The Future of this Forum

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's very possible that I will be handing over the reins to the Ultimate Mets Database in the next week or two. Maybe even sooner. I have a call scheduled for Thursday morning (December 4) with the SABR member that KC found. (See the thread in the Bitch to the Admins forum for more details.)

Once I transfer the ultimatemets.com domain to the new owner, I'll no longer have the rights to the domain that hosts this forum.

While it's possible that the forum will continue under the new ownership, I'm not getting the sense that it's likely. We need to come up with an alternative, and soon, or else we may have to disband.

A new site for the forum would require a hosting account that includes PHP scripting support. If anyone currently holds such an account, the forum could probably be hosted at no additional charge. If someone were to open a new account, with a new domain name, I estimate the annual cost would probably be on the lower end of the $100 to $200 range.

I've had a private conversation with one long-standing forum member who may be able to take on the hosting. But I think we're at the point where this has to be an open, and prominent, discussion.

So here we are.

Discuss!

[Edgy MD]

I have a domain I have paid for and not developed, called cranepoolcompanion.com.

I am also the administrator who brought out the ban hammer that was either (a) too late to stop the exodus, or ( accelerated the exodus, depending on your point of view.

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

Let me know if there is anything I can do to assist. I very much appreciate this forum and community it has created over the decades. I'm happy to take on some responsibilities or be part of a group covering costs.

Thank you all for all the work you do and have done.

[kcmets]

In a pinch, we can use the kcmets.net server is needed. This

would have to on a temporary basis. kcmets has move to a

company called iPage after being on Ehost, JustHost and then

BlueHost. It's dizzying to keep up with the changes. Anyway,

it seems phpBB would have to be installed with the Control

Panel changes but that looks easy enough after Googling.

Also, just add to the domain part of the conversation:

cranepool.net is available, I think this is the one we used for years

At first I thought cranepoolforum, but I can't remember.

cranepool.com is owned anonymously which is kinda weird. It was

registered in 2008 and the registrar is Tucows Domains Inc.

[Benjamin Grimm]

ultimatemets.com has also gone from EHost to JustHost to BlueHost, and so far BlueHost has really sucked. The slowness issues weren't unknown before BlueHost, but they've gotten noticeably worse since then.

It would probably be better to avoid a temporary host if possible.

Does cranepoolcompanion's hosting company support PHP? If it's a domain that's already paid for and is a technical fit it might be the ideal solution.

Here's some information I got from Microsoft CoPilot:

🏢 Hosting Companies for phpBB Forums

Here are some reliable options tested for phpBB compatibility:

Hosting Provider | Starting Monthly Price | Key Features | Approx. Annual Cost

• Hostinger — $2.99/mo — Free SSL, daily backups, free domain, optimized for phpBB — ~ $36/year (first term, renewals higher)


• SiteGround — $3.99/mo — High uptime, strong support, caching for forums — ~ $48/year


• A2 Hosting — $2.99/mo — Turbo servers for speed, phpBB auto-install — ~ $36/year


• InMotion Hosting — $2.49/mo — Free SSL, unlimited bandwidth, good support — ~ $30/year


• HostGator — $3.75/mo — One-click phpBB install, unmetered bandwidth — ~ $45/year

 

Sources:

🌐 Domain Registration Costs

• .com domains: Typically $10–$20 per year for standard names.


• Other extensions (.net, .org, .info): Similar range, sometimes slightly higher.


• Premium domains: Can cost hundreds or thousands, but for a typical forum you’ll likely stay in the $10–$20 range.

[Centerfield]

A big thanks to everyone who has kept this place alive. I’m happy to cover any portion of the cost.

[whippoorwill]

I do not have a Venmo account but if someone is willing to take a personal check I will chip in a little thank you for moving this to a more obvious spot!

[TransMonk]

I will happily donate to any costs as well.

[kcmets]

It would probably be better to avoid a temporary host if possible.

 

Sure, I agree. It would be like packing up all your stuff and moving

into a new place in December only to have to do it all over again in

February.

[MFS62]

Whither you goest I will go.

I don't have a Venmo account, but PM me where to send a check.

Later

Edited December 3, 2025 by MFS62

[Benjamin Grimm]

The offers of financial support are very much appreciated, but this is more of a technical challenge than a financial one. If everyone who visited regularly contributed about eight to ten dollars a year we'd probably have more than enough. Ideally, though, we'll be able to leverage an existing hosting account, as we have for the last seven years that we've been on ultimatemets.com. If we can do that, then no money contributions would be needed.

[smg58]

A big thanks to everyone who has kept this place alive. I’m happy to cover any portion of the cost.

 

Seconding both parts of this.

[metirish]

Our future is uncertain, but I have faith and I echo any financial support

[Edgy MD]

Does cranepoolcompanion's hosting company support PHP? If it's a domain that's already paid for and is a technical fit it might be the ideal solution.

 

The WebHost is ChemiCloud, and it looks like they support PHP. I might have to download and add-on or two, but I don't think it should add much to the cost.

When renewal time comes around (October 2026), it might be a kick in the pants, as I am currently not much of a wage earner and am living mostly off of my lady-friend, and that isn't very sustainable. My situation should change by then, but, you know, all passing-the-hat is appreciated. And a good site could hopefully have enough features to pay for itself through advertisements.

The trick is making it a good site, and effectively promoting it.

Fun fact: I HATE AI so much that I would rather spend twenty minutes searching around the back end of my WebHost for information about whether my plan supports PHPbb than simply ask a chatbot. This is the sort of thing that makes me a sub-optimal Web administrator.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I went to ChemiCloud's site and yes, they do support PHP and mySQL databases.

The Starter Plan claims to be able to handle around 25,000 visits per month. (We'd easily come in under that number if we only counted humans, but there are also those pesky bots.) The next level up, the Pro Plan, can handle 50,000 visits. It won't cut off if we go over that amount, we'd probably just see degradation. (And we're used to degradation!)

Starter Plan costs $11.95 per month and Pro Plan costs $17.95 per month. (Annually that's $144 and $216, respectively.) Even at our reduced membership level, I think we can get enough contributors to cover either of those amounts. And instead of maintaining a rolling fund, as used to be the case (I think) there could just be an annual pledge drive. Maybe we ask fifteen people to step up and donate $15 each when the bill comes due.

But from what you're saying, billing wouldn't kick in for another ten months or so?

[Edgy MD]

I am under the ChemiCloud Pro Plan, currently.

[Edgy MD]

Ben, I have sent an invite to your leaptoad address for you to access the back end of cranepoolcompanion.com.

At least, I think I did. It is a secondary domain, underneath a domain using my name as a URL. I meant to give you access to the sub-domain, but I might have boo-booed.

[whippoorwill]

Does cranepoolcompanion's hosting company support PHP? If it's a domain that's already paid for and is a technical fit it might be the ideal solution.

 

The WebHost is ChemiCloud, and it looks like they support PHP. I might have to download and add-on or two, but I don't think it should add much to the cost.

When renewal time comes around (October 2026), it might be a kick in the pants, as I am currently not much of a wage earner and am living mostly off of my lady-friend, and that isn't very sustainable. My situation should change by then, but, you know, all passing-the-hat is appreciated. And a good site could hopefully have enough features to pay for itself through advertisements.

The trick is making it a good site, and effectively promoting it.

Fun fact: I HATE AI so much that I would rather spend twenty minutes searching around the back end of my WebHost for information about whether my plan supports PHPbb than simply ask a chatbot. This is the sort of thing that makes me a sub-optimal Web administrator.

 

I would rather help pay than have advertisements if that’s an option

[Edgy MD]

Well, if there were ads, it would be in other content on the domain, and not in the forum, but I appreciate your position.

[metirish]

I would love to see ads for AARP, Viagra and Colonial Penn life insurance

[whippoorwill]

Lol metirish

[Benjamin Grimm]

Ben, I have sent an invite to your leaptoad address for you to access the back end of cranepoolcompanion.com.

At least, I think I did. It is a secondary domain, underneath a domain using my name as a URL. I meant to give you access to the sub-domain, but I might have boo-booed.

 

I was able to successfully accept the invitation. Haven't had time to do anything more than preliminary poking around, but when I have the time I'll see about installing phpBB.

Thank you!

[Centerfield]

There are a lot of words I don't understand, but it sounds like we saved the forum? Or better put, Edgy and Ben saved the forum? If so, woohoo!!!

[Edgy MD]

I would love to see ads for AARP, Viagra and Colonial Penn life insurance

 

And I aim to please!

[Benjamin Grimm]

There are a lot of words I don't understand, but it sounds like we saved the forum? Or better put, Edgy and Ben saved the forum? If so, woohoo!!!

 

Not quite yet, but we have a plan anyway.

[whippoorwill]

I would love to see ads for AARP, Viagra and Colonial Penn life insurance

 

And I aim to please!

 

Just wait til you turn 65. You’ll long for the days pre Medicare Advantage phone calls all day long

[MFS62]

Just wait til you turn 65. You’ll long for the days pre Medicare Advantage phone calls all day long

 

"Just give us your zip code and we will tell you the best plan in your area."

LOL!

Later

[metirish]

There are a lot of words I don't understand, but it sounds like we saved the forum? Or better put, Edgy and Ben saved the forum? If so, woohoo!!!

 

Not quite yet, but we have a plan anyway.

 

This makes me so happy, early Christmas present

[Marshmallowmilkshake]

There are a lot of words I don't understand, but it sounds like we saved the forum? Or better put, Edgy and Ben saved the forum? If so, woohoo!!!

 

Not quite yet, but we have a plan anyway.

 

This makes me so happy, early Christmas present

 

Absolutely!

[whippoorwill]

Just wait til you turn 65. You’ll long for the days pre Medicare Advantage phone calls all day long

 

"Just give us your zip code and we will tell you the best plan in your area."

LOL!

Later

Yeah I like how they try to trick you into saying yes

‘Can you hear me?’

‘You qualify for Parts A and B right?’ I always say no even if it’s a lie, and they hang right up.

Anywsye, yes this is a great plan and I am happy too!