The battle over a new and improved Quicken Loans Arena is headed to the Ohio Supreme Court.
City leaders want the state's highest court to sort out the legal issues surrounding the $140 million renovation for The Q.
RELATED: Cleveland City Council approves Quicken Loans Arena renovation deal with 12-5 vote
The city law director is asking the court to rule on whether the city must accept a petition with 20,000 signatures that would repeal the city's commitment to use admissions tax collected on ticket sales to help pay for the renovation.
Last month, the city refused to accept those signatures, saying it was unconstitutional since the city is already in an agreement with The Q. But those opposing the project believe not giving residents a vote is unconstitutional.
"This is really about two constitutional legal arguments," Mayor Frank Jackson said in a news conference Monday. "One, interfering with contracts and the other, basically, whether or not people are being denied the right to vote based on the referendum petition.”
The Ohio Supreme Court will now determine whether Cleveland’s Clerk of Council is required to take action on the referendum petition seeking to repeal the City Council ordinance.
