NBA basketball team the Cleveland Cavaliers has scrapped plans to redevelop the Quicken Loans Arena amid opposition from community groups.
The team had planned $140m (£108m/€116m) of improvements at the arena, with upgrades to include the expansion of the venue and the construction of a glass structure.
Work has already been delayed, with construction having been lined up to start in June, and now the project has been abandoned altogether.
The Cavaliers said the renovation would have created over 2,500 project-related construction jobs, and increased the arena’s permanent job base to 3,200.
The team has played at the arena, which is commonly known as The Q, since 1994 and the improvements would have extended the franchise’s lease until 2034. The Cavaliers also said that an NBA All-Star Game would have been held at The Q in 2020 or 2021.
The project was delayed because of a prospective referendum being placed on the ballot by Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, which was represented by a group known as the Greater Cleveland Congregations, Service Employees International Union District 1199 and the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus.
The team said that the referendum would result in the renovation project missing the current construction cycle, which in turn would increase the overall price tag of the development work. The Cavaliers added that a further delay would have an impact on a time-sensitive financing package, which included low interest rates.
In a statement reported by the Associated Press news agency, the Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus said: “Despite their stated reason for the cancellation, the real reason is that the citizens of Cleveland spoke loud and clear in their opposition to the project by gathering 13,000 valid signatures to force a referendum on the issue.
“The Cavaliers, Mayor (Frank) Jackson and Cleveland City Council all know that the project would have been soundly defeated at the ballot box. This is their way of saving face.”
Cavaliers chief executive Len Komoroski added: “Quicken Loans Arena brings over 2 million people a year to downtown Cleveland and last year alone produced $245m in economic activity including the RNC and the NBA Finals.
“This facility is Cleveland’s gateway to the world as many of our events are broadcast nationally and internationally. The investments over the years into The Q have paid back multiples in economic impact, job creation and tax generation. It is very disappointing to see our further private investment into The Q Transformation project reach this ending point.”
The team had been due to provide $70m of the funding, with the additional $70m to come from public funding.
Image: Erik Drost
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