October 16, 2007
It was announced on Monday by the AFL that the Las Vegas Gladiators will be moving to Cleveland effective immediately. Every off season for the Gladiators the rumors would fly about relocation and it finally has happened. After five seasons of having an Arena Football team that never had a season above .500, Cleveland can have them.

While the Gladiators are gone that doesn’t mean the AFL is gone for good. AFL commissioner David Baker said he hopes to bring the league back to Las Vegas in time for the projected 2010 opening of a 20,000-seat arena just off the Strip. But even if we get another team, will anyone show up? Probably not, being the taste in our mouth that this departure leaves. From the lies of “we will never leave” to just never winning, why would any Las Vegans ever support an AFL team?

Let’s face it; the ArenaBowl was in Vegas and that wasn’t even sold out. The league had to give tickets away just to get the balcony filled. The ArenaBowl was scheduled to return next year, but Baker said the championship game might not return until a later time. That means never and that’s probably a good move.

The league has mandated that Gladiator’s Owner, Jim Ferraro satisfy all debts, including refunds to those who bought 2008 season tickets (all ten of you) as well as paying $56,000 to the Thomas & Mack Center for unfulfilled dates after the team's late move to the Orleans Arena this past season.

Baker said the league still considers Las Vegas a prime destination for a team with local ownership. But there could soon be some football ownership competition in the form of two start-up leagues. The United Football League is considering placing a team here next August, and the United States Football Association plans to open in the fall of 2009.

Las Vegas was the most successful franchise for the XFL so we could soon see another outdoor team in Vegas. However, the best part of the XFL team was the cheerleaders and of course the only good part of the Gladiators was the Goddesses. Let’s hope they all stayed in town and are waiting for the next pro sports team.