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Guest KStay2
Guest KStay2
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Nice!  I never made it to one of their games last time, so I hope to go this time around!

I will make it a point to get to one of these games.  Glad to see they are back.

One more article.  Looks like Cleveland had some influence with the league coming back:

 

Cleveland Gladiators owner pleased to be joining revamped Arena Football 1

By Dennis Manoloff

December 08, 2009

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- At a news conference in December 2008, Cleveland Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro announced that he had voted with 11 Arena Football League teams to suspend operations for 2009.

 

Cleveland football fans played a huge role in getting Ferraro, a trial attorney, to dive back into the arena pool.

 

MORE AT http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2009/12/cleveland_gladiators_owner_ple.html

Bringing in someone from Grand Rapids:

 

Source: Steve Thonn to coach Cleveland Gladiators in Arena 1

By Dennis Manoloff

December 22, 2009, 4:35PM

 

CLEVELAND -- Former Grand Rapids Rampage coach Steve Thonn has been hired to coach the Cleveland Gladiators, a source close to the situation said. An official announcement is expected Wednesday.

 

Thonn (pronounced: ton) is considered one of the indoor game's brightest offensive minds in the game.

 

MORE AT

http://www.cleveland.com/dman/index.ssf/2009/12/post_1.html

  • 3 weeks later...

<a href="http://www.cantonrep.com/newsnow/x532575248/Cleveland-Gladiators-set-schedule-for-arena-football-at-The-Q">

Cleveland Gladiators set schedule for arena football at The Q</a>

 

Posted Jan 12, 2010 @ 04:38 PM

 

The Cleveland Gladiators will open their inaugural Arena Football One season Saturday, April 3 at 7 p.m. when they host Arizona at Quicken Loans Arena.

 

The 16-game schedule features eight home games and eight road games. Cleveland will play in the National Conference’s Midwest Division and will play home-and-home games against Chicago, Iowa and Milwaukee.

 

  • 1 month later...
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Good to have a veteran QB in this league:

 

Veteran QB John Dutton will return to Cleveland Gladiators for 2011 Arena season

Published: Tuesday, October 05, 2010, 6:28 PM   

Plain Dealer staff

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Quarterback John Dutton will be back with the Gladiators for the 2011 season.

 

Dutton was one of five players from the 2010 roster who were reassigned to Cleveland by the Arena Football League. Others include WR Victor Williams, FB Russell Monk, K Matt Denny and DB Joe Phinisee. The league also assigned rookie OL Carlos Downey to the Gladiators.

 

Dutton completed 446 of 696 passes for 5,104 yards and 100 touchdowns in 2010. In Week 7 against Tulsa, Dutton became the seventh AFL player to reach 30,000 career passing yards and the sixth to throw 600 career touchdowns. He threw for over 300 yards in nine of 16 games.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2010/10/veteran_qb_john_dutton_will_re.html

  • 5 months later...

The Cleveland Gladiators have started the season 1-0....BUT they just lost their best player and season leader for the rest of the season:

 

Cleveland Gladiators QB John Dutton tears left Achilles' tendon, will miss remainder of season

Published: Monday, March 21, 2011, 10:10 AM   

By Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Gladiators quarterback John Dutton will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn left Achilles' tendon suffered in the opener last Saturday night.

 

Dutton, one of the Arena Football League's all-time greats at his position, will undergo surgery this week.

 

"It's very unfortunate to see such a dominant player suffer an injury like this, and our prayers are with John for a speedy recovery'' Gladiators Assistant General Manager Phil Tesar said. "But we can't undo what happened. We have to keep moving forward.''

 

Dutton went to the bench in the fourth quarter of the Gladiators' 61-55 victory over the Spokane Shock in Spokane, Wash. Dutton told Tesar he felt as if "a baseball bat hit the back of my lower leg'' while throwing a pass that sailed high and incomplete. Tests Monday in Cleveland confirmed the tear.

 

Mount Union product Kurt Rocco replaced Dutton and played the final two series. Rocco threw one pass -- a 12-yard touchdown to Troy Bergeron for a 61-48 lead. It was the first pass of his AFL career.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2011/03/cleveland_gladiators_qb_john_d.html

  • 2 months later...

Arena Football League's best record on line as Cleveland Gladiators face Pittsburgh Power

Published: Saturday, June 04, 2011, 1:40 AM 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — It's the football game all of Cleveland has been waiting for -- Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh with first place on the line.

 

But it's not the Browns and Steelers, it is Arena Football and the Cleveland Gladiators and the Pittsburgh Power. But it is a battle for first place between two cities that aren't fond of each other.

 

Both teams are 6-4 and tied atop the American East standings heading into today's 7:30 game at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. It's the first time the two teams have ever played. This is the expansion Power's first season.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2011/06/arena_football_leagues_best_re.html

  • 3 weeks later...

Whoa

 

Cleveland Gladiators enjoy a record-setting rout of San Jose, 82-21

Published: Saturday, June 25, 2011, 11:14 PM   

Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Gladiators seemingly cannot get out of their own way on the road. When they are at home, though, it's a party -- never more so than Saturday night.

 

The Gladiators notched their fifth consecutive victory at The Q by dismantling the San Jose SaberCats, 82-21. The point differential is second-largest in Arena Football League history, one shy of the record set by the Albany Firebirds against the Texas Terror (86-24, July 27, 1996).

 

The Gladiators fell one point short of the franchise record for points in a game; the 2008 Gladiators defeated the Los Angeles Avengers, 83-69, in Staples Center. Cleveland (8-6) improved to 6-1 at The Q. The home defeat came against New Orleans, 34-33, April 16.

 

Once-proud San Jose (5-9) has lost seven in a row. As of 2:59 remaining in the third quarter, the SaberCats had fumbled three times, thrown four interceptions and trailed, 61-7.

 

Inside the final minute, the SaberCats called multiple timeouts. They were behind by 61.

 

"I've actually been on the other end of some beatings in San Jose when they were really strong," Gladiators coach Steve Thonn said. "This can happen in arena football. We had a lot go our way."

 

Cleveland's victory came at a price. Quarterback Andrico Hines and offensive lineman Calvin Wilson suffered left-knee injuries. Both are scheduled for tests/exams Sunday.

 

Thonn had opted for Hines over Kurt Rocco, who struggled the previous week in a road loss to Kansas City. Thonn announced the change earlier in the day.

 

"It's not that I had lost faith in Kurt," Thonn said. "He's done a good job. We were just looking for a boost and thought Andrico could give it to us."

 

Hines, who joined the Gladiators on June 2 when backup Dan Whalen exited, made his AFL debut. He was doing just fine until late in the second quarter, when San Jose's Adam Huebner knocked him into the right-side boards during a pass attempt. Huebner was flagged for roughing the passer; Hines needed assistance to leave the field.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2011/06/cleveland_gladiators_enjoy_a_r.html

Check it out:

 

GLADIATORS VS. PHILADELPHIA SOUL WATCH PARTY

 

Friday, July 8 - 8:00 PM Kickoff on the NFL Network

 

Come support the Gladiators as they travel to Philadelphia for their first NATIONALLY TELEVISED

game of the season as they take on the Soul at 8:00 PM

 

Caddy Shack Sports Lounge

627 Prospect Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

 

** FREE APPETIZERS and SOFT DRINKS FROM 7:30 PM - end of 3rd Quarter **

 

** FREE PARKING w/validation (even with the Indians game going on) **

 

** MULTIPLE TV's WITH SOUND TUNED TO THE GLADIATORS GAME **

 

http://www.clevelandgladiators.com/nfl/

Cleveland Gladiators clinch division, playoff spot with win over Pittsburgh Power

Published: Friday, July 15, 2011, 11:14 PM    Updated: Saturday, July 16, 2011, 12:31 AM

Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Gladiators won a division title Friday night -- and kicked Pittsburgh to the curb in the process.

 

The Gladiators scored 20 consecutive points to open the fourth quarter and defeated the Power, 67-55, at The Q.

 

Rookie quarterback Kurt Rocco went 25-of-35 for 297 yards and eight touchdowns as the Gladiators (10-7) clinched the American East and eliminated the Power (8-9) from the postseason. One game remains in the regular season.

 

Cleveland secured the No. 2 seed in the American Conference and a first-round home game in the Arena Football League playoffs.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2011/07/cleveland_gladiators_clinch_di.html

I was at my first game last night. I had a great time. It will definitely not be my last.

  • 5 months later...

Source says Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert in early talks to buy Cleveland Gladiators

 

"Dan Gilbert and his Cleveland Cavaliers ownership group are exploring a way to grow their already large presence in downtown Cleveland's Gateway District.

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers owner and driving force behind the Horseshoe Casino Cleveland is in what a source said were very early talks with Cleveland Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro to buy the arena football team. Nothing is imminent, though the source said the sides eventually could reach an agreement.

 

Mr. Ferraro, a well-known attorney and partner at Kelley & Ferraro LLP, did not return a message left at his Miami office."

 

http://www.crainscleveland.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120106/FREE/120109896

 

Holy $H!T!!!

 

Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro confirms talks with Cavaliers group about sale of AFL franchise

Published: Monday, January 09, 2012, 1:35 PM   

Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro confirmed Monday that he is negotiating to sell the Arena Football League franchise to Dan Gilbert's Cavaliers. Ferraro termed the talks "serious.''

 

"We're in direct contact with the powers-that-be at the Cavaliers operating company,'' Ferraro said by phone from his Miami, Fla.-based law firm. "If this is going to happen at all, it's going to happen very quickly, because the season's right around the corner.

 

"The sooner we make the change -- if we make the change -- the better for everybody. Personally, I'd like to bring it to a head within a week to 10 days.''

 

The Gladiators are scheduled to begin training camp in February. They open the season March 12 at Georgia and at home March 26 against Kansas City.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2012/01/gladiators_owner_jim_ferraro_c.html

It is finished!  Dan Gilbert now owns the: Cleveland Cavaliers, Lake Erie Monsters, and Cleveland Gladiators

 

Cleveland Cavaliers finalize purchase of Cleveland Gladiators

Published: Monday, January 16, 2012, 8:15 PM   

Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

 

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Dan Gilbert's Cavaliers group has purchased ownership stake in the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators. An official announcement will be made at a news conference Tuesday that is scheduled to include Cavaliers President Len Komoroski, Gladiators special adviser Bernie Kosar and Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro.

 

The Cavaliers almost certainly will be majority owner of the Gladiators, and possibly sole owner -- although the presence of Ferraro on Tuesday indicates he might retain a small percentage.

 

The Gladiators will begin training camp in February; the first practice is Feb. 20. They open the season March 12 at Georgia and at home March 26 against Kansas City.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2012/01/cleveland_cavaliers_finalize_p.html

  • 2 years later...
  • 4 weeks later...

Cleveland Gladiators unbeaten streak at six after beating Pittsburgh Power, 55-28

 

MIKE PETICCA

Special to The Plain Dealer

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Gladiators' locker room was loud and happy after Cleveland's Arena Football League game on Saturday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

 

It was the type of celebration that might be expected of a team that had become 6-0 with a dominating performance by its offense, defense and special teams, an effort good enough for a 55-28 Cleveland rout of the Pittsburgh Power before 11,087 fans.

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2014/04/cleveland_gladiators_unbeaten.html

 

 

I was at the game. It was loud as hell during the game as well. They dominated Pittsburgh.

  • 3 weeks later...

Only Arizona has a better record - but only because they have played one additional game

  • 1 month later...

It isn't a major sport.  They might have gotten more run without the lebron story, but they wouldn't have been celebrated.  How many teams can you name in the AFL?

It isn't a major sport.  They might have gotten more run without the lebron story, but they wouldn't have been celebrated.  How many teams can you name in the AFL?

But it's a local team that is WINNING.  There should be information and the Cleveland Media should be celebrating the team!  My knowledge of the sport should increase as a reslt of having a winning franchise.  I don't know meany teams but this is a away for the the local media to educate us on Arena Football.  It's also a way for the team to engage in young people, build a fan base, increase ticket sales, etc.

As sports crazed as NE Ohio is and this team has been a winner. Gilbert owns them, they are winning, why hasn't the local media embracing the team?

As sports crazed as NE Ohio is and this team has been a winner. Gilbert owns them, they are winning, why hasn't the local media embracing the team?

 

quality of the sport matters.  The AFL is third-tier professional football.  The city doesn't embrace the AFC Cleveland Royals, either

As sports crazed as NE Ohio is and this team has been a winner. Gilbert owns them, they are winning, why hasn't the local media embracing the team?

 

quality of the sport matters.  The AFL is third-tier professional football.  The city doesn't embrace the AFC Cleveland Royals, either

And when this winning team leaves, don't ask "Why?"

Cleveland actually draws well.  People like them, but the AFL is a novelty

 

http://www.arenafan.com/statistics/?page=attendance

This year.  I still believe, the Team should be working with the Media to educate them about their product.  Every team/league started somewhere and just because  you call it a novelty, it's still a business.  Gilbert needs to put some money into promoting the team.

^ I'd say they are doing something right.  Their average attendance has gone from 6.5K (2011), 6.2K (2012), 7.8K (2013), to 10.8K (2014).  Just because you are not aware doesn't mean that he isn't targeting the right market for the product. 

 

I'd say he's doing the same with the Monsters as they have gone from 6K in 2008 on average to 8K this past season.

Cleveland Playoff VICTORY  :clap: :drunk:

 

Cleveland Gladiators beat Philadelphia Soul, 39-37, in first-round Arena Football playoff game

 

By Marc Bona, The Plain Dealer

on August 02, 2014 at 9:53 PM, updated August 02, 2014 at 10:36 PM

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A 36-yard field goal by Aaron Pettrey as the clock ran out lifted the Cleveland Gladiators over the Philadelphia Soul, 39-37, in a first-round Arena Football League playoff game Saturday at The Q.

 

The Gladiators, who had defeated the Soul by a total of three points in two-regular season games this year, outlasted Philadelphia in the low-scoring, defensive battle.

 

The Gladiators, who entered the game with a league best record (17-1) and winning percentage (.944), face the winner of Sunday's Pittsburgh-Orlando game. Pittsburgh, which is riding a 12-game winning streak, handed Cleveland its only loss of the season, 48-34, on May 31.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2014/08/post_5.html#incart_river

 

 

  • 2 weeks later...

Arena Bowl!!

 

Cleveland Gladiators advance to ArenaBowl XXVII, defeat Orlando Predators, 56-46

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Summer of Cleveland continues.

 

Now comes ArenaBowl XXVII to the burgeoning docket of news and events on the North Coast after the Cleveland Gladiators on Sunday clinched a berth in the Arena Football League championship game Aug. 23 at Quicken Loans Arena.

 

The Gladiators defeated Orlando, 56-46, and a crowd of 14,543 festive fans at The Q witnessed Cleveland's first American Conference championship.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2014/08/cleveland_gladiators_advance_t.html

  • 1 year later...

Man, the Q sees some fast conversion turn around times.

 

Gladiators have quietly won 4 in a row:

 

Cleveland Gladiators upset Philadelphia Soul, 63-49

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Marvin Ross returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown with 90 seconds left in the fourth quarter Saturday night to end a threat from the Philadelphia Soul and seal a 63-49 upset victory for the Cleveland Gladiators in an Arena Football League game at Quicken Loans Arena.

 

The victory was Cleveland's fourth in a row, and their first over Philadelphia in seven games stretching back three seasons. The Gladiators improved to 5-4 — their first time over .500 this season —- and the Soul dropped to 7-2.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/gladiators/index.ssf/2016/05/cleveland_gladiators_upset_phi.html

  • 2 months later...
  • 3 years later...

Cleveland Gladiators remain on hiatus, are monitoring Arena Football League's uncertain future

Link: https://www.crainscleveland.com/kevin-kleps-blog/cleveland-gladiators-remain-hiatus-are-monitoring-arena-football-leagues-uncertain

 

"Asked if the Gladiators were considering a return, assuming the AFL attempts to play another season, a Cavs source said the club is monitoring what steps the AFL decides to take. Our guess would be the league decides to shut down for at least a year as it tries to raise capital, but the pending lawsuit might not even make that type of step possible."

 

The AFL really has fallen apart in a few season. Only 5 years ago (when the one loss Gladiators lost in Arena Bowl 27) the league was at 14 teams and looked somewhat viable, with teams in medium to large markets with decent attendance, but nothing like pre-2008 league collapse numbers. The Gladiators have done well in attendance before the Q renovations, averaging +10,000 per game the prior 4 seasons. If Gilbert is interested, they could find a new home in the next most successful arena football league, the Indoor Football League which has taken on some former AFL teams. Unfortunately though the IFL already has a Gladiators team currently located in Albuquerque. The National Arena League may also be a suitable home for Cleveland arena football, however they league only has seven teams which predominantly play in much smaller makrets (ie. Wheeling). The three other leagues in operation today aren't in much better financial position. In a few years when a couple more league die and new ones are created, the Gladiators may be reincarnated. 

 

TL;DR - The return of Gladiator football seems unlikely (despite there success in CLE) with the 2nd collapse of the AFL. Joining another fledgling arena league also seems unlikely to me. 

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