History of the Arena Football League in Cleveland

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The city has been home to several additional professional sports franchises, including a women's basketball team, multiple soccer teams, and a past incarnation of the Cleveland Browns now known as the Baltimore Ravens. Cleveland has also been home to several ice hockey franchises, beginning in 1937 with the AHL member Cleveland Barons.[1] The original Barons, although having been the most successful team in AHL history at that point, moved to Jacksonville, Florida, where they subsequently folded after one season.[2]

## Contents

* 1 Cleveland Thunderbolts (1991–1994)
* 2 Cleveland Gladiators (2008–2017)
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Cleveland Thunderbolts (1991–1994)[edit]

The Thunderbolts operated in the Cleveland area for three seasons, playing their home games in the suburban Richfield Coliseum, a considerable distance from downtown Cleveland, sharing it with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association and the Cleveland Crunch of the National Professional Soccer League. The team qualified for the playoffs in the 1992 season, but was relocated to Columbus after the 1994 campaign.

Early in the T-Bolts short existence in Cleveland, John Kuczek was implicated in a federal securities fraud case in Florida. Prior to the team's second season in 1993, Kuczek divested himself of ownership in the club and placed it in a trust for his grandchildren. Son Jeff continued as the front office leader of the organization. Kuczek was ultimately convicted on one count of the indictment. The day before he was due to begin serving his sentence in February 1995, he committed suicide in a Salem, Ohio hotel room.[3]

## Cleveland Gladiators (2008–2017)[edit]

On October 16, 2007, it was announced in a press conference that the Las Vegas Gladiators would be relocating to Cleveland, Ohio. This would be the second arena football team to play be in the Cleveland area; the Cleveland Thunderbolts played at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio, for three seasons from 1992–1994. Former Cleveland Browns Quarterback Bernie Kosar was announced as the public face of the team, as well as the President of Football Operations and minority owner. The Gladiators would play their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, the home of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers and the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters.[4] The team also moved back to the Eastern Division of the National Conference for the first time since 2003. The team would still be known as the Gladiators and continue to retain the team colors of red, silver, and black.[5]

In September 2017, it was announced that Quicken Loans Arena would be undergoing significant renovations during the 2018 and 2019 basketball offseason so as not to conflict with its primary tenant, the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers.[6] However, as the AFL season runs into the basketball offseason, the Gladiators had to take a two-year leave of absence beginning in November 2017 with hopes to return for the 2020 season.[7]

When the renovations were completed, the league suspended all city-based team operations for at least the 2020 season putting the Gladiators' plans on hold.[8] The AFL filed for bankruptcy November 27, 2019, and ceased operations.

## See also[edit]

* Sports in Cleveland
* List of Cleveland sports teams

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Cleveland Barons (1976–1978)". Sports E-cyclopedia. Retrieved August 1, 2007.
2. ^ "Encyclopedia Of Cleveland History". Case Western Reserve University. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
3. ^ "John Kuczek, insurance man, arena football owner". Pittsburgh Power-Gazette. February 6, 1995. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
4. ^ "Cleveland to compete in Arena Football League". www.arenafan.com. ArenaFan. October 16, 2007. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008.
5. ^ Mike Starkey (November 28, 2007). "Cleveland Arena Football team to be named Gladiators". www.cleveland.com. Cleveland Live LLC. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011.
6. ^ "Cleveland Cavs announce Quicken Loans transformation will go forward". Cleveland.com. September 6, 2017. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017.
7. ^ "Cleveland Gladiators to take 2-year hiatus during Q renovations". WKYC. November 28, 2017.
8. ^ "Cleveland Gladiators remain on hiatus, are monitoring Arena Football League's uncertain future". Crain's Cleveland. October 29, 2019.

## External links[edit]

* AFL Official Website
* Columbus Thunderbolts at ArenaFan.com
* Cleveland Thunderbolts at ArenaFan.com
* Cleveland Gladiators - Official website
* Cleveland Gladiators - Broadcast Website

* v
* t
* e

Cleveland Thunderbolts

* Formerly the Columbus Thunderbolts
* Founded in 1991
* Folded in 1994
* Based in Richfield, Ohio

The Franchise|

* Franchise
* Seasons
* Players
* History of the Arena Football League in Cleveland

Arenas|

* Ohio Expo Center Coliseum
* Richfield Coliseum

Head coaches|

* Whinham
* Bruce

Playoff appearances (1)|

* 1992

Seasons (4)

1990s|

* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994

* v
* t
* e

Cleveland Gladiators

* Formerly the New Jersey Red Dogs, the New Jersey Gladiators, and the Las Vegas Gladiators
* Founded in 1997
* Based in Cleveland, Ohio

Franchise|

* Franchise
* Seasons
* Players
* History of the Arena Football League in Cleveland

Arenas|

* Continental Airlines Arena
* Thomas & Mack Center
* Orleans Arena
* Quicken Loans Arena

Head coaches|

* Hufnagel
* Guy
* Kuharich
* Haege
* James
* Wilpolt
* Thonn
* Selesky

Playoff appearances (10)|

* 1997
* 1998
* 2002
* 2003
* 2008
* 2011
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017

ArenaBowl appearances (1)|

* XXVII

Division championships (3)|

* 2002
* 2011
* 2014

Hall of Fame members|

* Clint Dolezel
* George LaFrance
* Stevie Thomas

Current league affiliations|

* League: Arena Football League

Media|

* WKRK-FM
* Spectrum Sports (Ohio)

Seasons (20)

1990s|

* 1997
* 1998
* 1999

2000s|

* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* ~~2009~~

2010s|

* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in and around Cleveland

Baseball|

* MLB: Cleveland Guardians
* High-A Central: Lake County Captains
* FL: Lake Erie Crushers

Basketball|

* NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers
* NBA G League: Cleveland Charge

Football|

* NFL: Cleveland Browns
* WFA: Cleveland Fusion

Hockey|

* AHL: Cleveland Monsters

Roller derby|

* WFTDA: Burning River Roller Derby

Soccer|

* M2: Cleveland Crunch
* NPSL: Cleveland SC
* WPSL: Cleveland Ambassadors

College athletics
(NCAA Division I)|

* Cleveland State Vikings

College athletics
(NCAA Division II)|

* Notre Dame Falcons
* Ursuline Arrows

College athletics
(NCAA Division III)|

* Case Western Reserve Spartans
* Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets
* John Carroll Blue Streaks

Related|

* Cleveland sports curse
* Cleveland Browns relocation controversy
* Ohio Derby
* 2014 Gay Games
* Cleveland Marathon

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