CLEVELAND — Ever since the NBA began allowing teams to wear a sponsorship patch on their jerseys, the Cleveland Cavaliers have represented Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. But beginning next season, the Cavs will wear a patch representing another Northeast Ohio company, with the team announcing on Tuesday that Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. will take over as its new jersey sponsor beginning in the 2022-23 campaign.
The Cavs made the announcement during a press conference at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, which was attended by Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski, President of Business Operations Nic Barlage, President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and All-Star point guard Darius Garland. Per league rules, the team's jersey sponsorship patch will be 2.5-inches by 2.5-inches and will be located on the left shoulder of each uniform.
Founded as Cleveland Iron Company in 1875, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. has been recognized as "the largest and oldest independent iron ore mining company in the United States" and the "largest flat-rolled steel company and the largest iron ore pellet producer in North America," according to its website.
“Cliffs has been an anchor for Cleveland and the Great Lakes Region for 175 years. We share an immense amount of hometown pride and love for this region and are committed to having a positive influence on the people that live and work here,” Komoroski said in a statement. “While our respective roles in the community are much different from each other, both Cliffs and the Cavs are considered part of the ‘fabric of life’ here in Northeast Ohio. It is now very appropriate and relevant for Cliffs to be represented, literally, on the fabric of the Cavs player jerseys.”
Beginning in 2017, the NBA began allowing teams to sell the rights to a single jersey patch, making it the first major professional sports league in the United States to allow such sponsorships. Since the inception of the program, the Cavs held a deal with Akron-based Goodyear, whose 'wingfoot' logo has been a staple of the team's uniform tops for the past five years.
According to multiple reports, the Cavs' previous sponsorship deal with Goodyear was worth an estimated $10 million per year. Financial terms of the partnership between the team and Cleveland-Cliffs were not disclosed.