owned land across the way, I'm sure they could leverage that for parking if needed.Also this map is probably a biohazard, but it'd be cool in someone's garage!I want that map... Very cool.
May 29May 29 Notre Dame College sued by Bank of America for $20M debt, accused of improper use of endowment funds by Ohio AG Dave Yosthttps://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cuyahoga-county/notre-dame-college-sued-ohio-attorney-general-dave-yost-bank-of-america-20-million-endowment-funds/95-0ed98a4d-314d-48c1-a69c-802cf04a5cbfI wonder how this affects CSG's interest in acquiring ND college campus for practice facilities?
May 29May 29 They might want to wait this one out. If this ends in state forfeiture, they could get the property for a song. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 3Jun 3 An effort to sell Notre Dame College stalled out. Recent lawsuits explain what's going on.https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/we-follow-through/an-effort-to-sell-notre-dame-college-stalled-out-recent-lawsuits-explain-whats-going-on
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