CLEVELAND — The 2024-25 NBA season marks 30 years since the Cavaliers moved back to downtown Cleveland after two decades at Richfield Coliseum in Summit County.
Some fans worry about the future of Cleveland sports culture after Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced plans to build a new domed stadium in Brook Park and take the team from downtown, where they've played in two lakefront stadiums since 1946. But as far as the Cavs go, Chief Marketing Officer Chris Kaiser says fans don't have to be concerned.
"We feel like we're a fabric of downtown Cleveland and we're going to be here for a long time," Kaiser told 3News Friday night during the Cavaliers' home opener at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. "It's something that's kind of ingrained in all of us, like that's kind of one of our pillars is to be civic leaders. ... We believe that this is the best place for us and we think that's what's best for the people of Cleveland and for our fans."
The Cavs and their partners recently broke ground on what will be the team's new practice facility along the Cuyahoga River, moving from their current headquarters Independence. Additionally, the G League's Cleveland Charge will play their games inside Cleveland Public Hall this season.
"We’re just trying to be pillars to this community and make sure we’re supporting all of the things that have developed around it," said Kaiser, who added that team owner Dan Gilbert is committed to making sure the downtown economy stays strong.