The USFL is looking to put a new franchise in Akron, but the marketing group involved wants to use the vacant Rubber Bowl as a home field.
Appearing on the 1590 WAKR Ray Horner Morning Show, Sean Mason, who is the potential team owner says that by purchasing the stadium, the move will draw more revenue for the franchise known as the Akron Fire.
"Owning our own stadium would generate revenue that we would gain back by not renting," Mason says.
"That's what's going to help us sustain ourselves within the league."
Mason, the president of Team1 Marketing Group says the Rubber Bowl would serve as a venue for other sporting events and concerts when the offseason comes.
The move comes as somewhat of a surprise, given the that InfoCision Stadium on the University of Akron campus is one of the best football facilities in the Mid-American Conference, as well as the state.
USFL CEO Jamie Cuadra toured the facility with Mason and USFL COO Fred Biletnikoff Jr to see what renovations could be made to the aging stadium.
"It has a lot of potential," Cuadra said. "By walking around we were able to see Sean's vision for what he wanted the stadium to look like once it's done."
No specifics have been mentioned in terms of updating the facility, but Mason said the potential repair costs to fix up the Rubber Bowl would cost more than seven figures.
The team would potentially be playing in the spring of 2013 in an eight-team league.
Cuadra says he supports Mason's vision and looks forward to seeing what he would have in place for the franchise.
"We're excited to see what he (Sean) has in store for Akron."
The Rubber Bowl served as the home stadium for the University of Akron Zips from 1940-2008 and can seat up to around 35,000 fans.
Akron's looking to increase trash rates by up to ten percent.
The city wants the rate hike to help pay for landfill closing costs and new equipment.
Public Service Director Rick Merolla tells AkronNewsNow the decision to propose the trash rates increases came after the state auditor ordered the city to eliminate fund deficits after the city's audit in 2010.
"We've committed to having that deficit removed by the end of next year." Merolla said.
Merolla said the city is also in need of replacing old trash collection equipment.
The Beacon Journal reports the plan would increase bills to $19 a month for those who recycle and $21.50 for those who don't.
Council still has to approve the legislation which may increase trash fees by up to 10 percent, depending on whether or not residents recycle.
On the Web: www.ohio.com
A 37-year-old Akron woman is facing prostitution charges after police say she forced her daughter to engage in sexual conduct for money.
Police arrested Jacqueline Toro-Williams of Akron and charged her with compelling prostitution and promoting prostitution.
According to the Akron Police Department, the young girl was between 11 and 12 years old at the time.
Police said the activity went on for at least a year.
Authorities recently caught up with the girl several years after she ran away from home.
Careless smoking was the cause of an overnight fire at a building that housed several apartments in Akron, according to the Akron Fire Department.
Firefighters were called to the blaze in the 1200 block of Grant Street around 12 a.m.
The fire caused extensive damage to the apartment.
The American Red Cross is helping the residents with shelter.
No injuries were reported.
The trial date in a civil law suit seeking travel expense reports and receipts from Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic has been postponed after a judge determined several legal issues need to be resolved.
The Beacon Journal reports Summit County Common Pleas Judge Amy Corrigall Jones made the decision during a pretrial meeting Tuesday morning .
The compliant against the mayor's record-keeping of his travel expenses was filed in April 2009 by Bob Smith of Chagrin Falls.
The new tentative trial date has been scheduled for Dec. 3.
On the Web: www.ohio.com
Following the trend of rising temperatures - Akron gas prices are heating up.
After weeks of falling gas prices, the number is now up about 4 cents per gallon, bringing the average to $3.55, according to GasBuddy.com.
The current price is still a few cents cheaper than one year ago and about 3 cents lower than last month. The cheapest prices in Akron dipped just below $3.50.
"While current factors still point to some falling gasoline prices in some areas, mainly the West Coast, oil prices haven't continued to shed as much value in the past week," said Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "Prices in the past few years have bottomed out in June, we could see a similar situation play out this year."
Click here to find gas prices near you.
On the Web: www.GasBuddy.com
Greenstar Recycling unveiled their new single stream recycling facility in Akron Wednesday morning. The single stream process allows residents and business to combine all recyclables into one bin.
"No longer are the residents or the haulers required to separate the materials in their households or at the curb," said Steve Dunn, senior vice president of operations.
Greenstar has invest $7 million in the new facility including improvements to an existing 196,000 square facility on Exeter Road.
The company has created 43 new local jobs and plans to add more, up to 75, as volume increases.
"We are here to partner with the city, the county and the state, said Marcelo Figueira, CEO of Greenstar Recycling. "And we hope we can enhance this partnership moving on."
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic said the city is always looking for new ways to improve the environment.
"There are many things we can do," said Plusquellic."Taking waste out of the landfills, and not only taking it out but reusing it for good use, is an important part of what we've been doing."
The recycling center will process around 7,000 tons of recyclables each month, serving central and northeast Ohio. That number is expected to double within the next 18 to 24 months.
The sound of birds chirping echoed through Akron's Landmark Building as the Ohio Division of Wildlife banded four peregrine falcon chicks Tuesday morning.
Jamey Graham with the Ohio Division of Wildlife says the banding process helps researchers track the movement of the birds.
"Those bands have special numbers on them that are unique to each chick," said Graham. "It's kind of like a social security number."
The female chicks began hatching around two weeks ago and are currently in the care of Akron's adult falcon pair, Chesapeake and McKinley.
Graham said many people are fascinated with Peregrine Falcons because of their strength and speed.
"They can reach upwards of 200 miles per hour when hunting. They're very efficient predators."
The downtown nest is one of two in Summit County. The other nest is located in Boston on the Turnpike Bridge.
The Peregrine Falcon was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999 and was downgraded from state endangered to threatened in 2008.
Authorities closed a portion of Copley Road this morning due to a gas leak.
Akron fire officials said the leak was reported around 6:45 a.m. in the 1700 block of Copley Road. Authorities blocked the road in both directions as crews worked to repair the gas leak.
The cause of the leak has not been released.
Akron dispatch said the the road reopened around 8 a.m.
Akron Police are investigating the shooting death of a 29-year-old man on the city's east side Sunday afternoon.
Authorities say Angelo Jones, Jr. of Akron was shot following an altercation in the 1100 block of Tarson Terrace around 4:30 p.m.
Jones was taken to Akron City Hospital where he later died from his injuries.
An autopsy is scheduled for today.
The fatal shooting remains under investigation. No arrests have been made.
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