Cleveland Sports

There’s no question that Cleveland is a town devoted to sports. With three professional teams – each with their own distinct legacy – Cleveland is home to countless sports legends and a die-hard fan base that knows the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

In a League of Their Own

• Fans of America’s favorite pastime can catch a baseball game at Progressive Field, home to the defending American League Central champion Cleveland Indians. Visitors can enjoy a taste of local flavors as the stadium features grub from Cleveland favorites including Happy Dog, Cleveland Pickle, Melt Bar & Grilled, Barrio Tacos and Sweet Moses. Progressive Field is sure to shine in the national spotlight this year as Cleveland hosts the 2019 Major League Baseball Midsummer Classic and All-Star Game.
• Quicken Loans Arena is home to the 2016 NBA Champion Cleveland Cavaliers. Currently undergoing a major renovation, visitors will experience a brand-new facility at “The Q” at the start of the 2019-2020 season. Fans will enter through an all glass façade as they make their way through ‘neighborhood’ concourses to a reimagined Loudville upper level, where the team’s most spirited fans sit together to cheer. Looking ahead, the renovated space will be on full display as Cleveland has been named the host of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. The Q is also home to the Cleveland Monsters Hockey team and Cleveland Gladiators who compete in the Arena Football League. The team is currently on hiatus until 2020 while the arena is renovated.
• Visitors who bark like a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan at FirstEnergy Stadium are sure to make fast friends. Win or lose, the team promises a premium stadium experience complete with cold beer and lots of energy. Tailgating starts early in the Muni Lot, so football fanatics should pack a cooler and get to know the locals as they await kick-off.
• The city’s 52-year championship draught ended in 2016, which proved to be a magical year for Cleveland teams. Not only did the Cleveland Cavaliers win their first national championship, but Cleveland-native Stipe Miocic claimed the UFC heavyweight title and the Cleveland Monsters brought home American Hockey League gold and their first championship, the Calder Cup.

Pay Homage to the Legends

• Fans can relive all the great moments in football history at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, a short drive from Cleveland. The newly renovated museum pays homage to the greats of the game and features interactive exhibits that put visitors in the center of the gridiron action. Fans can look forward to a virtual-reality amusement-park experience, retail and restaurants when the Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village opens in 2020. The completion of the state-of-the-art nearly $600 million project coincides with the NFL’s 100^th season celebration and will also include a renovated Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium and a four-star hotel with 243 rooms and a conference center.
• Travelers can step into the restored ticket booth of League Park – one of the oldest ballparks in the world – to visit the Baseball Heritage Museum. This free museum features exhibits and rare memorabilia from some of baseball’s greatest players like Babe Ruth, Bob Feller and Joe DiMaggio. This museum also presents the rich history and diversity of baseball with programs, uniforms, signed baseballs and other keepsakes from various Latin and Women’s leagues and the championship Negro League Buckeyes.
• Visitors to Cleveland can quickly garner a sense of place at the recently opened Cleveland Starts Here® exhibit at the Cleveland History Center. Sports fans can get a glimpse at rarely seen images, films, art and historical artifacts, including signage from the historic Municipal Stadium, original souvenir programs and LeBron James’ 2016 NBA Championship shoes.

Gear Up!

• Tourists can wear their pride around town – and back at home – following a stop at CLE Clothing Co. The memento-filled shop, with locations on the corner of East 4th Street and Euclid Avenue in Downtown, in the Uptown district of University Circle and in Crocker Park in Westlake, stocks keepsakes from CLE t-shirts and team hoodies to Ohio LOVE buttons, car magnets and wooden cutting boards.
• Fans whose love extends beyond Cleveland, to the state of Ohio, can step into the historic 5^th Street Arcades for Ohio-themed apparel at We Bleed Ohio.
• Johnnyville Woods creates custom-engraved baseball bats for any sports enthusiast. Shoppers are encouraged to include hand-written signatures, crests and logos from their favorite team to create one-of-a-kind pieces to be passed down from generation to generation.
• Thrill-seeking adventurers can stop by Geiger’s to prepare for any terrain. Visitors to the Downtown Cleveland, Lakewood and Chagrin Falls locations can suit up with expert camping, travel and fitness gear picks from favorite brands like Patagonia, Sorel, The North Face, GoPro and Marmot.

Experience the Urban Outdoors

• Known as the “Emerald Necklace,” the picturesque Cleveland Metroparks encircle the city with nearly 23,000 acres of greenspace in 18 reservations, which offer more than 100 miles of paved trails for biking, running, hiking and general enjoyment. The Cleveland Metroparks Lakefront Reservation encompasses Wendy Park at Whiskey Island, Edgewater Park, East 55^th Street Marina and Gordon Park for visitors who may be interested in taking a dip into Lake Erie after a good workout.
• The Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail offer 19.5 miles of trails along the historic canal. Bikers, runners, walkers and the like are encouraged to step outside for a whiff of fresh air on this trail, which runs through forests, fields and wetlands as it winds through the Cuyahoga River valley.
• Take in Instagram-ready views of the city skyline and Lake Erie from the Rock and Dock Marina, located behind the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The area boasts 53 transient slips for day-trippers and day-dockers alike, as well as paddle boat, paddle board and kayak rentals.
• Thrill-seekers can catch some rays while learning to stand-up paddleboard via Aloha SUP and 41° North Kayak Adventures; the latter of which also offers kayaking lessons.
• Great Lakes Watersports on the West Bank of the Flats rents jet skis, boats and kayaks to the adventurous, while River Cruiser Kayaking offers tours of area waterways, including the Cuyahoga River, Ohio Erie Canal and the Cleveland Metroparks’ Rocky River Reservation.