CLEVELAND – It’s not often that a major city gets the opportunity to host major events for all the major sports leagues. Cleveland has the chance to do just that over the next 5 years.
Let’s break it down.
2019:
This July, Cleveland plays host to the MLB All-Star game to be played at Progressive Field. This will also include other festivities such as the iconic Home Run Derby. The economic impact from the events is expected to reach up to $70 million. Cleveland hasn’t hosted the Summer Classic since 1997.
2020:
The NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament returns to Cleveland, an event that hasn’t been played here since 2015. The First and Second Rounds of March Madness will be played at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and will take place over 3 days. A number of cities across the U.S. will host NCAA Men’s games next season.
2021:
THE BIG ONE! Cleveland, finally, will have the opportunity to host the NFL draft – an event that’s been in the works for years. Finally, the Cleveland Browns and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission were able to pull off a successful bid after Canton was removed from the proposal.
The Draft was held last in Nashville and broke records for attendance, and the amount of money that the host city raked in. Nashville reported the Draft provided $224 million in economic impact coming from over 600,00 people. Over 50% of those were visitors.
2022:
Just in time for the completion of the renovation of Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, the NBA All-star game will come to Cleveland. Charlotte played host to this year’s All-star game with much success to report. No matter what city hosts NBA All-star weekend, it’s sure to be a spectacle. 2022 will Cleveland will be no different.
2024:
Finally, Cleveland will welcome the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four.
These events all put Cleveland back in the national spotlight, but none of them will live up to what is promised to come with the NFL Draft in terms of money and the amount of people who will have their eyes on our city.
Local business are excited for what's to come, as Tiffany Tarpley found out.
"Making sure we're staffed up and ready to go," says Rebol Manager, Kyle Kristanko. "It's great when you look at the numbers and what they're projected to bring to the city...in overall revenue, it's awesome."
