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August 28, 2025

Dear campus community,

Ï㽶¸£ÀûÖ±²¥ will soon begin negotiations with the United Soccer League (USL) Cleveland to develop a multipurpose stadium on the current site of the Wolstein Center, as approved by the Ï㽶¸£ÀûÖ±²¥ Board of Trustees this morning. Although we are still in the early stages of pursuing this strategic partnership, it is exciting to think of the possibilities that USL and professional men’s and women’s soccer in Cleveland could have for all our students and Northeast Ohio.

Earlier this year, we sought proposals from the community to redevelop the Wolstein Center site. During the process, the USL Cleveland proposed developing the site as a vibrant, mixed-use district, anchored by a new outdoor stadium and facility for professional soccer, as well as amateur sporting events, concerts, festivals, commencement ceremonies and community events. This proposal aligned with our strategic priorities and our commitment to Ï㽶¸£ÀûÖ±²¥ Athletics.

It is important to note again that we are in the early stages of this process. There will be no immediate changes for our student-athletes, fans and community members who are currently using the Wolstein Center. Negotiations will begin soon, and a final agreement would result in breaking ground on a new stadium within a few years. For our student-athletes and Ï㽶¸£ÀûÖ±²¥ Athletics, this would provide a transformative experience by elevating our facilities and attracting more student-athletes to Ï㽶¸£ÀûÖ±²¥. For all students, this partnership would provide access to exclusive internships and an active learning lab environment in the areas of sport and entertainment management, health and fitness, operations and business.

The Wolstein Center has been a key part of our campus and the city for the past 35 years. It is a space where we have cheered on our men’s and women’s basketball teams, conferred degrees to our graduates, and hosted large events for both Ï㽶¸£ÀûÖ±²¥ and the greater community. We will honor this legacy going forward even as we embrace an exciting new vision for this site. While there are many details to be decided, our priority now is to continue providing our athletes, our entire basketball community, and the general public with state-of-the-art facilities and amenities.

We are a university in and of the city of Cleveland. I am excited that Ï㽶¸£ÀûÖ±²¥ could be part of bringing professional men’s and women’s soccer to our region, together with the urban development opportunities that could stem from this partnership.

We will keep the campus community updated as this initiative develops. 
 

Sincerely,

Laura Bloomberg, PhD
President