Comments on: Cleveland City Stars Release Players from Contracts http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:33:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3314 Brian Quarstad Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:22:15 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3314 Tom, I highly suggest that those who have not followed from the beginning click on the USL at a Crossroads logo on the side. You will see 3 articles at the bottom of the list. A part 1, 2 and 3 that Kartik Krishnaiyer and I wrote for exactly this purpose and because were being fed information for nearly a year, all off the record. When the sale to Cooper fell though and the sale to NuRock Holdings was announced, were were free to tell what we knew at that point. Tom, I highly suggest that those who have not followed from the beginning click on the USL at a Crossroads logo on the side. You will see 3 articles at the bottom of the list. A part 1, 2 and 3 that Kartik Krishnaiyer and I wrote for exactly this purpose and because were being fed information for nearly a year, all off the record. When the sale to Cooper fell though and the sale to NuRock Holdings was announced, were were free to tell what we knew at that point.

]]> By: Tom http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3313 Tom Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:15:12 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3313 BQ-thanks. You'll have to bear with some of us who've just started following all this. All of the ins-and-outs and detours this story has taken have been quite fascinating. Much appreciation for all your efforts. I owe you a pint (more like a pitcher) sometime in the future. BQ-thanks. You’ll have to bear with some of us who’ve just started following all this. All of the ins-and-outs and detours this story has taken have been quite fascinating. Much appreciation for all your efforts. I owe you a pint (more like a pitcher) sometime in the future.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3312 Brian Quarstad Sun, 06 Dec 2009 00:06:24 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3312 Tom, word at the time was much of the step up fee was waived for Cleveland. I've written about the numerous times and it's been discussed on the site but I know a lot of people are just starting to pay attention to this story. USL was concerned about the potential of losing a lot of teams to a breakaway league (TOA) last year right before the AGM's and Atlanta had dropped. So they enlisted Cleveland to step up and fill a spot. Tom, word at the time was much of the step up fee was waived for Cleveland. I’ve written about the numerous times and it’s been discussed on the site but I know a lot of people are just starting to pay attention to this story. USL was concerned about the potential of losing a lot of teams to a breakaway league (TOA) last year right before the AGM’s and Atlanta had dropped. So they enlisted Cleveland to step up and fill a spot.

]]> By: Tom http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3309 Tom Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:48:13 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3309 When a USL-2 team steps up to USL-1, I'm assuming they have to pay a fee (guessing the difference in franchise fees between the different leagues) to do that? When a USL-2 team steps up to USL-1, I’m assuming they have to pay a fee (guessing the difference in franchise fees between the different leagues) to do that?

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3306 Brian Quarstad Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:21:10 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3306 Hey Ed, how are you. Ya, I saw the incoming link this morning. http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/12/report_cleveland_city_stars_us.html Lately my head is swimming and there's a whole lot of things I'm just not understanding at all. The push to move Cleveland up, then they are sort of hung out to dry, and now this. It's very confusing and my heart really goes out to the City Stars and all their fans. You had a great little USL-2 team there for a couple of years. Most likely that is where the team should have stayed, at least until sometime in the future when they had built their fan base were more ready to make the jump. Hey Ed, how are you. Ya, I saw the incoming link this morning.

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2009/12/report_cleveland_city_stars_us.html

Lately my head is swimming and there’s a whole lot of things I’m just not understanding at all. The push to move Cleveland up, then they are sort of hung out to dry, and now this. It’s very confusing and my heart really goes out to the City Stars and all their fans. You had a great little USL-2 team there for a couple of years. Most likely that is where the team should have stayed, at least until sometime in the future when they had built their fan base were more ready to make the jump.

]]> By: Ed http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3305 Ed Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:14:05 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3305 Well, Tim Holt told the Cleveland Plain Dealer today that the league is not giving up on Cleveland and that they're working with groups to put a new team here. Take it for what it's worth, but the league needs teams and I don't get them cutting the City Stars. Also, the PD article mentions the report on this site. Well, Tim Holt told the Cleveland Plain Dealer today that the league is not giving up on Cleveland and that they’re working with groups to put a new team here. Take it for what it’s worth, but the league needs teams and I don’t get them cutting the City Stars.

Also, the PD article mentions the report on this site.

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3292 Brian Quarstad Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:23:01 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3292 Excellent post! Excellent post!

]]> By: Collegeparkaddick http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3291 Collegeparkaddick Fri, 04 Dec 2009 23:16:44 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3291 I do not believe that anyone who follows the USL will be surprised by the Hogges exit from USL2 because of the huge challenges that particular franchise faces even in USL2's structure (in contrast to, for example, the relative surprise of the Hammerhead's departure from USL2 and pro soccer altogether). For us, the Hogges became a can't miss visiting attraction for both CP Baltimore and Real Maryland because of the obstacles they confronted -- they routinely traveled with a bare bones team, were often embarrassed by ridiculous scorelines (6-0 loss to Charlotte; 7-2 loss to Richmond; 5-0 loss to Western Mass), but still put out decent effort every time we saw them. Unfortunately, our last memory of the franchise may have been a game that underscores the bush league elements of USL2, as it featured the coach of the Hogges being escorted off the field by Montgomery County Police and, for unrelated reasons, the arrest of Bermuda's Stephen Astwood (who had scored 2 goals in the first 45 minutes) at halftime. My excitement regarding the potential of the TOA for increasing the profile of lower division professional soccer is tempered by developments in Cleveland, Wilmington, Bermuda, and Charleston (was it really just two seasons ago that I was sitting in RFK as DC United hosted the Battery in the US Open Cup Final?) which seem to indicate that the USL2 (even with Charleston added) is facing its own significant viability problems. I do not believe that anyone who follows the USL will be surprised by the Hogges exit from USL2 because of the huge challenges that particular franchise faces even in USL2′s structure (in contrast to, for example, the relative surprise of the Hammerhead’s departure from USL2 and pro soccer altogether). For us, the Hogges became a can’t miss visiting attraction for both CP Baltimore and Real Maryland because of the obstacles they confronted — they routinely traveled with a bare bones team, were often embarrassed by ridiculous scorelines (6-0 loss to Charlotte; 7-2 loss to Richmond; 5-0 loss to Western Mass), but still put out decent effort every time we saw them.

Unfortunately, our last memory of the franchise may have been a game that underscores the bush league elements of USL2, as it featured the coach of the Hogges being escorted off the field by Montgomery County Police and, for unrelated reasons, the arrest of Bermuda’s Stephen Astwood (who had scored 2 goals in the first 45 minutes) at halftime.

My excitement regarding the potential of the TOA for increasing the profile of lower division professional soccer is tempered by developments in Cleveland, Wilmington, Bermuda, and Charleston (was it really just two seasons ago that I was sitting in RFK as DC United hosted the Battery in the US Open Cup Final?) which seem to indicate that the USL2 (even with Charleston added) is facing its own significant viability problems.

]]> By: Tom http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3277 Tom Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:23:25 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3277 BQ - thanks. Sorry that I couldn't recall.... BQ – thanks. Sorry that I couldn’t recall….

]]> By: Brian Quarstad http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/12/02/cleveland-city-stars-release-players-from-contracts/#comment-3276 Brian Quarstad Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:05:19 +0000 http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/?p=12363#comment-3276 As we have stated many times here previously, $750,000.00 We should know more next week. Watch IMS this weekend for an update on the situation. As we have stated many times here previously, $750,000.00

We should know more next week. Watch IMS this weekend for an update on the situation.

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