A rendering of Cosm Cleveland, across Huron Road from Rocket Arena downtown (Bedrock). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Cosm to fill downtown chasm with ‘shared reality’ sports venue
City Planning Commission today voted unanimously to approve the design of Cosm Cleveland, a shared reality sports entertainment destination planned to fill a large parking crater in Downtown Cleveland’s Gateway District.
The venue, which features a nearly 100-foot, 12k-resolution LED dome, will be built by Bedrock as the first phase of its Rock Block development between Prospect Avenue and Huron Road along East 4th Street. It’s the largest LED dome Cosm has planned yet among its five U.S. locations.
Final approval was given for architecture only, with the conditions that the developer look into making its loading dock door on Huron appear more seamless and explore possible lighting options for the facility’s blank walls.
This site plan for the first phase of Bedrock’s Rock Block development was submitted for Final Design Review on Feb. 5 (Bedrock).
Bedrock and its design team will need to return to review plans for streetscaping and greenery. Cosm received schematic approval last October and went before final design review on Feb. 5.
Several Planning Commission members commented on a walkway along the historic East 6th Street right-of-way, whose property is split between the City of Cleveland and the Rock Block site.
Recommendations included looking into unique lighting features to replace the red lampposts that currently exist as well as improving the flow of pedestrians on the path, which connects Rocket Arena to many downtown bars and restaurants.
A pedestrian plaza is planned on the Cosm building’s north side (Bedrock).
On the north side of the Cosm building, a pedestrian plaza connecting East 4th and the East 6th walkway will be built. Since future development phases are planned at the Rock Block site, trees and greenery will be placed in raised planters that could be relocated during construction or large events.
While planning staff had encouraged the inclusion of public art on blank façades, the Planning Commission suggested exterior lighting as a more appropriate fit for the building’s modern architecture.
At a previous Planning Commission meeting, member Anthony Whitfield gave a special presentation on a visit to Cosm Dallas, praising the intimacy of the “shared reality” experience. Today he expressed that Cleveland’s standalone venue would be even more impressive.
A cross-section of the proposed structure details Cosm’s layout. A nearly 100-foot, 12k-resolution LED dome is the venue’s centerpiece (Bedrock).
Cosm Cleveland is expected to open with the brand’s largest dome yet. At nearly 100 feet wide, viewers in tiered seats will be able to take in stadium-sized views of live sports events while enjoying in-house food and drinks.
In addition to Dallas, Cosm has another existing location in Los Angeles-Inglewood. Its Atlanta venue is due to open this summer with Detroit to follow later this year.
As the Cleveland Browns leave downtown for a suburban Brook Park stadium with some of the least parking in the NFL, Cosm’s location in the Gateway District is expected to pose significant competition.
On Wednesday, Cosm’s gravel pad foundation and general outline was visible from above (Harrison Whittaker).
Site preparation work, including the construction of a gravel pad foundation, has been ongoing since last fall on Huron Road opposite Rocket Arena.
Construction on Cosm will begin early this year, with the venue expected to open in July 2027.
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