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Basketball
Arena Vitals
Opened: 1994
Capacity: 20,562 seats
Mascot: Moondog
Dance Team:
The Cavalier Girls
Team Chant: Let's Go Cavs!
Draft Beer: $6.75
Hot Dog: $4.25 |
Quicken Loans
Arena Address
One Center Court
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-420-2200
Get Directions
Arena Parking: $15.00 |
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NBA Basketball Arena Review
- Quicken Loans Arena
 My continuing journey to complete a full circuit of the National
Basketball Association, visiting every NBA arena as a fan of each
local franchise, resumed in November 2010 with a visit to Quicken
Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Quicken Loans Arena is home to the
Cleveland Cavaliers and is situated in a prime location as part of
the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex, consisting of Quickens
Loans Arena, Progressive Field (home of the Cleveland Indians), and
Gateway Plaza. This area is the central hub for Cleveland sports
fans as a number of bars, night clubs and restaurants surround the
sports complex, providing a variety of pre and post-game
entertainment options for fans who come into the city to watch their
favorite sports teams. There’s also plenty of parking in and around
Quicken Loans Arena and I would advise first timers to the area to
plan to arrive early, grab some dinner and a few drinks, and stay
late to really soak in the vibrant Cleveland night life.
As for me, my evening began around 5:00pm with dinner at one of my
favorite local spots in the East 4th Street Entertainment District,
Flannery's Pub. Right along East 4th Street between Euclid and
Prospect Avenue, sports fans will find a number of
 restaurant
options to suit any taste as several of them line both sides of the
road. Personally, I like Flannery's. Good Irish food complimented by
a solid selection of local beer on tap and coupled with a great open
air dining experience, make Flannery's a great choice for a pregame
meal. I also like the House of Blues located at the other end of 4th
street. Depending on what you're looking for, both are solid dining
and entertainment options, but the best part about eating dinner on
East 4th Street is that you're located a short walk from Quicken
Loans Arena.
I typically like to arrive at the arena early and the "Q", as it is
known by locals, opens its doors about an hour before tip-off.
Before the game begins, fans can walk down to the courtside area to
watch as their favorite stars warm up and get ready for the
evening's contest. We walked around a bit, chatted with the ushers,
and watched as some of the kids got autographs, but as gametime
approached we headed to our seats.
Walking the concourses of Quicken Loans Arena, I was impressed by
the feeling of community that seems to resonate through there. The
fans were fairly amicable and eager to chat about their Cleveland
Cavaliers. I also found the Quicken Loans Arena Staffers to be very
friendly and approachable. Arena
 staffers had setup sign building
stations for the kids around to arena so they make their own signs
for the game. It was a nice way to involve and occupy the kids while
really getting them into the spirit of pro basketball.
Concessions were pretty standard, there was nothing really
extraordinary on the menu, but they were priced competitively with
what I'm accustomed to seeing around the league. I thought the draft
beer was very reasonably priced at $6.75.
Like most of the country, I feel for the fans of Cleveland
Cavaliers. During the Michael Jordan years, the Cavaliers were the
doormat that Jordan trampled over en route to six NBA titles, but
they persevered and weathered the storm. When it was finally their
turn, with a super star of their own who dominated the NBA and was
capable of leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a well-deserved NBA
Title, he took them to the brink of a championship and left town.
LeBron James was a home grown talent from Akron, Ohio who was the
face of this franchise. His prime time special this summer
announcing his move to South Florida made a mockery of the city that
gave him his start and the fanbase that supported his rise. King
James has to be one of the most hated men in the City of Cleveland,
and that’s unfortunate. It certainly wasn't fair, but Cavs fans will
weather the storm again and rise from these ashes.
 Finding our seats in Section 208 we waited for the game to begin,
but as the Cavs took the court, there were very few familiar faces.
Starting point guard Mo Williams and starting center Anderson
Varejao, both missed the game because of groin and rib injuries,
respectively. So the LeBron James-less Cavaliers, took the floor
shorthanded without their best shooter and without one of their
better defenders. Throughout the first half the Cavaliers kept up
with the Pacers and in the remaining minutes of the half, rallied
from a 55-44 deficit to tie the game at 54 apiece. To open the
second half, the Pacers went on a 9-2 run erasing the halftime time
and they never looked back. Without a true go-to superstar in the
lineup, the Cavs spread the ball around and proved that life without
LeBron will make for a very long season. They finally lost to the
Pacers 99-85, falling to 4-5 with a 1-4 record at home. The team
that used to dominate opponents in Quicken Loans Arena, building an
imposing home field advantage over the years, is a shell of what it
once was.
Not one to dwell on the shortcomings of my sports teams, I decided
to drown my sorrows in an ice cold draft beverage of choice.
Fortunately for me, the area in and around Quicken Loans arena is
jam packed with an incredibly vibrant night life. Sports bars,
restaurants and clubs are open till the wee hours of the morning
located in both the East 4th Street and Warehouse Districts. In
years past, Clevelanders used to go to the area called "The Flats",
but unfortunately most of the bars and clubs in the Flats have been
shut down. The Warehouse District is really where it’s at these days
and that’s where my evening concluded.
For more
information on the city of Cleveland, Ohio check out my other
reviews by clicking on the links below:
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers, Quicken
Loans Arena - General Information
NFL: November 14, 2010 - New York
Jets vs. Cleveland Browns
NFL: December 16, 2007 - Buffalo Bills vs.
Cleveland Browns
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City of Cleveland Local Information |
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Top Tourist Attractions:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Great Lakes
Science Center
Pro Football Hall of Fame (Canton, Ohio)
Local Foods:
Polish
Kielbasa, Pierogies
Classic Reuben Sandwich
Gyros
Fresh lake fish
Popular
Bar Districts:
Warehouse District (The Velvet Dog, Spy, Fusion, The Blind Pig)
East 4th Street District (House of Blues, Flannery's Pub, Corner Alley)
Historic Gateway District (Great live entertainment - blues and vintage
rock)
The Flats (are dead, everything has closed up in the Flats)
Best Restaurants:
East
4th Street (Harry Buffalo, Flannery's Pub, Lola Bistro, Saigon)
Historic Gateway District (Clevelander Bar & Grill, Local Heroes Bar &
Grill)
Warehouse District (Blue Pointe Grille, Cleveland Chophouse, Brasa Grill
Steakhouse, Mallorca, Metro Bar & Kitchen)
Mortens Steak House |
Fan
Resources:
Pocket Map of Cleveland
RTA Regional Transit Authority Rail Map
Arena Fan Policies
Arena Parking Map
Local Sports Media:
The Columbus Dispatch
Cleveland Plain Dealer
97.1 The Fan
WTAM 1100AM
Where To
Stay:
Find a Hotel
in the downtown area as it keeps you within walking distance of the
stadium and the many attractions of the City of Cleveland. I would
suggest staying at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center or the
Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre. The Brighton Hotel Corp & The Keg &
Quarter also both boast fabulous reviews.
Getting to the Arena:
Quicken Loans Arena is located in the heart of downtown Cleveland.
If you're staying in a hotel downtown, it's a short walk away. If
you're driving in from out of town there's plenty of parking in the
area. |
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Planning Your Next Trip to see the
Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena?
NBABasketballArenas.com can help.
Below you'll find links for cheap Cleveland Cavaliers tickets, arena seating
charts, local weather, hotel, and flight information.
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COMMENTS?
Tell me about your
experience at Quicken Loans Arena watching the Cleveland Cavaliers. Please feel free to
post
any suggestions or comments you might have for my journey to
Quicken Loans Arena, including the following:
- Local Hotspots (Bar
Districts, Restaurants, Clubs)
- Local Foods (Traditional Cuisine, Micro Brews)
- Your Experiences or Helpful Hints
- If you saw me let me know!
All commentary will be moderated. Your
e-mail address will not be
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