Cleveland Crunch Returns Home to Wolstein Center for 2025–26 Season

CLEVELAND, OH [August 26, 2025] — The Cleveland Crunch has signed a one-year agreement with the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University (CSU) to host its regular season home matches for the 2025–26 Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS) season. The Crunch will play six home games at the iconic downtown venue, marking a full-circle moment for the franchise and a major milestone for Cleveland’s growing soccer scene.

“The energy in the Wolstein Center is unmatched, and we saw that during finals weekend in April,” said Andriana Ruscitto, Cleveland Crunch public relations director. “This partnership is a win for our fans, our city, and the future of indoor soccer in Cleveland.”

In April, the Crunch hosted the MLIS Men’s and Women’s Major League Indoor Soccer (WMLIS) Finals at the Wolstein Center, which drew over 5,000 paid attendees across three days–a testament to the soccer fanbase in Cleveland. 

The upcoming season also marks 30 years since the Crunch’s 1996 National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) championship win at the Wolstein Center, which was then known as the CSU Convocation Center.

Before its move to the Wolstein Center, the Cleveland Crunch played five seasons at the Soccer Sportsplex in North Olmsted, consistently drawing sold-out crowds of 700+ fans at each home match.

“The Soccer Sportsplex has a special place in our hearts, and we cannot thank them enough for their support over the past five seasons,” said Luciano Ruscitto, Cleveland Crunch owner and president. “The space and support they provided helped fuel our growth, and we’re grateful for everyone who played a role in that chapter.”

Since rejoining the professional indoor soccer scene in 2021 under new ownership, the Crunch has built on its legacy with two league titles and a growing fan base. 

After winning the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL 2) Championship in its first season back, the team transitioned to Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS) in 2023 and captured its fifth championship title in 2024 with a victory over the Omaha Kings.

The Crunch’s return to the Wolstein Center comes at a pivotal moment for Cleveland soccer. With Cleveland Pro Soccer preparing to launch independent men’s and women’s teams in Major League Soccer (MLS) NEXT Pro and Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPSL) PRO, and a new outdoor stadium underway, the city is embracing professional soccer like never before and the Crunch is proud to be part of that momentum.

About the Cleveland Crunch:

The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and played 16 seasons in three separate leagues under two different names. The team played three seasons in the original MISL, later known as the Major Soccer League (MSL), before joining the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1992. After nine seasons in the NPSL, the team joined a second incarnation of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) in 2001. In 2002, the team was rebranded to the Cleveland Force in honor of the former team of the same name. After four seasons in the second MISL, the team folded in 2005.

The Cleveland Crunch franchise was revived in 2020 under new ownership. The team joined the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL 2) for the 2021 season. In its first season back, the team earned its fourth league title, defeating the Wichita Wings 11-6 to win the MASL 2 championship. By its third year, it transitioned to Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS) and won its fifth championship title in 2024 against the Omaha Kings.