Cleveland Cavaliers Home Arena


 

NBA Basketball Arena Review - Quicken Loans Arena
Located in downtown Cleveland as part of the Historic Gateway Neighborhood, Quicken Loans Arena is home to one of the best teams in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers. Formerly known as the Gund Arena, Quicken Loans Arena, or simply "the Q," hosts more than 200 events every year and serves about 2 million people annually. Not only does Quicken Loans Arena serve as the home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, it also hosts home games for the American Hockey League's Lake Erie Monsters as well as the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.

With 92 suites and 2,000 club seats, Quicken Loans Arena originally opened in 1994 when Gordon Gund bought naming rights to the building. It was not until 2005 that the name of the arena was officially changed to the Quicken Loans Arena. With its close proximity to Hopkins International Airport, "the Q" provides patrons with easy access in getting to and from the arena.

Quicken Loans Arena is located right next door to Progressive Field. Both properties are part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex. These two buildings are owned by Gateway Economic Development Corporation, hence the name of the area where they are both built. The original building of Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field marked the first time in the history of the United States that two sports facilities were built simultaneously on the same site.

The seating capacity for Quicken Loans Arena is approximately 20,000, with over 60% of the capacity being located in the lower bowl section. This creates a very intimate setting that few other NBA venues can match. If you need to miss a minute of game action, there are over 500 televisions located throughout the concourse of Quicken Loans Arena along with radio play-by-play being simulcast over the stadium's speaker system.

The main concourse also houses the B Spot and Bar Symon, which is a full-service bar and restaurant. Family members of all ages are sure to enjoy the wide variety of food and beverage choices that the B Spot offers. At the Huron Rd. entrance of the arena is Quaker Steak & Lube. Recently voted as "Best Wings USA," Quaker Stake & Lube is known for its boneless wings as well as tasty burgers and green garden salads. There are also over 100 concession vendors located throughout Quicken Loans Arena to serve you with your favorite stadium food and beverage.

With a total construction cost of just over $152 milliion, Quicken Loans Arena was actually made possible by a bill that called for sin taxes to be levied against all alcohol and tobacco in the Cleveland area. Once enough money was raised, ground was broken in 1992 at the corner of Ontario and Huron. Construction of the building took approximately 2.5 years to complete.

If you are looking for a dining experience outside of "the Q," look no further than the resurgent downtown Cleveland area, which provides ample opportunities for people of all ages to relax and treat themselves to a good meal. The Clevelander Sports Bar & Grill offers patrons a great selection of food and beverage options so that no one goes hungry or thirsty. With a festive, lively atmosphere, the Clevelander is one of the top sports bars in the entire Cleveland area. There are also many restaurants located on Cleveland's famous 4th Street. From La Strada's Italian cuisine to the American essentials found in the Greenhouse Tavern, there is a restaurant to fit everybody's taste in the downtown Cleveland area.

A person or family planning on staying the evening after watching a Cavaliers game can choose to stay at a number of different hotels located very close to the arena, which allows for easy access at game time. Right across Huron St. from Quicken Loans Arena is the Radisson Hotel at Gateway. Across the street from Progressive Field, which shares the same site as Quicken Loans Arena, is the Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland Downtown. Staying close to I-90 away from the fast-paced area down by the Arena is also possible thanks to a wide selection of fine lodging options. Days Inn & Suites, InterContinental Suites, and Glidden House are all located right off the highway near Euclid Ave. There proximity to the Arena is a simple stone's throw away, as Euclid Avenue provides access right to the downtown Cleveland area.

Many points of interest are also available in this area of Cleveland, as the Historic Gateway Neighborhood is home to such locations as the famous House of Blues or Corner Alley. However, there are many other interesting points that visitors to Cleveland will find attractive, such as the Hard Rock Cafe and Shaker Square Historic Shopping Center. In addition to all of these attractions, Public Square is also located right in the 4th St. District for people to enjoy food, shopping, and sightseeing. 

Quicken Loans Arena and the surrounding area provide visitors with a great way to not only see some great NBA basketball but also experience the ambiance of downtown Cleveland. Whether arriving at the Arena by shuttle bus from the airport or by means of the RTA public transportation center, it is important that you make a visit to one of the more renowned arenas in the nation to take in an NBA basketball game and enjoy other area attractions while in town.


For more information on the city of Cleveland, Ohio check out my other reviews by clicking on the links below:
     NBA: November 13, 2010 - Indiana Pacers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
     NFL: November 14, 2010 - New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns
     NFL: December 16, 2007 - Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns
 

 
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