Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Clinic Agree to Historic 25-Year Partnership Extension

The Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Clinic have agreed on a 25-year extension of their partnership, lengthening the relationship to more than 55 years altogether. The extension solidifies the relationship as one of the longest continuous partnerships between a professional sports organization and a healthcare provider.

The Cavaliers and Cleveland Clinic’s extension was catalyzed by the groundbreaking of the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center in October 2024. The Populous-designed, 210,000-square-foot practice facility for the Cavaliers is located downtown on the Cuyahoga Riverfront and is the first vertical development of Bedrock Real Estate’s pioneering $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. The new performance center is expected to open in 2027. The Cavaliers will continue to receive best-in-class treatment from Cleveland Clinic at one of the top training and development facilities in the NBA, Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio.

“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. 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. This facility will not only benefit our team but also serve as a beacon of health and wellness for the entire Cleveland community and establish Northeast Ohio as the premier destination for sports performance and medicine.”

Established on a foundation of care for community and dedication to innovation, the partnership is committed to creating a championship-caliber culture in Cleveland.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 state-of-the-art 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 Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic and the holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair. “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. 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.

• 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.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Cleveland Clinic: Grant Passell, passelg@ccf.org, 216.386.5615

Cleveland Cavaliers: Zach Abaie, Zabaie@cavs.com