By Dan Jovic | dan.jovic@fox8.com Staff Writer

6:35 p.m. EDT, October 18, 2010
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Northeast Ohio is a hotbed of football, that could soon be getting a bit hotter.

According to Media Director Stephon McMillen, the Lingerie Football League could be expanding to Cleveland in 2011.

McMillen says, "Either Columbus or Cleveland will be awarded an expansion franchise set to kickoff Fall 2011." According to McMillen, in addition to Columbus or Cleveland, the Lingerie Football League will also look to debut expansion franchises next year in Las Vegas, New Orleans and Charlotte, bringing the league's number of teams to 14.

'We appreciate that football is part of the heartbeat of Ohio and we eagerly await next Fall when we introduce LFL football in the state of Ohio', said, Mitchell S. Mortaza, Founder & Chairman, Lingerie Football League, LLC.

McMillen tells Fox 8 News, "The league has tried to isolate markets that live and breathe football and Cleveland and Columbus fit the bill."

According to McMillen, the franchise's ownership group, initial fan fare and arena lease will all play a factor in determining which market is awarded the expansion franchise.

McMillen says the league has talked with two "major" local developers and a "significant sports figure" regarding roles they would play with the franchise, if it were to be awarded to Cleveland.

The league is expected to make a decision on which city will be awarded the franchise in the next 10-14 days.

Fans can help bring the team to Cleveland by e-mailing BringLFLFootballtoCleveland@LFLUS.com, which will indicate which city has the bigger fan base, Cleveland or Columbus.

Fans can also submit possible team names. The creator of the winning name could be awarded lifetime season tickets and get to make the first coin-toss at the home opener.