Quicken Loans Arena was the 33rd busiest arena in the world last year, drawing around 2 million visitors and it's list of events this year was equally as impressive.
But the building it 22 years old — the 10th oldest in the NBA — and the Cavaliers would like to give the concrete box a new look. That would include a glass enclosure to expand the footprint of the building, giving it more internal space.
While the Cavaliers have offered little in terms of renderings but they did offer an estimated price tag of around $140 million.
They hoped to split that cost 50/50 with Cuyahoga County.
But the county is already carrying a $1 billion outstanding debt, meaning their credit card is maxed.
The sin tax on alcohol and cigarettes, which was used to build Gateway Plaza and re-approved by voters two years ago to fund upgrades, isn't an option because it's earmarked for general maintenance issues on the city's three sports venues.
So the county is asking Destination Cleveland to consider looking into their coffers to see if they can direct any of the estimated $15 million a year they receive from a hotel bed tax to air in the effort.
Destination Cleveland is the region's non-profit marketing arm and uses those funds selling Cleveland to the rest of the country.
Cavs and Quicken Loans Arena CEO Len Komoroski is also a past chairman of Destination Cleveland.
News 5 reached out to all of the parties involved. The Cavs deferred comment to the county. The county said only that they're interested in protecting taxpayers while also supporting the Cavaliers.
Destination Cleveland said they are considering the request to see if there is a way they can help.
