Quicken Loans Arena

Quicken Loans Arena

"The Q"
Aerial view in 2014 from Terminal Tower
Former names	Gund Arena (1994–2005)
Address	1 Center Court
Location	Cleveland, Ohio
Coordinates	41°29′47″N 81°41′17″W / 41.49639°N 81.68806°WCoordinates: 41°29′47″N 81°41′17″W / 41.49639°N 81.68806°W
Public transit	Tower City-Public Square Station
Owner	City of Cleveland
Operator	CAVS/Quicken Loans Arena Company
Capacity	Basketball: 20,562 Ice Hockey: 10,025 (expandable to 20,056) Arena football: 20,056
Construction
Broke ground	April 27, 1992
Opened	October 17, 1994
Construction cost	$100 million ($160 million in 2016 dollars[1])
Architect	Ellerbe Becket[2]
Project manager	Seagull Bay Sports, LLC.[3]
Services engineer	URS Corporation[4]
General contractor	Turner/Choice/Bradley/Zunt[5]
Tenants
Current: Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) (1994–present) Cleveland State Vikings (NCAA) (secondary; 2015–present) Cleveland Monsters (AHL) (2007–present) Cleveland Gladiators (AFL) (2008–present) Former: Cleveland Crush (LFL) (2011–2013) Cleveland Rockers (WNBA) (1997–2003) Cleveland Barons (AHL) (2001–2006) Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL) (1994–2001)

Quicken Loans Arena, commonly known as "The Q", is a multi-purpose arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The building is the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, and the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League. It also serves as a secondary arena for Cleveland State Vikings men's and women's basketball.

The arena opened in October 1994 as part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex with adjacent Progressive Field, which opened in April of that year. It is named for the retail mortgage lender Quicken Loans, whose chairman and founder is Dan Gilbert, the majority owner of the Cavaliers, Monsters, and Gladiators. From its opening until August 2005, it was known as Gund Arena, named for former Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund, after he paid for the naming rights. The Q replaced the Richfield Coliseum as the primary entertainment facility for the region and the home of the Cavaliers, and supplanted the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University, which opened in 1990, as the primary concert and athletic venue in downtown Cleveland.

Quicken Loans Arena seats 20,562 people in its basketball configuration and up to 20,056 for ice hockey, making it the second-largest arena in the NBA by seating capacity. It is a frequent site for concerts and other athletic events such as the men's and women's basketball tournaments of the Mid-American Conference (MAC), hosting the men's tournament since 2000 and the women's tournament since 2001. It has also been the host venue for the 2007 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Final Four, opening and regional semifinal games in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, and the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 2000 and 2009. In July 2016, The Q hosted the 2016 Republican National Convention.

History

The arena logo from 1994 to 2005.

The Q was preceded in downtown Cleveland by the Cleveland Arena, a facility built in 1937 with a seating capacity for basketball of approximately 12,000. It was best known as the site of the Moondog Coronation Ball in 1952, widely regarded as the first rock and roll concert.^[6] Cleveland Arena was the first home of the Cavaliers in 1970.^[6]

The Cleveland Arena was also the home of an earlier professional basketball team, the Cleveland Rebels of the Basketball Association of America, the original Cleveland Barons ice hockey team, and hosted several games of the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA in the 1960s. By 1970, however, Cleveland Arena was outdated and in disrepair. The Cavs played there their first four seasons. It was replaced in 1974 by the 20,273-seat Richfield Coliseum, located in rural Richfield, in between Cleveland and Akron.^[6]

During the 1980s, the site of the Central Market, a fruit and vegetable market that dated back to 1856, was selected for construction of a multi-purpose domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians, but the ballot measure to fund it was defeated by voters. The market site was acquired in 1985 and cleared in 1987 in a continued push for new downtown sports facilities by city and business leaders. In 1990, voters approved a sin tax on alcohol and tobacco products in Cuyahoga County to fund the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex, which includes the Q and adjacent Progressive Field.^[7] Construction began in 1992 with the ballpark opening in April 1994 and the arena in October 1994.^[8][9] The arena opened with a concert by Billy Joel on October 17, 1994. The Cavaliers played their first regular season game in the arena a few weeks later, a loss to the Houston Rockets, on November 8, 1994.^[10]

As part of his purchase of the team and the arena naming rights in 2005, Dan Gilbert, owner of Quicken Loans, funded renovations of the arena. Renovations included installing new wine-colored seats, state-of-the-art scoreboards, video systems, and sound systems, new arena graphics and signage, and upgrades to security, locker rooms, and the suites, all of which were in place for the start of the Cavaliers 2005–2006 season, except for the seats, which were replaced a few sections at a time.

Gilbert purchased the then-inactive Utah Grizzlies franchise of the American Hockey League on May 16, 2006, and announced that it would move to Quicken Loans Arena to replace the departed Cleveland Barons. The team name was announced as the Lake Erie Monsters on January 25, 2007 and began play in the 2007–08 season. The Lake Erie Monsters changed their names to the Cleveland Monsters on August 9, 2016.

The Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League announced on October 16, 2007, that they would move to Quicken Loans Arena, becoming the Cleveland Gladiators.

Design and operations

The Q seats 20,562 for basketball, with 2,000 club seats and 88 luxury suites. Seating is divided into three levels, with two main levels of suites and five "platinum suites" on the event level. Around the seating there are two main concourses, one on the ground level to access the 100 level seating and 32 lower suites, and an upper concourse for the top 200 level seating. The lower concourse also includes the ticket office and the two-level main team shop. In between is the club level, which provides access to the 60 upper suites and club seating. Also on the club level is an auxiliary gym, which was used by the Cavaliers as their main practice court until the opening of the Cleveland Clinic Courts practice facility in 2007.

In the hockey and arena football configuration, capacity is 20,056. During most Monsters games, the upper level seating is closed and covered by a large curtain, reducing capacity to 10,025. In the basketball configuration, when the upper level seating is closed, capacity is listed at 11,751. 60% of the seating is located in the lower two levels.^[11]

The scoreboard with flames during player introductions in 2014.

The main scoreboard at The Q, nicknamed Humongotron, is the largest scoreboard used in an NBA arena. It was installed in October 2014 after Cavs owner Dan Gilbert had seen a similar scoreboard at the Toyota Center in Houston during the 2013 NBA All-Star Weekend. The scoreboard includes four large high-definition video screens with large sabers on each corner that can extend outward to shoot fire, usually as part of player introductions. The two screens facing the sidelines are 31.5 feet (9.6 m) high and 56.69 feet (17.28 m) wide, while the two screens facing the baselines measure 29.92 feet (9.12 m) high and 33.07 feet (10.08 m) wide.^[11][12][13]

The arena, along with neighboring Progressive Field and an adjacent parking garage, is owned by the Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland, an entity made up of members appointed by the governments of the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Gateway leases the arena to the Cavaliers, who also manage the Cleveland Monsters and the Cleveland Gladiators.^[14] Food service is managed by Aramark and includes items contributed by award-winning chef Michael Symon. Two existing restaurants were renamed in 2009 after Symon's bar-bistros "Bar Symon" and "The B-Spot", and some of his signature dishes are available as suite catering offerings.^[15]

Tenants

Current

As home of the Cavaliers, Monsters, and Gladiators, The Q has hosted a number of notable events for each team, including playoff and championship games. Through the 2015–16 season, the Cavs have hosted playoff games in 10 of their 22 seasons at The Q, including games three and four of the 2007 NBA Finals, and games three, four, and six of the 2015 and 2016 Finals. The arena was also the site of the 1997 NBA All-Star Game, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the NBA.

The Gladiators have qualified for the Arena Football League playoffs in four of their seven seasons in Cleveland through 2015, and hosted playoff games in 2008, 2011, and 2014. During the 2014 season, the team finished 15–1 overall and advanced to ArenaBowl XXVII, which hosted at Quicken Loans Arena. The game drew 18,410 fans and was held at the same time as a Cleveland Browns home preseason game at FirstEnergy Stadium, and a Cleveland Indians home game at adjacent Progressive Field.^[16][17]

The Monsters made their playoff debut in 2011 and returned to the playoffs in 2016. In the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs, the team advanced to the Calder Cup final and swept the Hershey Bears in four games for their first Calder Cup in franchise history. Games three and four were held at The Q. Game four, held on June 11, was a sell-out and drew 19,665 fans, which set a record for largest crowd to ever see a professional hockey game in the state of Ohio and the second-largest postseason crowd in American Hockey League history.^[18]

Former

Quicken Loans Arena has been home to other franchises that have either relocated or folded. When it opened in 1994, in addition to being home of the Cavaliers, it was also the home arena for the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League (IHL). The Lumberjacks played at the arena until 2001 when the team folded along with the IHL. Later that year a new incarnation of the Cleveland Barons, who played in the American Hockey League, began play and were tenants at the arena until 2006 when the team moved to Worcester, Massachusetts.

Two women's professional teams have also called the arena home. From 1997 to 2003, the Cleveland Rockers, one of the eight charter members of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), played at The Q. The team folded after the 2003 WNBA season because the Gunds, who still owned the Cavs at that point, no longer wished to operate the Rockers franchise and a new ownership group could not be obtained. The Cleveland Crush of the Lingerie Football League played at The Q for their 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons before moving to Toledo, Ohio, in late 2013.^[19]

Events

In addition to its professional sports tenants, The Q has hosted a number of intercollegiate sporting events. It has been home to the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Men's Basketball Tournament since 2000 and the MAC MAC Women's Basketball Tournament since 2001. "MAC Madness", as it is known, has become a strong draw for the arena. The men's semifinal and championship games routinely draw 10,000-15,000 attendees. In addition, Quicken Loans Arena has served as a host for games of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, hosting early round games in 2011 and regional semifinal and final games in 2015.^[20] The Q has also hosted games for the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, hosting regional semifinals and finals for the 2006 tournament and the Final Four and national championship game of the 2007 tournament.

In 2015, it was announced that arena management and Cleveland State University came to an agreement where select CSU Vikings men's and women's basketball games would take place at The Q, while Quicken Loans Arena would essentially take over operations of the Wolstein Center (CSU's primary home arena), being in charge of promoting and booking events at the venue.^[21]

A view from inside the arena.

In addition to team sports, The Q has hosted a number of other events, including the 2000 and 2009 U.S. Figure Skating Championships along with professional wrestling broadcasts for Raw and SmackDown, and numerous WWE pay–per–view events:

• SummerSlam (1996) - headlined by Shawn Michaels vs. Vader for the WWF Championship
• No Mercy (1999) - headlined by Triple H vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin for the WWF Championship
• Invasion (2001) - headlined by Team Alliance vs. Team WWF.
• Survivor Series (2004) - headlined by Team Orton vs. Team Triple H
• Unforgiven (2008) - headlined by the first ever Championship Scramble matches.
• TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs (2014) - headlined by Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose in a TLC match.
• Fastlane (2016) - headlined by Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose in a Triple Threat match for the #1 contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 32.

The arena is a regular concert venue as well. It played host to the politically motivated Vote for Change Tour on October 2, 2004, featuring performances by Bright Eyes, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band and special guest John Fogerty.^[22] American recording artist Lady Gaga played a sold out show on July 14, 2010, grossing over $1.7 million in ticket sales. The following year, Rush performed during their Time Machine Tour on April 15, 2011; the show was recorded and later released, as Time Machine 2011: Live in Cleveland, on November 8, 2011. The band stated that they chose to record their concert DVD here, due to Cleveland being the first U.S. city to give the band radio airplay and one of the first U.S. cities they performed in during the early 70s.^[23][24]

LeBron James gathered almost 20,000 people at the arena on October 29, 2008, for a viewing of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's 30-minute American Stories, American Solutions television advertisement. It was shown on a large screen above the stage, where Jay-Z later held a free concert.^[25]

Quicken Loans Arena was selected in July 2014 as the host site for the 2016 Republican National Convention. The arena hosted the first Republican presidential debate of the 2016 election, aired by Fox News Channel, on August 6, 2015. The convention was held July 18–21, 2016.^[26] Ariana Grande will perform in the arena for her Dangerous Woman Tour on February 26.

Cleveland-area native Stipe Miocic defended his heavyweight championship at UFC 203, which was held at The Q on September 10, 2016. The Q is worth $200 million.

References

1. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
2. "Quicken Loans Arena (formerly Gund Arena)". Ellerbe Becket.com. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
3. Project Management Consultants: Project Profiles - Ballparks, Stadium & Arenas Archived November 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
4. PCI Journal - March/April 1994
5. Quicken Loans Arena at emporis.com
6. "Cleveland Arena". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. March 27, 1998. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
7. Stoffel, Jennifer (June 13, 1990). "Real Estate; New Sports Complex for Cleveland". The New York Times. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
8. "Central Market". The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. March 25, 1998. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
9. "Quicken Loans Arena". Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. Case Western Reserve University. September 12, 2008. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
10. "Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score". Basketball-Reference.com. November 8, 1994. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
11. "Quicken Loans Arena Fun Facts". Quicken Loans Arena. 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
12. "Sneak Peek At New Quicken Loans Arena HD Jumbotron" (Press release). Cleveland Cavaliers. September 25, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
13. "Cavaliers Announce Quicken Loans Arena Is Now Home to NBA's Biggest Scoreboard" (Press release). Bleacher Report, Inc. October 27, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
14. "Who We Are". Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland. 2013. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
15. "Acclaimed Chef Michael Symon Brings His Signature Menu to Quicken Loans Arena, in Partnership with Cleveland Cavaliers and ARAMARK" (Press release). NBA.com. October 2, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
16. Warsinskey, Tim (August 10, 2014). "Cleveland Gladiators advance to ArenaBowl XXVII, defeat Orlando Predators, 56-46". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
17. Boone, Faith (August 22, 2014). "MAP: Where to park for the Browns, Indians or Gladiators games this weekend". NewsNet5.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
18. "Monsters bring Calder Cup back to Cleveland". theAHL.com. American Hockey League. June 11, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
19. Allard, Sam (December 17, 2013). "Cleveland Crush Franchise Will Relocate to Toledo". CleveScene. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
20. "2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship". Quicken Loans Arena. March 19, 2010. Retrieved July 7, 2010.
21. Quicken Loans Arena Official Website. "Quicken Loans Arena and Cleveland State University Announce Partnership to Grow the Sports and Entertainment Landscape in Downtown Cleveland". Retrieved 1 April 2016.
22. 2004 Setlists at backstreets.com
23. "Rush to film Cleveland performance for DVD release". Music-News.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
24. Eric Hansen. "Rush Tour Dates and Setlists". 2112.net. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
25. "Jay-Z, LeBron James get out vote for Obama". MSNBC. October 30, 2010.
26. Walshe, Shushannah & Klein, Rick (July 8, 2014). "Republicans Choose Cleveland As 2016 Convention Site". ABC News. Retrieved July 27, 2014.

External links

• Official website
• Quicken Loans Arena Seating Chart