The Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center is under construction in Downtown Cleveland as the first phase of Bedrock’s planned massive riverfront development (Populous). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Deal is among longest between care provider, sports team
The Cleveland Cavaliers pro basketball team and Cleveland Clinic healthcare system have finalized a 25-year extension of their partnership, lengthening the relationship to more than 55 years altogether. That makes it one of the nation’s longest continuous partnerships between a professional sports organization and a healthcare provider.
The Cavaliers and Cleveland Clinic’s extension was catalyzed by the October 2024 groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center in October 2024.
The 210,000-square-foot practice facility for the Cavaliers has been under construction in Downtown Cleveland along the Cuyahoga River since August. The new performance center, designed by Populous of Kansas City and built by Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. of Cleveland, is expected to open in 2027.
The current deal between the Cavs and Clinic was due to expire in 2032, five years after the Cavs would become one of the principal users of the new $200 million, highly visible riverfront center.
Construction on the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center has gone vertical with several elevator towers rising at the downtown riverfront site. Rocket Arena, where the Cleveland Cavaliers play their home games, is visible at right (Harrison Whittaker).
The Clinic’s performance center is the first vertical development of Detroit-based Bedrock Real Estate’s $3.5 billion Cuyahoga Riverfront Master Plan. The facility will also offer comprehensive care for the general public, including athletes of all sports and levels.
Officials representing both parties to the extended deal said the Cavaliers will continue to receive best-in-class treatment from Cleveland Clinic in the final two years at their current site, the Cleveland Clinic Courts in suburban Independence.
NEOtrans was first to report on the proposed riverfront project and that the Cavs practice facilities and corporate offices would be returning to Downtown Cleveland from Independence, where they had been since 2007.
“Cleveland Clinic continues to set the bar for excellence in sports medicine and performance. The extension of our partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to excellence, innovation and community impact,” said Nic Barlage, Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Arena CEO.
“For over three decades, Cleveland Clinic has been an integral part of our organization, providing world-class care to our players, staff and fans,” Barlage said. “As we look to the future, we’re excited to expand our collaboration, particularly with the introduction of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center.”
When construction is completed and the building is opened, the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will be a highly visible presence along the Cuyahoga River (Populous). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
He said the new facility downtown will not only benefit the Cavs but also serve the health and wellness needs of the entire Cleveland community. The goal is for it to establish Northeast Ohio as the premier destination for sports performance and medicine.
The Cleveland Clinic, widely recognized as one of the best medical centers in the world, has served as the official healthcare provider of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the past three decades, providing care to the Cavaliers and their fans.
“Our relationship with the Cleveland Cavaliers is built on a shared passion for Northeast Ohio and the athletic community that calls our region home,” said Cleveland Clinic CEO Tom Mihaljevic.
“Cleveland Clinic sports medicine specialists will continue to provide the highest quality healthcare and medical services, ensuring the Cavs can perform at their best on the court,” Mihaljevic said. “We are proud to be extending our partnership and building upon the momentum of our organizations and look forward to many more years of caring for players, staff and fans.”
The extension will introduce several new initiatives and expanded efforts, including a focus on youth sports, brand presence on Cavaliers practice jerseys, sponsorship of health and wellness-themed Cavaliers games and a continuation of the presenting partnership for Cavaliers Media Day.
The new Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center will feature a restoration of the old Eagle Avenue ramp through the building to link the site with Ontario Street, the Gateway District and its Rocket Arena, home of the Cleveland Cavaliers (Populous).
These new initiatives and efforts include:
- Cavaliers Youth Sports: Cleveland Clinic will become the umbrella partner for all Cavaliers youth sports initiatives, which includes Cavalittles, Jr. Cavs and the Cavs Academy. Last year, the Cavaliers youth sports programming served close to 58,000 youth across Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and Western New York.
- Cavaliers Practice Jersey Patch: The Cleveland Clinic brand will be prominently featured as a patch on the midsection of the player’s practice jerseys, which are worn during team training sessions.
- Cavaliers Health and Wellness Themed-Games: Cleveland Clinic will continue to support Cavaliers games focused on health and wellness. This includes awareness games for breast cancer, mental health and autism.
- Cavaliers Media Day: Cleveland Clinic has been the presenting partner for Cavaliers Media Day since 2021. Cavaliers Media Day is the first opportunity each season for the team and players to formally introduce themselves to local media and ultimately the fanbase.
The agreement ensures that Cleveland Clinic’s experience, expertise, resources and healthcare team will continue to provide state-of-the-art care to the Cavaliers’ players, staff, fans and the community at large.
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