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Major League Indoor Soccer to Host 2024-25 Finals at Wolstein Center in Cleveland
CLEVELAND, OHIO – December 2024 – Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS) in partnership with the Cleveland Crunch announced today that the 2024-25 MLIS men’s and women’s playoff weekend will be held at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio, April 11-13, 2025.
“Cleveland boasts a rich history in indoor soccer, and we are thrilled to host our league finals in a venue that has witnessed so many iconic moments in the sport,” said Bernie Lilavois, MLIS and WMLIS commissioner. “I’m looking forward to welcoming our league’s top teams and working with the Cleveland Crunch staff to ensure we provide a weekend full of exciting indoor soccer action.”
About the Teams
The MLIS men’s division includes the Cleveland Crunch (Cleveland, Ohio), Chicago Mustangs (Chicago, Ill.), Colorado Bucks (Denver, Colo.), Panathinaikos Chicago (Chicago, Ill.), Red Cedar FC (Lansing, Mich.), Omaha Kings (Omaha, Neb.), Amarillo Bombers (Amarillo, Texas), Canadian Crusaders (Toronto, Canada) and Summit City United (Fort Wayne, Ind.). Each men’s team will play a 12-game regular season, with six home and six away games.
The women’s division, in its inaugural season, includes four teams: the Chicago Mustangs (Chicago, Ill.), Zoo City FC (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Panathinaikos Chicago (Chicago, Ill.) and Summit City United (Fort Wayne, Ind.). The women's teams will play a six-game regular season.
“We are super excited to host the WMLIS and MLIS championships at the Wolstein in April on our campus of Cleveland State University (CSU),” said Sean Ries, Executive Director, Hospitality Services at CSU. “We are also excited to bring back indoor soccer to the Wolstein Center after the rich history of the [Cleveland] Force and Crunch at CSU. This is such a great reunion and one we are looking forward to for CSU and the Cleveland community.”
Playoff Structure
The top five men’s teams in the league standings at the conclusion of the regular season will qualify for the 2025 MLIS playoffs.
The weekend will kick off in Cleveland with a wild card match Thursday, April 10, 2025, where the #4 and #5 seeds will compete against each other. The location of this match is to be determined.
The winner of the wild card match will face the #1 seed in one of two semi-final matches Friday, April 11, 2025, at the Wolstein Center. The #2 and #3 seeds will compete in the other semi-final Friday evening.
The winners of both semi-finals will advance to the men’s championship match Sunday, April 13, 2025.
For the WMLIS, the top two teams at the conclusion of the regular season will advance to the championship match, which will be held Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the Wolstein Center.
“We are looking forward to hosting the MLIS and WMLIS finals here in Cleveland,” said Andriana Ruscitto, Cleveland Crunch public relations director. “This is a significant milestone for indoor soccer, not just in Cleveland, but across the league. We’re eager to welcome teams to our city and deliver an unforgettable playoff experience.”
Stay tuned for announcements regarding ticket sales and other information for playoff weekend on the MLIS’ and Cleveland Crunch’s website and social media channels.
About the Venue
The Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center is a 13,610-seat indoor arena located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, on the campus of CSU and is home to the Cleveland State Vikings men's and women's basketball teams and previously served as the home of the Cleveland Crunch of the National Professional Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League from 1992 to 2005.
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