The Bert L. and Iris S. Wolstein Center is a 13,610-seat indoor arena and event center located on the Cleveland State University campus in Downtown Cleveland. A recent university masterplan proposed demolishing the 34-year-old facility and redeveloping its 10-acre site as the “Partnership District” (CSU). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Offering could foster new or renovated arena
ARTICLE UPDATED MARCH 8, 2025
Cleveland State University is seeking to redevelop the Wolstein Center arena site in Downtown Cleveland and today issued a request for developers to submit their qualifications to do the job. But the request for qualifications leaves it to developers to decide whether the 34-year-old arena, 2000 Prospect Ave., should stay or go.
CSU said it is inviting “qualified development or project teams” to submit a statement of interest for reusing the existing Wolstein Center structure or to demolish and redevelop the Wolstein Center site at Carnegie Avenue at East 18th Street site with new uses. Officials at the state-owned university considered the 10-acre arena site a “prime parcel” on the CSU campus.
“This reuse or redevelopment opportunity seeks to enhance the campus environment, student experience, create economic value, and provide a forward-looking mixed-use design or use that aligns with CSU’s vision for academic, research, athletics, residential, and community engagement growth as outlined in the University’s strategic plan, Cleveland State United,” CSU said in its offering.
In a campus-wide development masterplan commissioned by the university and completed nearly three years ago, CSU and its consultant Sasaki Associates of Boston proposed demolishing the arena. In its place, they recommended redeveloping its property as the “Partnership District” with up to 800,000 square feet of new mixed-use development. It was just one piece of the $650 million masterplan.
The masterplan also proposed a new, smaller, 5,000-seat arena on Chester Avenue at Interstate 90. CSU solicited a lot of interest from development teams and began to narrow down the list of finalists when the process was abruptly halted last year due to a $40 million budget shortfall.
Cleveland State University’s most recent campus development masterplan from three years ago shows not only the Wolstein Center replaced with its planned “Partnership District” (highlighted by the red circle), it also has a new arena on Chester Avenue at lower right. Other masterplan features are also labeled (CSU-Sasaki).
“The future of the existing Wolstein Center is uncertain,” the CSU RFQ noted. “It can be demolished or repurposed as part of a redevelopment project. The site is well-suited for mixed-use development, including academic, research, healthcare, residential, commercial and recreational spaces.”
At minimum, CSU could end up with a modernized arena with new uses built onto or even into the existing structure. Some professional and college athletic facilities have apartments, dorms or hotels which overlook their playing fields, like DiSanto Field at Case Western Reserve University or Sky Dome in Toronto.
Or, if the development vision is large enough and can be substantially built soon enough, it could provide a value-capture funding mechanism to provide a revenue stream for servicing bonds to construct a new arena, according to real estate insiders with whom NEOtrans spoke. However, a CSU spokesperson declined to get into such details at this time.
“With a mission to serve as Cleveland’s university offering infinite opportunity, CSU is eager to explore possibilities to best serve students and the community through a new vision for the Wolstein Center and the 10-acre site it sits on,” said Kristin Broka, associate vice president of marketing and communications at CSU.
The Wolstein Center is a venue for athletic events including CSU Vikings basketball, concerts and other community gatherings. The site has access to public transportation, commercial areas and residential neighborhoods. CSU says the surrounding areas offer potential for integration with the broader CSU campus and adjacent urban spaces.
Seen from in front of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Transit Center at Prospect Avenue and East 21st Street, the Wolstein Center and its conference pavilion are in the background (Google).
The university’s vision for redevelopment of the site includes a modern, mixed-use development that strengthen opportunities to further academic research. And it wants to gain educational, residential and commercial spaces to support the university’s mission while enhancing student experiences and fostering community connections.
Sustainability is also a part of the plan. CSU said it wants any redevelopment of the Wolstein Center to incorporate green building practices, energy-efficient design and
environmental stewardship in line with CSU’s commitment to sustainability.
The Wolstein Center redevelopment should also foster student and community engagement, says the CSU request issued to developers. Spaces that foster student, faculty and staff interaction are desired and proposed plans should focus on creating a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment.
“Any proposed redevelopment of the site should incorporate forward-thinking architectural and engineering designs that complement CSU’s campus, enhance the
urban environment, and provide long-term economic value to the city of Cleveland,” CSU officials said.
Interested parties with questions about the RFQ may send their inquiries to CSU before 2 p.m. March 26. Final developer responses to the RFQ are due by 2 p.m. May 2.
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