Spin Posted June 23, 2013 Report Share Posted June 23, 2013 Whether or not spring college football will work or not is irrelevant as we're talking about the Akron Fire and the USFL. I was using the USFL as an example of why it's extremely difficult to break even with a minor league that travels cross country. If you notice, all other minor leagues are regionalized. The CFL is one exception, although it has network TV and plays teams games in their region more times than not. This is one part of the new USFL plan that IMO is a bad idea. If they were coming into being with a fat network TV contract that would be different, but as of yet, they aren't. They'll live and die at the gate. And travel expenses. The new USFL is using the successful MLS player/salary concept. Each player will work for the league and get paid by the league. That will prevent the rampant spending the original USFL had which put several franchises out ofbusiness. I remember San Antonio sneaking onto high school practice fields to practice, and showing up for a game and their jerseys had been repossessed. There still may be players out there owed paychecks. We had the Breakers moving every off-season. And nothing says "legitimate" like Arizona and Michigan trading teams. This concept didn't jive with the Akron Fire owners, at least that's the story. And they're looking for a new league. There are several more out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipsfan33 Posted July 1, 2013 Report Share Posted July 1, 2013 Rubber Bowl Update 6/30/13: Drove by today the George Washington gate was open and 2 SUVs and one car were parked near gate. One SUV was inside the stadium at the closed end parked at the concession stand. Either they were looking for hot dogs, or they were prepping and getting the stands ready for the season! (sarcasm) Trees are still growing abound in the place! All the pressbox windows are still shattered and the benches are still laying on the bleachers. However, I did see a posted "No Trespassing" sign! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted August 1, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 This story just keeps getting better and better. Earlier this year, Sean Mason completed the purchase of the Rubber Bowl with the intent of putting a football team in it. All signs pointed to that team — tentatively named the Akron Fire — playing in the U.S. Football League (USFL), a long-dormant league being brought back to life by California businessman Jaime Cuadra. Last month, Cuadra pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $1 million. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune website, “In court documents, Cuadra admitted that he used the embezzled funds to attract league investors and pay league executives and marketing and public relations fees.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Kangaroo Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 My son played baseball in Akron the other day, and we stopped by the Rubber Bowl afterwards. The field actually looks pretty nice. The flora and occasional fauna busting through old fiberglass stands might make "The Shrubber Bowl" a more appropriate name in a few more years. Lots of great memories made along that airport fence... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipsfan33 Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 I was wondering why Jaime Cuadra was let go as President. Very interesting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted August 1, 2013 Report Share Posted August 1, 2013 Lots of great memories made along that airport fence... Two questions: 1. I need a confirmation. Word has it there was a delivery van spotted near the RB recently trying to deliver a stall door. Did you see anything? The name on the delivery van was "Better Late Than Never Delivery Service". 2. Did you see ZipsWin!'s TV antenna along the fence? Any news would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 Yet another article on the Akron Fire. This time from Mike Popovich of the Canton Repository. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipsfan33 Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 Can someone PLEASE tell these guys to just stop already. Bigtime pro wrestling isnt going to come to the Rubber Bowl. Big concert acts....please. There is no promoter who is going to take a chance on a building that hasn't hosted a concert since 2001. Heck the Zips couldn't draw 15,000 how is a (low) minor league team gonna draw anyone? A restaurant overlooking the field???? WHaaaaaat?!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 A 3D rendition of the new Rubber Bowl... https://www.dropbox.com/sh/linumwu1pwb83w5/...:null-model.avi Well, one thing was accurate, the number of fans there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted September 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 A 3D rendition of the new Rubber Bowl... https://www.dropbox.com/sh/linumwu1pwb83w5/...:null-model.avi Well, one thing was accurate, the number of fans there. That's one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 Virtual reality at its best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zipmeister Posted September 17, 2013 Report Share Posted September 17, 2013 A 3D rendition of the new Rubber Bowl... https://www.dropbox.com/sh/linumwu1pwb83w5/...:null-model.avi Well, one thing was accurate, the number of fans there. Hey, they took out the part where the plane hits the stadium lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipsfan33 Posted September 20, 2013 Report Share Posted September 20, 2013 No way those type of lights would be allowed so close to the airport. I must say the restaurant looked cool! I also liked the "loge" in front of the old pressbox! It is fun to dream isn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1 Posted September 20, 2013 Report Share Posted September 20, 2013 That's one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time! Did you see how depressed the guy looked walking out of the upper level bathroom? I wonder if he had to take a dump in a stall that didn't have a door. The good news is he would have had a lot of privacy because, according to the video, there are only about 5 other people in the stadium. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted September 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2013 Did you see how depressed the guy looked walking out of the upper level bathroom? I wonder if he had to take a dump in a stall that didn't have a door. The good news is he would have had a lot of privacy because, according to the video, there are only about 5 other people in the stadium. Maybe he was just upset that the Zips Win! TV antenna is no longer there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 5, 2014 Report Share Posted February 5, 2014 The A-11 spring football league is announcing themselves to the world on Thursday. Rumors that Akron will have one of the teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Ok...so I see San Fran., LA, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and New Jersey.....with 2 more teams to be announced "later", according to an on-line story. With these being major population areas, what is the likelihood that Akron is one of those last two teams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZachTheZip Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 Ok...so I see San Fran., LA, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Dallas, and New Jersey.....with 2 more teams to be announced "later", according to an on-line story. With these being major population areas, what is the likelihood that Akron is one of those last two teams?Depends on how insistent the Rubber Bowl owners were when this league was coming together. Did they push to get in? Did they even know about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipsfan33 Posted February 8, 2014 Report Share Posted February 8, 2014 I contacted the A11FL and asked directly if Akron or Cleveland will be in the last two spots. They replied within 5 min and said: "Our finalist markets are Seattle, Denver,Philadelphia and Detroit." They are obviously wanting big boy cities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Zip Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Detroit = Big Boy Cities? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave in Green Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Detroit metropolitan area = Big Boy Cities. Oakland County is one of the 10 highest income counties in the U.S. with populations over 1 million. Lots and lots of sports fans in the burbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 The following is an update (I think) on the "Rivals" league former Zip RB Quentin Hines has been instrumental in forming. I don't see any information as to where the Akron team will play its games.http://www.freep.com/article/20140225/SPORTS18/302250040/rivals-professional-football-league Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 The following is an update (I think) on the "Rivals" league former Zip RB Quentin Hines has been instrumental in forming. I don't see any information as to where the Akron team will play its games.http://www.freep.com/article/20140225/SPORTS18/302250040/rivals-professional-football-leagueTHIS is going to draw enough to justify a massive refurbishing of the Rubber Bowl? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyzip84 Posted February 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 THIS is going to draw enough to justify a massive refurbishing of the Rubber Bowl?They didn't actually say where the games in Akron would be played. I wouldn't count out some of the local high school fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skip-zip Posted February 25, 2014 Report Share Posted February 25, 2014 They didn't actually say where the games in Akron would be played. I wouldn't count out some of the local high school fields.That would make sense. I can't imagine this making it in a larger venue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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