Former Akron Racers Co-Owners and Cleveland Comets Agree to Settlement
April 23, 2018 - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF)
Akron Racers News Release
Fastpitch Partners, LLC, which owned and operated the Akron Racers, members of the National Pro Fastpitch League, since 2007, was dissolved effective February 21, 2017. Co-owners Craig Stout, majority owner, and Joey Arrietta, minority owner, have agreed to terms of a settlement to support Stout's new team, the Cleveland Comets and the to cooperate with Arrietta's efforts to field a new Akron Racers team in the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF) under Arrietta's leadership. Arrietta, Stout, and his new company, CCFP, LLC, have agreed to a mutually beneficial arrangement in support of Arrietta's hopeful re-entry into the NPF with a new Akron Racers team to allow the new team to have its home field at Firestone Stadium.
Arrietta will continue to operate the Akron Racers Foundation and the Akron Racers Charities which have been affiliated with the Akron Racers since 2004. Those organizations will be known as the Racers Foundation and the Racers Charities as of September 1, 2018. Arrietta is working to secure investors to field a new team, to be known as the Akron Racers, so long as the team is able to meet NPF requirements. The Akron Racers could re-enter the NPF as early as 2019.
Stout, and his new company, CCFP, will operate a new NPF team, the Cleveland Comets. The Cleveland Comets are set to open their first season on May 31, 2018 against the Chicago Bandits in Rosemont, IL. The Comets' local opener includes a five-game series from June 5-8 at Brookside Park in Ashland, Ohio, three games against the Beijing Eagles and two games against the USSSA Pride. June 9-10 the Cleveland Comets will play another two games against the USSSA Pride at Cuyahoga Community College in Parma, Ohio. The Cleveland Comets will play throughout the greater Cleveland area in their inaugural season this coming summer.
About the Cleveland Comets
The Cleveland Comets, headquartered in Cleveland, OH, became a new franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League in 2018. The Team became the most recent addition to the NPF and is owned by Craig Stout the former majority owner of the Akron Racers, a team that existed since the NPF began in 2004. The Cleveland Comets will embrace the Racers' fan base, while also introducing the attractive and popular product of fastpitch softball to the greater Cleveland area. For more information on the Cleveland Comets, contact General Manager Stephen Dunn stevedunn@clevelandcomets.us.
About the Akron Racers Foundation
Since 2001, the Akron Racers Foundation has conducted numerous youth, high school, travel ball, collegiate tournaments at Firestone Stadium. The Foundation has operated Firestone Stadium conducting major events including the 2007 NCAA Division II Championships, the MAC Tournament and the OHSAA Girl's State Tournament. In August of 2017, the Akron Racers Foundation launched the addition of the Racers Youth Fastpitch Organization which began play in the fall of 2017. For more information concerning the Racers Foundation and the Racers Charities contact Joey Arrietta at 339-620-2216.
National Pro Fastpitch Stories from April 23, 2018
- Bandits Select Oklahoma's Lowary with No. 1 Overall Pick - Chicago Bandits
- Former Akron Racers Co-Owners and Cleveland Comets Agree to Settlement - Akron Racers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Akron Racers Stories
- Racers Charities Break Ground for Champions Courtyard at Firestone Stadium
- Racers2Return "Dinner on the Diamond" a Huge Success
- R2R Campaign to Bring Racers Back to Akron in Full Swing
- Arrietta Announces Official Launch of R2R Campaign
- Former Akron Racers Co-Owners and Cleveland Comets Agree to Settlement
