Quicken Loans Arena (Cleveland, Ohio)

Quicken Loans Arena, also known as “The Q”, is a multi-purpose arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The building is the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League, and the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League. It also serves as a secondary arena for Cleveland State Vikings men’s and women’s basketball.

The arena opened in October 1994 as part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex with adjacent Progressive Field, which opened in April of that year. It is named for the retail mortgage lender Quicken Loans, whose chairman and founder is Dan Gilbert, the majority owner of the Cavaliers, Monsters, and Gladiators.

From its opening until August 2005, it was known as Gund Arena, named for former Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund, after he paid for the naming rights. The Q replaced the Richfield Coliseum as the primary entertainment facility for the region and the home of the Cavaliers, and supplanted the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University as the primary concert and athletic venue in downtown Cleveland.

General information

Official website: https://www.theqarena.com/

Arena capacity: 19,432 spectators

Address: 1 Center Ct, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 41°29′47″N 81°41′17″W

Year of construction: October 17, 1994

Construction cost: $169 million

Seating plan of Quicken Loans Arena

Club Seats

Among the most sought-after seats at a Cavs game are those located in sections C107-C110 and C124-C127. Each of these sections offer an outstanding view of the game between the baselines, along with a head-on view of one of the league’s best videoboards.

In addition to impressive sitelines, club seat ticketholders will enjoy in-seat wait service so they never miss a minute of the action.

Courtside Club

Anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes experience at a Cavs game is going to love their access to the Courtside Club. This exclusive private lounge will allow fans to get as close as possible to the players as they come in and out of the locker rooms.

If being close to the players isn’t enough, the all-inclusive amenities that come with this club push it over the top. Fans can enjoy food, wine, beer, and soda before, during, and after the game.

Access to this club is only for season ticket holders who opted for it, so please see seller notes to see if it is included with your ticket.

Court Boxes

Experience the game like never before and or treat your business partners to an incredible experience in the Court Boxes. These private seating locations are located on the floor and will have in-seat food and beverage service as you network and enjoy the action up close.

Fans sitting in the Court Boxes will also have complimentary access to the Lexus Lounge located on the Noth end of the Arena. This lounge has a cash bar with appetizers and is a great place to have a drink before the game.

Recommended Seats for Kids and Family

Sections 206, 207 and 208:

• Near a large cluster of concessions on the upper level;
• Close to a dippin dots vendor in the concourse, great option for children;
• Ticket prices in the lower tier.

Recommended Seats for Impressing a Guest

Sections Club 108, Club 109, Club 125 and Club 126:

• Amazing elevated view from near mid-court;
• Exclusive club level amenities;
• Never wait in line due to in-seat wait service.

Recommended Seats for Partying and Socializing

Section 230:

• Close to beer vendors on the upper level;
• Near some concessions to get both food and drinks;
• Some of the cheapest tickets in the stadium.

Recommended Seats for Great Views of the Court

Sections 108, 109, 125 and 126:

• Great views from near mid-court;
• Close to the action from the lowest level of seating;
• Opportunity to be close to the players on the court.

Where to buy tickets?

The quicken loans arena main box office has moved!

The Quicken Loans Arena Main Box Office, located on the northeast side of The Q inside the Arcade Entrance, will be part of the construction zone throughout the 2018-19 season and will not be operational. A temporary Main Box Office inside The Q is located inside the northwest Ceremonial Entrance and will be open during regular business hours and during all events. The box office will open at noon on Sundays for all scheduled events, otherwise it will be closed on Sunday.

On non-event days, fans can visit the Main Box Office via the RTA Walkway Entrance Ontario Street doors located on the west side of the arena.

Two auxiliary Box Office trailers will be set up outside The Q to service fans during events, one on the north side of the arena outside the NE Arcade Entrance, and the second stationed on the south side of the arena near Gateway Plaza.

Event Information Line

If you have a question, call the Quicken Loans Arena Event Information Line and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you.

How to Purchase Tickets?

Purchasing tickets for a Quicken Loans Arena event is a simple and convenient process for all guests. Guests with disabilities who require disabled seating may purchase tickets through the same methods, at same hours, and same stages of sales (e.g. presales, waiting lists, etc.) as guests requiring non-disabled seating.

Specifically, guests with disabilities may purchase tickets at the Quicken Loans Arena Box Office; online at theQarena.com, Cavs.com, ClevelandMonsters.com and ClevelandGladiators.com and at any one of Discount Drug Mart’s 58 northern Ohio locations. Please note that Cleveland Cavaliers tickets are available for purchase online only at this time.

When placing your order, please inform your ticket representative that you require accessible seating accommodations. Please note that while Quicken Loans Arena has well in excess of required accessible seating locations under applicable law, accessible seating is nonetheless limited, and a request for accessible seating does not guarantee availability.

We reserve the right to address fraudulent purchases or requests for accessible seats to the extent provided by law including, with respect to single event ticket purchases, asking the purchaser if they, or someone for whom they are purchasing, has a mobility disability that requires the use of a wheelchair space.

With respect to season tickets, we may ask the purchaser to attest in writing that they, or the person for whom they are purchasing, has a mobility disability that requires the use of a wheelchair space. ADA ticket fraud includes, but is not limited to, the misrepresentation of a disability. Management reserves the right to take appropriate action regarding misrepresentation which may result in relocation or revocation of tickets, ejection or forfeiture of payment on your seats.

Platform Seating/Designated Aisle Seating

For most events, there are over 200 wheelchair accessible locations that include companion seats. Platform areas are located in various price classes and dispersed throughout the arena. Due to the various show staging configurations, floor seating for wheelchair guests will be based on a per event status for events other than Cleveland Cavaliers games. Floor seating for wheelchair guests during Cleveland Cavaliers games is currently not available.

Companion Seating

Each wheelchair accessible seat includes the option to purchase at least one (1) companion seat immediately adjacent to the wheelchair location, and, subject to availability at the time of purchase, up to a total of three (3) additional companion seats on the same platform row, unless ticket sales for any particular event are limited to fewer than four (4) total tickets for all purchasers. For example, if the venue or an event promoter limits purchases to two (2) tickets per concert for all purchasers, no additional companion seats beyond the required one (1) will be available.

Guests in need of additional companion seats should advise their ticket representatives at time of purchase, and every effort will be made to locate them as close to the wheelchair space and one (1) required companion seat. Unsold platform seating may be released for public sale in accordance with applicable law.

Guests who require wheelchair seating must provide their own wheelchair.

When LeBron James is playing, amazing things happen. As an NBA fan you won’t find yourself regretting paying your hard earned money for a Cleveland Cavaliers experience on a night they win.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the NBA’s premier teams. When some of the better teams come to town tickets can only be found at high prices on aftermarket ticket sales sites. Ticket prices for a Cavaliers game vary and each game ticket prices must be reviewed. Ticket prices can range from tens of dollars to thousands of dollars depending on the game match up and your preference and budget for seating.

The price of a free refill souvenir soda cup will run you $8.

50 while a domestic draft beer costs about $11.

Parking right around the arena can cost anywhere from $25-$50, while parking much further away you can park for as low at $7.

Sitting in premium areas can cost a lot of money, but many nights under the right circumstances two people can sit in the most upper level seating, grab a few drinks and a hot dog and park for around $80-$100 total.

A few recommendations concerning cost savings and NBA teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers. Most non marquee featured games (e.g. Cavs vs Hornets on a Wednesday or Cavs vs Kings on a Monday) can be purchased from second hand vendors like TicketMonster at prices well below the team price because many season ticket holders are trying to get any amount of money they can for games they and most people don’t want to go to.

For a little more detail concerning ticket cost it’s recommended reviewing a past article of mine, How to Get the Best Seats for Your Budget.

How to get there?

Quicken Loans Arena:
One Center Court
Cleveland, Ohio 44115

A special note for those bound for Downtown Cleveland: Downtown Cleveland is experiencing a level of investment and national attention that hasn’t been seen in years. As Downtown continues to grow, improvements are being made to our roads, bridges and public spaces. The way you come and go from Downtown may be changing, but don’t let changes stop you from enjoying all Cleveland has to offer. For the most up-to-date list of road closures or detours, visit DowntownCleveland.com

Better yet, take the RTA! ​The RTA offers services to The Q from all parts of Cuyahoga County by bus or rapid transit. With over 8,000 free parking spots at RTA’s various rail stations, it’s hard to beat the convenience and affordability! For more info on RTA routes and schedules, visit www.rideRTA.com.

Directions from the East:

Take Interstate 90/Rt. 2 West. Follow signs to downtown Cleveland. Remain on Rt. 2 as I-90 curves away to the left. Exit at E. 9th St.; turn left on E. 9th St.; south to area parking.

Directions from the South:

Take I-77 North. Exit at E. 9th St. Follow signs to either E. 9th St. north or Ontario St. north to arena parking.

Directions from the West:

Take I-90 East. Exit at East 9th Street and proceed north to area parking. Quicken Loans Arena is located at the corner of Huron Road and Ontario Street.

Directions from the Southwest:

Take I-90 East or I-71 North to the Innerbelt merge. Continue on the Innerbelt (I-90) East to East 9th Street. Proceed north to area parking. Quicken Loans Arena is located at the corner of Huron Road and Ontario Street.

Directions from Cleveland Hopkins Airport:

Take I-71 North. Continue on the Innerbelt (I-90) East to East 9th Street. Proceed north to area parking. Quicken Loans Arena is located at the corner of Huron Road and Ontario Street.

Parking

Located in downtown Cleveland, Quicken Loans Arena sits 1/4 mile from all major freeways. The Gateway East Garage and JACK Cleveland Casino Garage are two on-site garages that accommodate 3,300 cars and are connected to Quicken Loans Arena via covered walkways.

The Gateway East Garage and JACK Cleveland Casino Garage are located on the Gateway complex. The Gateway East Garage has a limited number of designated spaces to accommodate vehicles with the appropriate international handicap access symbol. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited space (with a 9’6″ clearance) is available for vans in the East Garage.

The Gateway East Garage and JACK Cleveland Casino Garage are accessible and have multiple passenger elevators to access the arena at ground level or through the connecting bridge that leads directly into the facility. The bridge can be accessed off Level 3 from elevators. Guests must have event tickets to enter the arena via the bridge. Other parking options include a variety of surface lots located within a five- to ten-minute walk of the arena.

Guests that have Q Arena specific parking passes (Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Gladiators, Cleveland Monsters or Quicken Loans Arena Events) the Gateway East Garage will begin accepting Flash Seat parking three hours* prior to the start of the event. Please be sure to print and bring your Flash Seat traffic assist form and place in your vehicle’s dashboard.

Please Note: When there is a duel event at Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field (Cleveland Indians game), the Gateway East Garage will ONLY accept parking passes purchased in advance.

Public Transportation

RTA offers services to Quicken Loans Arena from all parts of Cuyahoga County by bus or rapid transit. For information on RTA routes, schedules and services call the RTAnswerline at (216) 621-9500, or visit www.rideRTA.com.

With over 7,000 free parking spots at RTA’s various rail stations, it’s hard to beat the convenience and affordability of taking RTA to The Q. RTA service ensures you’ll be in your seats before the lights go down. And after the event, the trains will be ready for your trip back home as departure times will be determined by the length of the event.

RTA Walkway

RTA’s Walkway connects Tower City Center and Quicken Loans Arena. It also provides easy access to the arena for fans riding RTA’s rail and bus service to Public Square. The 1,050-foot enclosed glass and steel structure, with its spectacular view of the river and the Flats, protects you from both the weather and traffic.

The RTA Walkway begins at the Tower City Center food court and ends in the lobby of Quicken Loans Arena. The Walkway opens three hours prior to an event and remains open for approximately three hours after the event ends. For Cleveland Cavaliers games, the Walkway will open four hours prior to the game and remain open for three hours after the game ends.

The arena is very accessible. There are multiple entrances with plenty of arena staff to help you on your way. Parking is difficult, although the organization does its best with the downtown location.

The Quicken Loans Arena website recommends using multiple methods of public transportation to get to and from a game. The website is also updated regularly and specific recommendations on where to park for game attendance.

Entering the arena without a bag will speed things up at security. Paper and E-Tickets are accepted at all entrances

The main concourse is wide and easily supports the thousands of people at the snack stands, and bathrooms. All section entrances are clearly marked and have staff at the entrances to help fans. There are multiple elevators and escalators for fans who have upper level seating. Fans needing assistance should have no problems getting where they need to be.

Area Hotels

Located in downtown Cleveland, Quicken Loans Arena is convenient to a wide selection of hotel and dining options that fit your mood, your taste and your budget.

Metropolitan at The 9

An urban resort for those who want more, offering an exhilarating, 24/7 lifestyle escape, made possible by the iconic Downtown Cleveland Metropolitan at The 9 hotel. Savor a unique travel experience full of character and bold design, with distinctive amenities, restaurant, rooftop bar, handcrafted cocktail lounge, and a cutting-edge community. A Cleveland landmark where the city stays, works, plays, shops and lives seamlessly.

The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland

The roots of rock and roll are said to have started in Cleveland, and touches of its influence can be found throughout The Ritz-Carlton, Cleveland, from rock memorabilia to specialty cocktails. The only downtown hotel to receive a four-star, four-diamond rating, we offer a desirable location within Tower City Center, an exclusive Club Level, and more!

Where to eat?

Quicken Loans Arena has one of the best varieties of concessions in all of sports. There are so many options, from your usual arena/stadium food (burgers, peanuts, popcorn, pizza) to vegan, to kosher, to meals prepared by an ever-changing group of local chefs.

There are close to thirty different places to eat in The Q. The arena’s website gives a full listing of the options. Two places to eat that stand out are Healthy for Life, and Launch Test Kitchen. Healthy for Life has gluten-free, low-calorie, low-sugar, kosher, vegetarian, and other healthier alternatives while Launch Test Kitchen has different Cleveland chefs throughout the season preparing menus that guests have given their feedback on. Launch Test Kitchen’s menu can be absolutely anything.

If you want it, then there is a good chance you can find it at The Q. The arena serves Pepsi products in bottle and fountain style.

Budweiser is the major beer served throughout the venue, but there are also many craft beers to choose from. The Q has hard drinks available, and multiple full service bars.

Try Rocco’s at The Q. The cheesesteak is large and tastes great, and is well worth the $13 price tag.

Atmosphere

Laser lights, giveaways, shirt/ball tosses, killer visual and audio and there’s a hot dog cannon. The Q has entertainment at every time out. The Cavaliers organization is second to none when it comes to keeping the crowd involved and invested in the team. There is no doubt that this has become a bucket list destination.

Quicken Loans Arena has padded comfortable seating with cup holders. The layout of the lower level seating and private box seating is genius. The premium lower level seating only goes up to row 14 unlike many arenas that go 30 rows or more.

Premium lower level seating at Quicken Loans Arena really feels premium and it is close to the court. In most arenas, the private boxes share a view only slightly better than the first row of the most upper level seating because the boxes are located just under the most upper level seating.

The Cavs organization has it all. Two mascots, cheerleaders, a hip hop dance team, t-shirt/hot dog/ball tosses, raffles, and a sound system that you not only hear, but feel the bass in your chest. The Cavs organization spares no expense with the giveaways. If you sit between rows 5-10 in the premium sections 107–110, and premium sections 125-126 you have the best chances of getting the best views of the court and getting the t-shirts/balls/hot dogs during the breaks.

Neighborhood

Quicken Loans Arena is located in the heart of Cleveland’s downtown area. The arena is located close to everything you might need or want during your stay. There are plenty of places to eat and stay no matter your budget. There are loads of sights to see within walking distance of the arena, and there are plenty of things to see if you don’t mind driving a few miles.

Downtown Cleveland has loads of bars with bar food (burgers, wings, cheap steaks, fries, etc.). You can get a good meal without breaking the bank at Winking Lizard Tavern. When staying in Cleveland stop by Colossal Cupcakes and try one of their unique cupcakes. Both places are located less than a quarter of a mile from the arena.

For other entertainment options, be sure to check out the Cleveland Zoo. The zoo is world class and you can spend an entire day walking and learning about animals. You’ll need to drive or grab an Uber because the zoo is five miles away.

Another recommended destination is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is located just one mile from the arena. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame may be a little on the expensive side, but it is certainly very interesting, especially for serious music enthusiasts.

Our recommended hotel is the Radisson Hotel Cleveland-Gateway. The hotel is fairly average, but has a restaurant on site and is a median priced hotel whose true beauty lies in its location.

The Radisson Hotel Cleveland-Gateway is across the street from the Quicken Loans Arena.  Our second recommendation is the Holiday Inn Express Cleveland Downtown which is located around the corner from Quicken Loans Arena.

Fans

For decades Northeast Ohio has endured losing teams, but still always hoped for the best and supported their teams. It’s still the same today, only they have something to brag about.

Cleveland’s three major sports teams; the Cavs, Browns, and Indians couldn’t win a championship from 1964 up until 2016 when the Cavs, led by LeBron James, won the NBA championship.  Cleveland has enjoyed a worldwide following due to NBA superstar LeBron James, but even during the recent dark times when LeBron took his talents to Miami the fans were loyal and supported their team, win or lose.

With LeBron James is playing the arena sells out. According to ESPN.com, the Cavs have had the second highest attendance in the NBA since LeBron James returned to the team in the 2014/2015 season.

It gets loud up in the Q. The team is playing hard, the music is blaring, LeBron James dunks the ball and you will find yourself high fiving and hugging strangers. Almost every time out there is a giveaway. When the team wins, the song “Cleveland Rocks” covered by the Presidents of the United States of America is played at an ear-splitting level. The Cavs organization knows how to put on a show and keeps the fans feeling like part of the team.

History

The Q was preceded in downtown Cleveland by the Cleveland Arena, a facility built in 1937 with a seating capacity for basketball of approximately 12,000. It was best known as the site of the Moondog Coronation Ball, widely regarded as the first rock and roll concert. Cleveland Arena was the first home of the Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Arena was also the home of an earlier professional basketball team, the Cleveland Rebels of the Basketball Association of America, the original Cleveland Barons ice hockey team, and hosted several games of the Cincinnati Royals of the NBA. However, Cleveland Arena was outdated and in disrepair. The Cavs played there their first four seasons. It was replaced by the 20,273-seat Richfield Coliseum, located in Richfield, between Cleveland and Akron.

Construction began in 1992 with the ballpark opening in April 1994 and the arena in October 1994. The arena opened with a concert by Billy Joel. The Cavaliers played their first regular-season game in the arena a few weeks later, a loss to the Houston Rockets, on November 8, 1994.

Dan Gilbert, owner of Quicken Loans, purchased the then-inactive Utah Grizzlies franchise of the American Hockey League and announced that it would move to Quicken Loans Arena to replace the departed Cleveland Barons. The team name was announced as the Lake Erie Monsters. They then changed their name to the Cleveland Monsters.

The Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League announced that they would move to Quicken Loans Arena, becoming the Cleveland Gladiators.

Design and operations

The arena seats 19,432 for basketball, with 2,000 club seats and 88 luxury 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 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.

The seating capacity was reduced 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.

The main scoreboard at The Q, nicknamed Humongotron, is the second largest scoreboard used in an NBA arena. It was installed after Cavs owner Dan Gilbert had seen a similar scoreboard at the Toyota Center in Houston during the NBA All-Star Weekend.

On the roof of the building is a large LED message board that measures 360 feet (110 m) by 90 feet (27 m), described as the “largest LED roof sign on the planet” by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert. The message board was installed later and debuted during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

In partnership with the non-profit organization KultureCity, Quicken Loans Arena officially introduced the availability of accommodations during all events for guests with hypersensitivity needs, such as attendees with autism spectrum disorders.