 | |
.png) Rocket Arena in 2022 | |
| Former names | Gund Arena (1994–2005) Quicken Loans Arena (2005–2019) Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse (2019–2025) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1 Center Court |
| Location | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 41°29′47″N81°41′17″W / 41.49639°N 81.68806°W /41.49639; -81.68806 |
| Public transit |  Tower City |
| Owner | Gateway Economic Development Corp.[1] |
| Operator | Dan Gilbert viaRocket Companies[2] |
| Capacity | Basketball: 19,432 Ice hockey: 18,926 |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 27, 1992 |
| Opened | October 17, 1994 |
| Renovated | 2019 |
| Construction cost | $100 million ($212 million in 2024 dollars[3]) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket[4][5] |
| Project manager | Seagull Bay Sports, LLC.[6] |
| Services engineer | URS Corporation[5] |
| General contractor | Turner/Choice/Bradley/Zunt[7] |
| Tenants | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) 1994–present Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL) 1994–2001 Cleveland Rockers (WNBA) 1997–2003 Cleveland Barons (AHL) 2001–2006 Lake Erie Monsters / Cleveland Monsters (AHL) 2007–present Cleveland Gladiators (AFL) 2008–2017 Cleveland Crush (LFL) 2011–2013 Cleveland State Vikings (NCAA) secondary; 2015–present Cleveland WNBA team (WNBA) (2028–future) | |
| Website | |
| rocketarena | |
Rocket Arena is a multi-purposearena inCleveland, Ohio. The building is the home of theCleveland Cavaliers of theNational Basketball Association (NBA) and theCleveland Monsters of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL). It also serves as a secondary arena forCleveland State Vikings men's and women's basketball. Beginning in 2028, theCleveland WNBA team will make its debut calling the arena home.
Rocket Arena opened in October 1994 as part of theGateway Sports and Entertainment Complex with adjacentProgressive Field, which opened in April of that year. The facility replacedRichfield Coliseum as the primary entertainment facility for the region and the home of the Cavaliers, and supplanted theWolstein Center atCleveland State University, which opened in 1991, as the primary concert and athletic venue indowntown Cleveland. From its opening in October 1994 until August 2005, it was known asGund Arena, named for former Cavaliers ownerGordon Gund, after he paid for thenaming rights. After purchasing a majority of the Cavaliers in March 2005,Dan Gilbert bought the naming rights in August 2005 and renamed the buildingQuicken Loans Arena after his mortgage lending companyQuicken Loans. It was renamedRocket Mortgage FieldHouse in April 2019 when Quicken Loans rebranded toRocket Mortgage, as part of the facility's renovation and expansion.[8][9][10]
Rocket Arena seats 19,432 people in its basketball configuration and up to 18,926 for ice hockey. It is a frequent site for concerts and other athletic events, such as themen's andwomen's basketball tournaments of theMid-American Conference (MAC), hosting since 2000 and 2001, respectively. It has also been the host venue for two NCAA Division I Women'sFinal Fours, in2007 and2024; opening and regional semifinal games in theNCAA Division I men's basketball tournament; twoU.S. Figure Skating Championships, in2000 and2009; and the2016 Republican National Convention.
Rocket Arena was preceded in downtown Cleveland by theCleveland Arena, a facility built in 1937 with aseating capacity for basketball of approximately 12,000. It was best known as the site of theMoondog Coronation Ball in 1952, widely regarded as the firstrock and roll concert.[11] Cleveland Arena was the first home of the Cavaliers in 1970.[11]
The Cleveland Arena was also the home of an earlier professional basketball team, theCleveland Rebels of theBasketball Association of America, the originalCleveland Barons ice hockey team, and hosted several games of theCincinnati Royals of the NBA in the 1960s. By 1970, however, Cleveland Arena was outdated and in disrepair. The Cavs played there their first four seasons. It was replaced in 1974 by the 20,273-seatRichfield Coliseum, located inRichfield, between Cleveland andAkron.[11]
During the 1980s, the site of the Central Market, a fruit and vegetable market that dated back to 1856, was selected for construction of a multi-purpose domed stadium for theCleveland Browns andCleveland Indians, but the ballot measure to fund it was defeated by voters. The market site was acquired in 1985 and cleared in 1987 in a continued push for new downtown sports facilities by city and business leaders. In 1990, voters approved asin tax on alcohol and tobacco products in Cuyahoga County to fund theGateway Sports and Entertainment Complex, which includes the arena and adjacent Progressive Field.[12] Construction began in 1992 with the ballpark opening in April 1994 and the arena in October 1994.[13][14] The arena opened with a concert byBilly Joel on October 17, 1994.[5] The Cavaliers played their first regular-season game in the arena a few weeks later, a loss to theHouston Rockets on November 8, 1994.[15]
As part of his purchase of the team and the arena naming rights in 2005,Dan Gilbert, owner ofQuicken Loans, funded renovations of the arena, which included installing new wine-colored seats, state-of-the-artscoreboards, video systems, and sound systems, new arena graphics and signage, and upgrades to security, locker rooms, and the suites, all of which were in place for the start of the Cavaliers'2005–2006 season, except for the seats, which were replaced a few sections at a time.
Gilbert purchased the then-inactiveUtah Grizzlies franchise of theAmerican Hockey League on May 16, 2006, and announced that it would move to Quicken Loans Arena to replace the departedCleveland Barons. The team name was announced as the Lake Erie Monsters on January 25, 2007, and began play in the 2007–08 season. The Lake Erie Monsters changed their name to theCleveland Monsters on August 9, 2016.
TheLas Vegas Gladiators of theArena Football League announced on October 16, 2007, that they would move to Quicken Loans Arena, becoming theCleveland Gladiators.
In December 2016, the Cavaliers announced plans for renovations to the arena that included an increase in the square footage of the concourses and open areas, along with upgrades throughout the building.[16] The plan, which relied partly on tax money for funding, faced opposition from activist groups including theCuyahoga County Progressive Caucus and the Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC).[17][18] After the groups submitted signatures to force a referendum on the plan, the Cavaliers announced that they were withdrawing from the plan, citing rising costs and delays caused by the prospective referendum.[19] However, in August 2017, after Cuyahoga County made a non-binding commitment to build two mental health crisis centers, the GCC withdrew its petitions.[20][21] In December 2017, the team stated it was moving forward with the renovations. The project was finished in September 2019 byThe Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, with the final cost being approximately $185 million.[22][23]
The arena seats 19,432 for basketball, with 2,000 club seats and 88luxury suites. Seating is divided into three levels, with two main levels of suites and five "platinum suites" on the event level. Around the seating there are two main concourses, one on the ground level to access the 100 level seating and 32 lower suites, and an upper concourse for the top 200 level seating. The lower concourse also includes the ticket office and the two-level main team shop. In between is the club level, which provides access to the 60 upper suites and club seating. Also on the club level is an auxiliary gym, which was used by the Cavaliers as their main practice court until the opening of the Cleveland Clinic Courts practice facility in 2007.
In the hockey and arena football configuration, capacity is 18,926. During most Monsters games, the upper-level seating is closed and covered by a large curtain, reducing capacity to 9,447. In the basketball configuration, when the upper-level seating is closed, capacity is listed at 11,751. 60% of the seating is located in the lower two levels.[24] The seating capacity was reduced in 2018 as part of a major renovation project that expanded the concourses, removed three sections of seating in the upper level, and updated other parts of the facility. From the opening of the arena until 2018, seating capacity for basketball was listed at 20,562, with a maximum for ice hockey and arena football at 20,056.[25]
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The main scoreboard at Rocket Arena, nicknamedHumongotron, is the fourth largest scoreboard used in an NBA arena. It was installed in October 2014 by ANC Sports Enterprises.[26]
On the roof of the building is a large LED message board that measures 360 feet (110 m) by 90 feet (27 m). The sign was approved by the Cleveland City Planning Commission in March 2016 with the stipulation that only the arena's name or its naming rights sponsor can be shown. Any other use of the sign needs commission approval.[27][28]
The arena, along with neighboringProgressive Field and an adjacent parking garage, is owned by the Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland, an entity made up of members appointed by the governments of the city of Cleveland andCuyahoga County. Gateway leases the arena to the Cavaliers, who also manage theCleveland Monsters.[29]
In March 2017, in partnership with the non-profit organization KultureCity, the Cavaliers officially introduced the availability ofaccommodations during all events for guests with hypersensitivity needs, such as attendees withautism spectrum disorders. This includes staff training, free "sensory bags" with headphones, a blanket, and other items geared towards attendees with sensory needs, as well as asensory room and exemptions from re-entry policies if they are overwhelmed by the environment. The arena became the first in the NBA to be certified by KultureCity as being "sensory inclusive".[30][31]
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As the home of the Cavaliers and Monsters, Rocket Arena has hosted a number of notable events for each team, including playoff and championship games. Through the 2020–2021 season, the Cavs have hosted playoff games in 12 of their 27 seasons at Rocket Arena, including games three and four of the2007 NBA Finals,2017 Finals,2018 Finals and games three, four, and six of the2015 and2016 Finals. The arena was also the site of the1997 NBA All-Star Game, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the NBA, and it also hosted the2022 All-Star Game, honoring the league's 75th anniversary.
The Monsters made their playoff debut in 2011 and returned to the playoffs in 2016. In the2016 Calder Cup playoffs, the team advanced to theCalder Cup final and swept theHershey Bears in four games for their first Calder Cup in franchise history. Games three and four were held at Rocket Arena. Game four, held on June 11, was a sell-out and drew 19,665 fans, which set a record for largest crowd to ever see a professional hockey game in the state of Ohio and the second-largest postseason crowd inAmerican Hockey League history.[32]
On June 30, 2025, theWNBA announced theirnew team to play in Cleveland, which will bring the league back to both the arena and Cleveland for the first time since 2003.[33]
Rocket Arena has been home to other franchises that have either relocated or folded. When it opened in 1994, in addition to being home of the Cavaliers, it was also the home arena for theCleveland Lumberjacks of theInternational Hockey League (IHL). The Lumberjacks played at the arena until 2001, when the team folded along with the IHL. Later that year, a new incarnation of theCleveland Barons, who played in the American Hockey League, began play and were tenants at the arena until 2006 when the team moved toWorcester, Massachusetts.
TheCleveland Gladiators of theArena Football League qualified for the playoffs in six of their nine seasons in Cleveland and hosted playoff games in 2008, 2011, and 2014. During the 2014 season, the team finished 15–1 overall and advanced toArenaBowl XXVII, which was held at Rocket Arena. The game drew 18,410 fans and was held at the same time as aCleveland Browns home preseason game atFirstEnergy Stadium, and aCleveland Indians home game at adjacentProgressive Field.[34][35]
Two women's professional teams have also called the arena home. From 1997 to 2003, theCleveland Rockers, one of the eight charter members of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA), played at Rocket Arena. The team folded after the2003 WNBA season because the Gunds, who still owned the Cavs at that point, no longer wished to operate the Rockers franchise, and a new ownership group could not be obtained. TheCleveland Crush of theLingerie Football League played at Rocket Arena for their 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons before moving toToledo, Ohio, in late 2013.[36]
In addition to its professional sports tenants, Rocket Arena has hosted several intercollegiate sporting events. It has been home to theMid-American Conference (MAC)men's basketball tournament since 2000 and the MACMAC women's basketball tournament since 2001. "MAC Madness," as it is known, has become a strong draw for the arena. The men's semi-final and championship games routinely draw 10,000–15,000 attendees. In addition, the Rocket Arena has served as a host for games of theNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, hosting early-round games in2011 and regional semi-final and final games in2015.[37] Rocket Arena has also hosted games for theNCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship, hosting regional semi-finals and finals for the2006 tournament and the Final Four and national championship games in the2007 tournament and the2024 tournament.
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In 2015, it was announced that arena management andCleveland State University came to an agreement where selectCleveland State Vikings men's and women's basketball games would take place at Rocket Arena, while the arena would essentially take over operations of theWolstein Center, CSU's primary home arena, being in charge of promoting and booking events at the venue.[38]
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The arena has hosted numerousWWE professional wrestling cards, including pay–per–view events such as:
On August 29, 2021, Cleveland native and internet personality turned professional boxerJake Paul took on formerUFCWelterweight ChampionTyron Woodley in an 8-roundprofessional boxing match. Paul won the eight round bout via split decision in front of a nearly sold-out Rocket Arena.[40]
Rocket Arena was selected in July 2014 as the host site for the2016 Republican National Convention. The arena hosted the first Republican presidential debate of the 2016 election, aired byFox News Channel, on August 6, 2015. The convention was held July 18–21, 2016.[41] Records obtained by theCenter for Public Integrity show thatComcast,Microsoft, theAmerican Petroleum Institute,Chevron,Koch Companies Public Sector,PhRMA, and other trade and lobby groups, "funded a limited liability company called 'Friends of the House 2016 LLC' to pay for "the design and outfitting of an exclusive office, lounge and gathering space, called the 'cloakroom', for Republican lawmakers" on the Cleveland Cavaliers practice court Quicken Loans Arena. The Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, who "facilitated construction of the 'cloakroom" space', received $923,100 from the Friends of the House 2016 LLC."[42]
Komoroski and Offtermatt spoke after a Gateway Economic Development Corp. board meeting...The non-profit organization, a joint entity created by the city and county, owns the arena and Progressive Field and enforces the team leases on behalf of the county.
The Cavaliers announced plans Tuesday for a $140 million project to renovate Quicken Loans Arena, the downtown home of the NBA champions since 1994.
Bank records: Comcast, Microsoft, Koch helped fund GOP convention 'cloakroom'
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers 1994–present | Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by | Home of the Cleveland Gladiators 2008–2017 | Succeeded by none |
| Preceded by | Home of the Cleveland Monsters 2007–present | Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by | Host of the Mid-American Conference men's basketball tournament 2000–present | Succeeded by current |
| Preceded by | Host of the NBA All-Star Game 1997 2022 | Succeeded by |
Authority control databases: Geographic |
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