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A large-scale renovation of Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena is on track for completion in the fall of 2019. The 25-year-old publicly-owned home of the Cleveland Cavaliers National Basketball Association team celebrated a major construction milestone in January, when the final steel beam was put into position atop the arena.
The Q Transformation is being carried out through a public-private partnership between the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The project extends the Cavs lease to 2034, one of the longest terms in the NBA in a single venue.
Recent photos from the site show how the project is shaping up. A new steel-framed glass wall on the north side extends the footprint of the arena and adds 42,530 square feet of new public space for spectators. When the dust settles, 1,475 pieces of glass will make up 77,110 square feet of exterior curtainwall.
Work on the south side will bring 6,350 square feet of space partially occupied by the "South Neighborhood," a new social gathering spot featuring food and beverage options. The brewery-style concession Saucy Brew Works opened for business at the end of February, the first destination to launch in this space.
The $185 million project was originally devoted $140 million in a 50-50 private-public funding agreement, but the Cavaliers contributed an additional $45 million to bolster their investment. This private funding will cover all non-public, club, suite, team, premium space, AV/LED, lighting and multi-media upgrades, and part of the cost for public space improvements.
To facilitate construction, the arena closed in the summer of 2018. It will close again during the summer months of 2019 as crews put the finishing touches on the complex ahead of its grand re-opening in October.
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