In 1934 Sutphin bought the faltering
Cleveland Indians hockey team. As its new owner, president, and treasurer, he renamed the team the
Cleveland Falcons; it soon became a charter member of the fledgling
American Hockey League. Two years later he organized a team of investors to build the Cleveland Arena. After conducting a public contest for suggestions, he renamed the team the
Cleveland Barons. They were the Arena's prime tenant, but Sutphin heavily promoted it as the site for a variety of indoor events such as ice shows, rodeos, basketball from the high school through professional levels, track meets, and boxing matches. He sold the Arena and the team in 1949, but continued to support Cleveland sports until the end of his life. ==References==