CLEVELAND — More than 60,000 sports fans are expected in Downtown Cleveland Friday night as the Guardians play their first game at Progressive Field and the Cavaliers fight to make the playoffs.
Nicole Bakker from Betts on East 9th Street told 3News their patio will open at 7:30 a.m.
"We're hoping that people are out and about, people are grabbing a drink, that people are out just feeling the fun vibes of downtown Cleveland," Bakker said.
The patio at Betts will open just under 12 hours before first pitch of the Guardians' home opener, scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at Progressive Field. Tip off for the Cavs game against the Atlanta Hawks is scheduled for 7:30, with the winner earning the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Greg Vlosich from GV Art + Design says they began designing t-shirts with the iconic Guardians of Traffic sculptures about a decade ago, well before the baseball team changed its name.
"I can remember when we launched our first shirt with the Guardian on it," Vlosich remembered. "Ten years ago, we had to explain to people what it was."
The company has a variety of unique designs on t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, and hats to get you prepared for the Guardians games, as well as plenty of Cavs gear to boot. Vlosich told 3News that GV Art & Design is launching two new designs Friday morning before the Guardians take the field.
WKYC will have extensive coverage of the Guardians' home opener beginning with a special pregame show at 3 p.m. A simulcast of "Guardians Live" from Bally Sports Great Lakes then gets started at 6, followed by the game itself an hour later on our air.