Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Backed by Bernie, AFL to move Las Vegas team to Cleveland
CLEVELAND (AP) — Move over, beloved Browns, the Arena Football League will relocate a franchise to Cleveland with the backing of one of the city's sports icons, Bernie Kosar.
The AFL will move the Las Vegas franchise to Cleveland and Kosar, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback from Boardman, will be president and CEO.
The move was approved last week in Chicago, team owner Jim Ferraro announced Tuesday. Home games will be played at Quicken Loans Arena.
"We are excited to be bringing the fast-paced action of Arena Football to the city of Cleveland," Ferraro said. "We will have one of the best arenas in the league and Bernie is the perfect match to lead the charge."
Kosar won a national championship with the Miami Hurricanes in 1983, then played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Browns, Cowboys and Dolphins.
Kosar, a fan favorite in Cleveland, said the franchise would appeal to those, like his 7-year-old son, who have watched the AFL and like its aggressive play. The club will play during the NFL's offseason, and will fill a void for Browns fans, Kosar said.
Some of Kosar's old teammates were at the announcement, but Kosar wasn't ready to sign any up. "I'm not sure how much contact we could take," the 43-year-old Kosar said.
Kosar said he has wanted to get more involved in the game.
"I really, really like the football side of the component and want to do more of it," Kosar said.
Ferraro, a Cleveland attorney, said the Las Vegas Gladiators had lost money for years, in part because of competing entertainment options and because he had been an absent owner.
Kosar will have a minority ownership interest in the club. Other AFL team owners with NFL connections include Jerry Jones, Tom Benson and John Elway.
The AFL has 19 teams and is partly owned by ESPN, which televises many of its games.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
CLEVELAND (AP) — Move over, beloved Browns, the Arena Football League will relocate a franchise to Cleveland with the backing of one of the city's sports icons, Bernie Kosar.
The AFL will move the Las Vegas franchise to Cleveland and Kosar, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback from Boardman, will be president and CEO.
The move was approved last week in Chicago, team owner Jim Ferraro announced Tuesday. Home games will be played at Quicken Loans Arena.
"We are excited to be bringing the fast-paced action of Arena Football to the city of Cleveland," Ferraro said. "We will have one of the best arenas in the league and Bernie is the perfect match to lead the charge."
Kosar won a national championship with the Miami Hurricanes in 1983, then played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Browns, Cowboys and Dolphins.
Kosar, a fan favorite in Cleveland, said the franchise would appeal to those, like his 7-year-old son, who have watched the AFL and like its aggressive play. The club will play during the NFL's offseason, and will fill a void for Browns fans, Kosar said.
Some of Kosar's old teammates were at the announcement, but Kosar wasn't ready to sign any up. "I'm not sure how much contact we could take," the 43-year-old Kosar said.
Kosar said he has wanted to get more involved in the game.
"I really, really like the football side of the component and want to do more of it," Kosar said.
Ferraro, a Cleveland attorney, said the Las Vegas Gladiators had lost money for years, in part because of competing entertainment options and because he had been an absent owner.
Kosar will have a minority ownership interest in the club. Other AFL team owners with NFL connections include Jerry Jones, Tom Benson and John Elway.
The AFL has 19 teams and is partly owned by ESPN, which televises many of its games.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Move over, beloved Browns, the Arena Football League will relocate a franchise to Cleveland with the backing of one of...
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