Gund Arena

Lore & Background

Rocket Arena replaced Richfield Coliseum as the home of the Cavaliers and became the primary concert and athletic venue in downtown Cleveland, a role previously held by the Cleveland Convention Center and the Coliseum in Richfield. It was named Gund Arena after former Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund, then renamed Quicken Loans Arena after Dan Gilbert bought the naming rights in 2005. The name changed to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2019 and to Rocket Arena in 2025. The arena seats 19,432 for basketball and up to 18,926 for ice hockey. It has hosted the MAC basketball tournaments since 2000/2001, two NCAA Women's Final Fours (2007, 2024), NCAA men's tournament games, two U.S. Figure Skating Championships (2000, 2009), and the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Reader's Guide

The arena is located in downtown Cleveland as part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex, adjacent to Progressive Field. It is accessible via public transit and major highways. For events, the lower concourse provides access to 100-level seating and 32 lower suites, while the upper concourse serves 200-level seating. The club level offers 60 upper suites and club seating. The main scoreboard, nicknamed Humongotron, is the fourth largest in an NBA arena. The arena offers sensory accommodations for guests with hypersensitivity needs through a partnership with KultureCity.

Did You Know?

• The arena opened with a concert by Billy Joel on October 17, 1994.
• The Cavaliers' first regular-season game in the arena was a loss to the Houston Rockets on November 8, 1994.
• The arena's seating capacity was reduced in 2018 as part of a major renovation that expanded concourses and removed three sections of upper-level seating.
• The Lake Erie Monsters changed their name to the Cleveland Monsters on August 9, 2016.

The Barons' Brief and Turbulent Era

Gordon Gund's initial foray into professional hockey ownership began with a desperate rescue mission in Cleveland. The team faced immediate financial instability, missing payroll twice and requiring a $1.3 million loan simply to complete their inaugural season.

Transforming the San Jose Sharks

After years in Minnesota, the Gund family sought to return to their original market, the San Francisco Bay Area. This financial commitment yielded dramatic results, including high-profile playoff upsets against top-tier opponents in 1994 and 1995. While consistent championship contention remained elusive, the Gunds cultivated an electric atmosphere that made their home arena one of the loudest in the league. In February 2002, they sold the franchise to a new consortium, with Gordon exiting completely while his brother George retained a minority stake.

Revitalizing Cleveland Basketball

In April 1983, the Gunds purchased the Cleveland Cavaliers from Ted Stepien for $20 million, saving the NBA franchise from potential relocation to Toronto. This acquisition included the team's media assets and Richfield Coliseum, which they already owned. Upon taking control, they immediately overhauled the team's identity, replacing the old swashbuckling logo with a modernized design featuring a stylized 'V'. Under their stewardship, attendance figures soared, establishing a period of sustained competitiveness on the court.

A major milestone occurred in 1994-95 when Gund Arena opened, replacing the Coliseum and further boosting fan engagement; for fifteen of the sixteen seasons leading up to 2005, the Cavaliers recorded franchise-record attendance levels. The ownership tenure reached its cultural zenith in 2003 when they selected Akron native LeBron James with the first overall pick, a decision that reinvigorated local interest just before selling controlling interest in 2005.

Philanthropy and Personal Resilience

Beyond his extensive career as a sports mogul, Gordon Gund is defined by his personal battle with blindness and his subsequent advocacy work. This organization was established to support research and provide resources for those suffering from similar visual impairments. While he stepped away from direct ownership of the Cavaliers, Sharks, and Rockers by 2005, his impact on sports infrastructure and charitable causes remains enduring. His life story illustrates how personal adversity can drive significant contributions to both professional athletics and medical research communities.