Gladiators likely to leave Vegas

The Gladiators haven’t boarded the flight, but they’re at the gate.

There’s about a 90 percent chance the Arena Football League team is leaving Las Vegas for Cleveland, according to a source, who asked not to be identified because no official announcement has been made.

The source said Friday an announcement could be made next week.

An attempt to reach Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro was unsuccessful.

Ferraro previously said his priority was to remain at the Orleans Arena and work on scheduling games. He did not confirm a rumor that he wanted to move the club to Cleveland but said he would consider other options if the desired arena dates could not be secured.

The source said Ferraro wavered over the decision.

Ferraro took his proposal to an owners meetings this week in Chicago. It barely received committee approval Tuesday and did not receive unanimous support from the board of directors Wednesday. But the proposal received more than the minimum two-thirds for Ferraro to take the Gladiators to the Midwest.

Ferraro used Bernie Kosar, a former Cleveland Browns and University of Miami quarterback, to help broker the deal. The two have been friends for about 25 years, and Kosar will serve as a key front office figure and will be the face of the franchise.

Ferraro has a law office in Cleveland and spends far more time there than he did in Las Vegas. He often missed Gladiators home games.

The move has stipulations. Ferraro must pay any existing debts, such as the $56,000 he owes the Thomas & Mack Center for unfulfilled dates caused by the club leaving for the Orleans shortly before last season.

Thomas & Mack director Daren Libonati said he was pleased to hear the debt needed to be settled.

“I trust in the integrity of (AFL commissioner) David Baker and the league because we’ve had a good relationship with them as it relates to our time together,” Libonati said. “We spent a lot of time together on the (2005) ArenaBowl, and I hope he looks out for my behalf.”

Another snag exits. One year remains on the Gladiators’ agreement with Boyd Gaming Corporation, which owns the Orleans Arena.

“We have a contract with the team, and we have not been contacted,” said Rob Stillwell, Boyd Gaming vice president for corporate communication.

A Gladiators’ departure doesn’t necessarily mean the end of arena football in Las Vegas.

The ArenaBowl is scheduled for the Thomas & Mack next year, and the league is keeping an eye on the 20,000-seat arena expected to open in 2010 near the Strip. Despite the Gladiators’ failures under Ferraro, the AFL still sees Las Vegas as a viable market, according to sources.

If the AFL placed an expansion team in Las Vegas, it would have a big say in ownership. The league long has preferred a local presence.

The Gladiators moved to Las Vegas from New Jersey before the 2003 season but made the playoffs only that initial year. The first three teams went 8-8 before enduring back-to-back losing seasons, including a 2-14 record this year.

Coach Danton Barto was fired and general manager Sam Jankovich resigned.

Dwindling crowds reflected the on-field decline, with 2,000 to 3,000 routinely turning out last season.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.