The NBA All-Star game lineup has seemingly been set for the next few years. Of course, the 2017 NBA All-Star game will be held in New Orleans after deciding to move it from Charlotte. A new North Carolina law discriminated against the LGBTQ community and the NBA felt it was best to move the game. For 2018, the weekend of big festivities will be headed west to Los Angeles and the 2019 game is expected to go to Charlotte, of course, pending a change to the HB-2 legislation. But in 2020, the game might already have a home despite it being about four years away.
Could one of LeBron James’ final NBA seasons also coincide with the NBA All-Star game coming to Cleveland? They might have some competition with the Sacramento Kings pushing to host the game. But if it is in Cleveland in 2020, it might be right around the time LeBron hangs up his sneakers.
Following from Karen Farkas of Cleveland.com.
A newly-renovated Q will be the site of an NBA All-Star game, perhaps as early as 2020, according to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavs have been promised the big event — which draws celebrities and millions of dollars in tourist spending — once the arena is renovated, said CEO Len Komoroski.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum issued a statement on the game.
“The NBA is very supportive of the Quicken Loans Arena transformation project which we believe will greatly benefit the entire Cleveland community,” he said. “We understand the impact this project will have in continuing the great momentum we have all seen recently in the city. We look forward to holding our week of NBA All-Star events in Cleveland in the near future following the successful completion of The Q transformation project.”
The arena’s $140 million in renovations are expected to be completed in late 2019. Work will be done around events and games, he said.
The game would bring about $100 million in economic impact to Cleveland, according to studies after all-star games in Orlando in 2012 and New Orleans in 2014.
