Cleveland, OH

NE Ohio business partners capitalize on licensing deal with Joe Flacco (photos)

Published

10 months ago

January 10, 2024

NE Ohio business partners capitalize on licensing deal with Joe Flacco (photos)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Some people might have thought signing a 38-year-old quarterback was a longshot idea when their team was on the cusp of the playoffs. But Columbus-based Where I’m From, an apparel company with roots in Northeast Ohio, saw an opportunity, and they signed him, too.

The company is run by Ryan Napier, a self-described “lifelong Browns fan” who has season tickets and makes it to about half a dozen games a season, and his business partner Andrew VanderLind.

Because of how quickly Joe Flacco has become a favorite in Cleveland – his fourth NFL team – Napier and VanderLind had to work extremely fast to get the deal in place.

“This has definitely been my favorite one – the most challenging to put together, the most hectic, and the most fun to be a part of,” Napier said.

They have about 15 to 20 Flacco items, which include fleece, shirts and others with assorted designs and graphics like “Flacco Fan Since ‘23.” Flacco is the only current Browns player in their apparel roster, which has included Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow, Collin Sexton and others.

Most of the time, those deals involve discussions that can last months and involve a long-term contract of a year or more, Napier said.

“Obviously,” he said, “we didn’t have that luxury with Joe Flacco.”

Sales are tied to the success of Flacco, who stormed into Cleveland and seamlessly fit in with teammates as he picked up a new offense. With the Browns, he has thrown for 13 touchdowns in five games. In all likelihood, Flacco will top 44,000 career passing yards when the Browns face the Houston Texans this Saturday in a Wild Card matchup.

“Despite how well things are going, we know there is a cap on the time, how long the runway is going to be,” Napier said. “It might end this weekend, or it might end in the middle of February.”

That means Napier and VanderLind have had to communicate, negotiate and allow “enough time to capitalize on this magical moment. It was a very heavy lift and a very big challenge, but very worthwhile.”

Northeast Ohio is a huge sales location, said Napier, who said other Flacco shirts exist through licensing deals through the NFL Players Association, but Where I’m From is the only company that has a deal directly with Flacco and his representatives.

“That’s what makes us different,” he said. “We are officially licensed with Joe. We collaborate and have been on Joe’s Instagram and Twitter. We run everything by them and obviously have a lot more leeway to do things with his likeness.”

The arrangement avoids cease-and-desist orders from a celebrity’s people to unlicensed sellers, so the business can be kept on track.

Where I’m From is closing in on a 10-year anniversary. Napier and VanderLind grew up in Canton and went to Ohio University. Both shared an entrepreneurial spirit.

“We were always kicking ideas off each other and seeing if there was ever an opportunity to do something together. One day we said, ‘Why not take the leap?’ “

The initial necessary capital was fairly limited for a localized-apparel company, he said. They got a website and checked out potential sales markets. The first year and a half saw slow but steady growth.

They started with kiosks, then expanded to seven full stores throughout the state. They carved out a large distribution footprint via retailer deals with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Rally House and DSW. Those collaborations have put Where I’m From in more than 600 stores across the country.

The Flacco items have been on the market for about 10 days, and the end is, well, no one knows.

“We’ll keep producing them as long as the demand is there,” Napier said. “It’s a little trickier than a lot of the other relationships. There’s not able to be as much planning or able to see what the long term looks like. We’re flying a little bit by the seat of our pants to see what the demand is and take it day by day.”

That means walking a tightrope of having the right amount of inventory – not enough means missed sales. Too much and a Browns loss means the company gets stuck.

But Napier is keeping a hopeful, optimistic outlook on the outcome of Saturday’s game. Maybe, just maybe, the ride extends to February, a time when Browns fans usually watch other teams play.

“Oh my gosh,” Napier said, “that would be an absolute dream come true.”

Sports betting is now legal in Ohio. Bets can be placed at sportsbooks, including DraftKings Ohio Sportsbook, BetMGM Ohio, Fan Duel Ohio, Barstool Ohio, Caesars Ohio, Bet365, PointsBet and Tipico.

Related coverage

• Gambling 101: Everything you need to know about sports betting in Ohio

• Get ready for some football – wagering, that is: A guide to betting

Browns merchandise for sale: Find hoodies to hats, socks to tumblers, wall décor, jerseys and more – including sales and next-day shipping.

I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. For my recent stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursdays. Twitter: @mbona30. My latest book, co-authored with Dan Murphy, is “Joe Thomas: Not Your Average Joe” by Gray & Co.

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Cleveland, OH

Griffins’ offense goes quiet in low-scoring affair against Cleveland

Published

7 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Griffins’ offense goes quiet in low-scoring affair against Cleveland

CLEVELAND, OH — While the Grand Rapids Griffins didn’t give up much to their opponent on Sunday night, they didn’t produce a whole lot either to finish up their extended weekend.

In their first meeting with the Cleveland Monsters, the Griffins were not able to generate a ton of offense, leading to a 3-1 defeat, the team’s third loss in a row.

The Griffins fell behind the Columbus Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate early on, as Roman Ahcan beat Grand Rapids goaltender Sebastian Cossa for his sixth goal of the season just over four minutes into the contest.

However, a great play by two of the Detroit Red Wings’ prospects leveled the score just past the halfway mark of the frame. First-year Griffin Jakub Rychlovsky made a nice pass to Amadeus Lombardi, who made a great play to get around Monster netminder Zach Sawchenko to pot his fifth of the campaign.

Elmer Soderblom was awarded the secondary assist on the goal, his first of the season.

Unfortunately for GR, they wouldn’t be able to keep the game tied for long, as Ahcan was able to sneak a shot over Cossa with just over a minute to play in the first.

Grand Rapids had a couple of chances in the middle stanza, putting nine shots on goal. Yet, they could not find the equalizer. Things didn’t get any better for the Griffins in the final 20 minutes. While they attempted to create some scoring chances, they were only to put three shots on goal in the third period. Owen Sillinger put the icing on the cake with an empty-net goal in the final minute to give the Monsters the win.

The Monsters have beaten Grand Rapids in seven of the last nine meetings.

The Griffins were outshot 26-18 by Cleveland on Sunday, including 12-3 in the final frame. In 10 games this season, Grand Rapids has ended up on the wrong end of the shot counter every time. Cossa did all he could to give his team a chance, making 23 stops in his third regulation defeat of the campaign. Sawchenko, who had to be sharp when called upon, registered just his second win of the young season, turning away 17 shots.

Each team had a pair of chances on the power play, with both the Griffins and the Monsters coming up empty on the man advantage.

Grand Rapids (6-3-1-0) still holds the second-best winning percentage in the Central Division (.650), trailing the Milwaukee Admirals. Cleveland (4-3-0-1) is fifth among teams in the North with a .563 winning percentage.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Griffins go back on the road for a couple of matchups against divisional rivals, beginning on Thursday against the Iowa Wild in their annual School Day Game.

The Wild (3- 6-1-0) struggled in the early going, losing each of their first seven games of the season, finally snapping their losing skid last Tuesday against the Chicago Wolves. They have now won each of their last three after sweeping the San Jose Barracuda this weekend.

Thursday morning will mark the first of eight matchups between Iowa and Grand Rapids this year. The Griffins took seven of the eight meetings in 2023-24.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Home games in BOLD)

Thursday, Nov. 7 @ Iowa Wild (11:30 a.m. ET)
Friday, Nov. 8 @ Rockford IceHogs (8 p.m. ET)
Wednesday, Nov. 13 vs. Rockford IceHogs (11 a.m. ET)
Friday, Nov. 15 vs. Chicago Wolves (7 p.m. ET)
Saturday, Nov. 16 @ Milwaukee Admirals (7 p.m. ET)

You can watch and listen to the Griffins all season long on AHL.TV

Find AHL standings and results here

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Cleveland, OH

Veronica “Roni” Neiman

Published

15 hours ago

November 4, 2024

Press Room

Veronica “Roni” Neiman

OBITUARY

Veronica “Roni” Neiman (nee Zawistowski) age 86, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, sadly passed away on November 1, 2024. Roni was born July 21, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio and attended Holy Name High School and Ursuline College. She and her sister Chris were professional singers (The Zawie Sisters) and also sang in local polka bands. Roni spent much of her working career (18 years) at The Lubrizol Corporation.Roni lived family first, she enjoyed singing, dancing, musicals, her Polish heritage, cruises with her husband, living 10 years in Las Vegas, and watching the Cleveland Indians and Browns.Roni was the heart of our home and family and will be dearly missed. She is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, Edward R. Neiman Sr. She raised four children, Christine (Neiman) Smith, Edward R. Neiman Jr. (Kathleen), Richard A. Neiman (Annie) and Elizabeth (Neiman) Mould (Jack) in a happy and loving home. She was also a grandmother to Melissa Smith, Steven Smith II, Jack Neiman, Devyn Neiman, and Alex Mould. She was preceded in death by her mother Sophie Hermann, sister Chris Mauer, and her loving poodle, Lovette.A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday Nov. 6 at 12:30 PM at St. Gabriel Church, 9925 Johnnycake Ridge Rd. in Concord Twp. The Family will receive friends Tuesday Nov. 5 from 3-7 PM at Brickman Bros. Funeral Home, 37433 Euclid Ave. in Willoughby. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Hospice of the Western Reserve, P. O. Box 72101, Cleveland, Ohio 44192 (www.hospicewr.org/Give) would be appreciated.

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Cleveland, OH

How to watch Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cleveland Browns: TV channel, streaming info

Published

23 hours ago

November 3, 2024

Press Room

How to watch Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cleveland Browns: TV channel, streaming info

The Cleveland Browns (2-6) square off against the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3) at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sunday, November 3, 2024.

What channel is Chargers vs. Browns on?

Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio
Date: Nov. 3
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV channel: CBS
Live stream: Fubo
Live stream: Paramount+
Live stream: Sling

Watch Chargers vs. Browns FREE on Fubo!

What time is Chargers vs. Browns?

The Chargers and the Browns play at 1 p.m. ET.

Chargers vs. Browns betting odds, lines, spread

Spread favorite: Chargers (-1.5)
Moneyline: Chargers (-123), Browns (+103)
Total: 42.5 points

Chargers vs. Browns recent matchups

Over their last five meetings, Los Angeles has collected four wins versus Cleveland.
Cleveland has been outpaced by 37 points in its last five tilts versus Los Angeles.
10/9/2022: Chargers 30, Browns 28
10/10/2021: Chargers 47, Browns 42
10/14/2018: Chargers 38, Browns 14
12/3/2017: Chargers 19, Browns 10
12/24/2016: Browns 20, Chargers 17

Watch Chargers vs. Browns with Fubo FREE trial