Sports in Cleveland: Everything You Need to Know About Cleveland Sports Before Your Next Visit!
If you’re visiting Cleveland, you should be checking out what’s going on in the city from a sports perspective. Besides the fact that they’re just plain fun, sports are a great way to actually get a pulse on what makes a city tick , and to see just how passionate a fanbase can be.
Sunset at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
I don’t think it’s an overstatement to suggest that, without understanding the Cleveland sports culture, and how intimately woven sports are into this city’s identity, you simply cannot truly understand the city at large.
Cleveland is an ever-changing city, something I noted in my overarching article on fun things to do in Cleveland, and I think it’s changing very much for the better from a tourism perspective, but one constant in all this change is the passion that Clevelanders have for their respective teams.
Not unlike the city’s history itself, the history of the cities sports teams isn’t exactly linear. Teams have moved, teams have folded, and teams have disbanded, but, as they say, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” That’s precisely what Cleveland has done, and I felt the present day sports culture was absolutely electric, especially with the evolution of East 4th Street, which has essentially given fans a headquarters in the city to dine and perhaps have a beverage before their favourite team takes the court or field.
On my most recent visit, I was able to attend a Cavs playoff game and a Guardians game, and I felt like in Cleveland, there’s a unique sort of interdependence between the respective team and the fans. I legitimately feel like the intense support of the fans is what allowed the team to take down the Magic, and execute what I understand is the largest comeback in the team’s playoff history. I also felt like, at the same time, that win was huge for the confidence of the city at large.
Yes, that also means that you’re going to hear some grumbling, because everyone in the stadium knows how each play will affect the team’s chance of winning, but there’s also a sort of unwavering belief that, if the crowd can just get a little louder, it’ll help the team get over the hump. As a huge sports fan myself (I’m a diehard Maple Leafs fan, so I know all about cursed franchises, trust me), it was honestly quite an honour to stand side-by-side with the supporters in this city.
I spent a lot of time exploring the city and its neighbourhoods, but I felt most a part of something, if that makes sense, when I was standing alongside the city’s supporters at sporting events.
I love the city overall, and think it’s criminally underrated, and most Clevelanders I met felt the same, but I do believe, for the sake of humility, they didn’t necessarily want to yell from the rooftops about their city and talk my ear off, yet…they were more than game to roar in the stands and support their squads, and I personally feel as if this is one major way that Clevelanders are comfortable showing pride for a city that, quite honestly, they should be proud of.
A Quick Refresher on Cleveland’s Sports Scene
Whoever is playing, East 4th Street will serve as a hub for the action before, during, and after the game. Photo Credit: Christopher Mitchell
So, these days, you can think of the core of the Cleveland sports community as centred around three major league teams — the Cleveland Browns (NFL), the Cleveland Guardians (MLB) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA). However, the biggest mistake that I made was underestimating the presence of the minor league teams. The Cleveland Monsters (AHL), and the Cleveland Charge (G League) also have some massive fan bases, as well as the Cleveland Crunch (of Major League Indoor Soccer).
When I was having beers or grabbing a bite, I would talk to Clevelanders, and it was surprising to me how many people noted that I really wouldn’t have done my full job exploring the sports scene here unless I respected how much the minor league teams actually mean to the city. I’m grateful I got to have those conversations in service of this very article.
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Professional Sports Teams in Cleveland
The Cleveland Browns
Most games at this stadium are absolutely packed.
You’ll find the Browns as a staple of the North Division of the AFC Conference in the NFL. The team was established in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and joined the NFL in 1950 when the AAFC merged with the NFL.
In the early days, you could argue that the Browns were the pinnacle of what success could be in American Football. The Browns were dominant in their early years, winning all four AAFC championships from 1946 to 1949. They continued their success in the NFL, winning NFL championships in 1950, 1954, 1955, and 1964.
If you don’t know much about the Browns, or its historic players, I’d urge you to look at fullback Jim Brown, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of American football. I have watched this Jim Brown highlight package more than a few times.
The fans of the browns are known as the “Dawg Pound,” and they’re widely considered to be some of the best fans in the league. Growing up in Toronto, I must admit I’m not a huge CFL guy, so I ended up becoming a defacto diehard fan of the Buffalo Bills, and if there’s one fan-base that is in the same conversation as the Bills Mafia in terms of their dedication, it’s the Dawg Pound.
The team’s colours of brown, orange, and white, are unmistakable, and I personally like that they’ve stayed true to their roots by never putting a logo on their helmet.
In 1995, the team's owner, Art Modell, announced plans to relocate the Browns to Baltimore. After significant backlash, it was agreed that the Browns' name, colors, and history would remain in Cleveland. The team was officially re-established in 1999 as an expansion team, with new ownership.
They had a tough stretch after being re-established, but in recent years, they’ve been a heck of a lot more competitive, and have given the Dawg Pound plenty to cheer about.
You can catch a game (if there are any tickets left!) at the Cleveland Browns Stadium. The next time I go to Cleveland, I plan on taking part in the full tailgating experience!
The Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers, often simply called “The Cavs,” are based in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the NBA. The franchise was established in 1970, as an expansion team.
The Cavs struggled in their early years, but by the late 1980s and early 1990s, they became a competitive team, with players like Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, and Larry Nance leading the way. They even reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992, but, sadly, were defeated by Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls (as so many other teams were during that era).
Lebron arrived on the scene in 2003, and he brought some success to the team (including a Finals visit), but he eventually left in a much publicized moment in 2010. After playing for the Heat for multiple seasons, he realized he still had unfinished business in Cleveland, and he came back, vowing to bring a championship to Cleveland, which he did in 2016.
After Lebron left, they entered a rebuilding phase, but they’ve got a great squad once again, headlined by the electric Donovan Mitchell, and some recent draft picks that have turned out like Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
They’re a fun team to watch as well, and I thought the experience at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse was first-class. For game 7 against the Magic during the 2023-2024 season, we all got black shirts along with glowing wrist bands which bounced along to the music, and spurred us into action. I love that the stadium is located in downtown Cleveland, as it means you’re just steps away from the core of the city.
It was quite literally a 10 minute or so walk from my hotel, the Hotel Cleveland Autograph Collection, which has recently undergone a massive renovation.
The Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians play in the American League (AL) Central Division of the MLB. From 1901 until 1915, they played under the name of the “Cleveland Blues” before changing their name to the “Indians,” a name which stuck around until 2021, until it was decided that the franchise should move away from a name associated with Native American culture and imagery.
Their first World Series title came in 1920, and the next in 1948, but then came what are known as “the curse years.” They had the talent in particular in the 90s to win a championship (names like Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Kenny Lofton come to mind), and once again in the 2010s (noted by playing in the World Series in 2016), but they haven’t quite been able to get over the hump.
For fans, Progressive Field, which originally opened in 1994, is a fantastic place to catch a ball game. It’s got a very classic baseball stadium feel, yet all the modern amenities you could hope for and, plenty of another thing that I always look for — local beer. I’d recommend enjoying the game alongside a Fat Head Bumble Berry!
With a passionate fanbase, and a long, storied history, the Guardians look to be in a good place. They’ll hope to continue to chase that next championship for years to come.
Minor League Teams to Take Note of When Visiting Cleveland
The Cleveland Monsters (AHL) share Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse with the Cavs. Photo Credit: Christopher MItchell
It’s certainly setting eyes on Cleveland’s big three teams, but it’s also worth noting that the sports culture does indeed extend beyond them. Seeing minor league teams is a great way to get your sports fix in a more intimate setting and, especially if you’re a family, to be cost effective in the process.
The Cleveland Charge is a professional basketball team in the NBA G League, which serves as the developmental league for the NBA. As you might imagine, the Charge are the “feeder team” for the Cavaliers. The franchise was originally founded as the Canton Charge in 2011 and played in Canton, Ohio, until it relocated to Cleveland in 2021. The move brought the team closer to its parent club, the Cavaliers, and it now plays its home games at the Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland.
The Cleveland Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL), the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). The Monsters are the AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets. The AHL may be in the “minor league,” but as with the G League, it’s still very much a professional league.
The team was founded in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters before rebranding as the Cleveland Monsters in 2016. They have enjoyed plenty of success in the AHL, highlighted by their Calder Cup championship in 2016, the AHL’s equivalent of the Stanley Cup. Rebrand and win in year one? Well, that sure sounds fun.
The Monsters, by the way, share Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse with the Cavs.
The Cleveland Crunch is a professional indoor soccer team that plays in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). I personally wasn’t all that familiar with this league, so asked around a little, and the best answer that I got was that the MASL is essentially a league that’s all about having a fast-pace, plenty of action, and high-scoring games.
The original Cleveland Crunch was a powerhouse in indoor soccer during the 1990s, winning three National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) championships. The team folded in 2005, but the Crunch name was revived in 2021 when a new team was established, bringing back the excitement of indoor soccer to Cleveland. You might be noting by now that a lot was done in 2021 to pad the sports culture in this city.
The revived Cleveland Crunch plays its home games at the I-X Center, an exhibition centre near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The last thing that I want to note is that the mascots of these three teams bring a lot of energy to the crowds. You’ll find “Pozzie” at Charge games, “Sully” at Monsters’ games, and “Crunchy” at Crunch games.
What Else is Worth Noting When it Comes to the Cleveland Sports Scene?
The last thing that’s worth noting, in my humble opinion, is that when you’re here it’s not just Cleveland’s teams that you should have on your radar, but also sporting events.
Cleveland has hosted multiple MLB and NBA All Star Games, UFC championships, US Figure Skating Championships, drafts, as well as Davis Cups an US Pro Tennis championships. It’s worth seeing what’s on while you’re here at the very least.
That being said, if attending a sporting match just isn’t in the budget, then simply consider catching a game at a local sports bar. The important thing is understanding how deeply engrained the sports culture is in this city, to the point where I’d argue that if you don’t have some sports element to your Cleveland itinerary, then you’re really missing the target.
In the end, sports are a big part of what makes Cleveland, Cleveland.
We want to humbly thank Destination Cleveland for hosting us as media. All opinions are completely our own.