Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert interested in buying Arena Football League’s …

CLEVELAND, Ohio Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has expressed interest in acquiring the Arena Football Leagues Cleveland Gladiators.

Weve engaged in some recent discussions regarding the Gladiators and are continuing to evaluate this potential opportunity, Tad Carper, Cavaliers senior vice president/communications, said Friday.

Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro could not be reached Thursday night or Friday afternoon. Neither could General Manager Phil Tesar or coach Steve Thonn.

The Gladiators 2011 season ended with a playoff loss to Georgia on July 31 at The Q. After the game, Ferraro was asked about Internet speculation that the franchise was in a state of flux or possibly for sale.

Ferraro, who did not attend the game, said in a statement through Tesar: The rumors are just that — rumors. We arent going anywhere. We will be the Cleveland Gladiators next year.

The Ferraro-owned franchise relocated from Las Vegas late in 2007 and debuted as the Gladiators in 2008. With Bernie Kosar, Ferraros close friend, as president, the Gladiators made the playoffs and averaged five-digit crowds at The Q.

The AFLs business model was deemed unsustainable, though, and the league went dark in 2009. An AFL that included the Gladiators returned in 2010. In the 2010 season and last season, the Gladiators struggled to draw anything close to that of the first year; actual crowds for most games last season appeared to be no more than several thousand.

Behind closed doors, numerous players wondered if Ferraro was all in as an owner anymore. Ferraro was far less visible than he had been in 2008, and Kosars role diminished.

If Ferraro were to bow out, Gilbert would be the most logical choice to take over. Gilbert also owns the American Hockey Leagues Lake Erie Monsters, a franchise that has ranked among the leagues best in attendance in its five seasons, all at The Q.

Gladiators players and fans interviewed the past few years have said arena football can work in Cleveland — provided sufficient marketing and promotion are in place.

Gilbert and his staff specialize in these areas, and Gilbert wouldnt need to worry about paying rent.

Training camp for this season is set to begin in February.

Plain Dealer reporter Mary Schmitt Boyer contributed to this report.

Tags: Buying