2 soccer clubs embrace plans for growth in NE Ohio

CLEVELAND, Ohio – From new roots to a global reach, Cleveland’s growing soccer scene is taking shape in two distinct yet complementary ways - one grounded in local identity, the other stretching across the Atlantic. While Cleveland’s MLS Next Pro club unveiled its Forest City Cleveland name and crest built around the city’s storied past, Lorain County’s Leviathan FC has aligned with a Scottish club to create international pathways for players and cultural exchange. Cleveland Soccer Group introduced Forest City Cleveland, a men’s professional soccer club hoping to debut in 2027 as part of the developmental MLS Next Pro league. Organizers said the team’s brand - “rooted in the city’s history, resilience and future” - was shaped through community input. At the heart of the crest is the “Die Hard Tree,” a 350-year-old American sycamore in Cuyahoga Valley National Park that survived decades of damage and symbolizes Cleveland’s endurance. The club’s color palette pulls from regional inspiration: Forest City green for its tree canopy, Lake Erie Midnight for night skies and Golden Era gold for architecture that defines the city’s skyline. “From the beginning, we believed this club should be built with Cleveland, not simply introduced to Cleveland,” said Gina Prodan Kelly, the group’s chief marketing officer. The organization also plans to launch branding for a potential women’s team in May and is eyeing a 10,000-seat stadium near downtown, seeking public funds to support the nearly $80 million project. In Avon, Lorain County Leviathan FC has struck a transatlantic partnership with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Scotland. The collaboration opens player-development channels and tourism connections between the Lake Erie region and the Scottish Highlands. The clubs will exchange visits – representatives from the Leviathan traveling to Scotland in May and Inverness officials coming to Ohio in June - to share cultural experiences from landmarks to food. Leviathan chairman Andrew McDonnell called the arrangement “a win-win for the players and region,” adding it could lead to relationships with other international clubs. Inverness’ commercial director Andrew Benjamin said the initiative will expose new audiences to Highland football and culture while strengthening scouting networks.