By Destination Cleveland
By John D. Luteran
Cleveland Sports (21st Century) by Nathan MigalDestination Cleveland
A Fanbase of Optimists
In Cleveland, sports aren't just a night out at the ballpark or randomly catching the game on TV. It's inextricably woven into the fabric of what it means to be a Clevelander and handed down - like season tickets - from one generation to the next.
League Park & Baseball Heritage Museum (cont.) (21st Century) by Destination ClevelandDestination Cleveland
Pressure Creates Diamonds
Tremont Tap HouseDestination Cleveland
A Way of Life
Sports in CLE aren’t life or death, they’re just life. Weekends are planned around where you're watching the game. Weddings are planned around bye weeks. You see team logos on laptops and lunch pails alike. It's not whether you're wearing a jersey to work, it's which jersey.
1999-2021 (21st Century) by Cleveland BrownsDestination Cleveland
Cleveland Browns
In Ohio, football is king, and it's no different in Cleveland. The Cleveland Browns dominate sports conversation year-round. A storied tradition since 1946, names like Paul Brown, Otto Graham and the great Jim Brown are etched into the annals of football history.
Cleveland Tailgate by Nathan MigalDestination Cleveland
Beyond the Dawg Pound
Browns games are citywide holidays. Bars fill up with friends and family. Church goers rush home after the final "Amen" to begin their second vigil. True diehards line up before dawn for the Muni Lot, a tailgater's paradise with orange school buses and gourmet gameday eats.
Burning River Roller Derby, ClevelandDestination Cleveland
Burning River Roller Derby
You think the Browns hit hard? The Burning River Roller Derby competes in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association with a mission to provide an inclusive community for all women and other marginalized genders to pursue athleticism and personal strength. That's tough enough.
Cleveland Sports (21st Century) by Nathan MigalDestination Cleveland
Cleveland Cavaliers
From the highs of the "Miracle at Richfield," to the agony of running up against Michael Jordan's Bulls time and again, the Cleveland Cavaliers have given us amazing moments for over 50 years. Head Downtown on any game night and you’ll feel that electricity.
Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Championship Parade by Cody YorkDestination Cleveland
That One Special Day
In 2003, the direction of the franchise changed forever, when the Cavs drafted a local phenom from just down I-77. Thirteen years (and a couple of decisions) later, 1.3 million fans lined the streets of Cleveland to celebrate the city's first championship in over 50 years.
Stipe MiocicDestination Cleveland
The Land of Stipe
Beloved Clevelander Stipe Miocic won the UFC Heavyweight Championship in 2016. He went on to become the only fighter to defend his title three consecutive times. The best part? The greatest UFC heavyweight of all time is still a full-time firefighter in suburban Valley View, Oh.
Bob Feller & Carl Hubbell (1940) by Gjon MiliLIFE Photo Collection
Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland's longest-tenured pro sports team has been a constant in this city through good times and bad. When spring hits, the countdown to the Home Opener begins. Walk around the city on a game day and you'll see patios filled with fans decked out in CLE gear.
Bob Feller Statue (21st Century) by Erik DrostDestination Cleveland
Rally Together
After the team's inaugural season as the Cleveland Guardians, the only thing that's changed is the name and logo. The team and its history remain the same. Head to Progressive Field and you'll see a community come together to root for The Land with every pitch (and Hot Dog race).
The Great OutdoorsDestination Cleveland
The Great Outdoors
CLE is paradise for runners, hikers and bikers alike. The Cleveland Metroparks offer over 300 miles of trails from Lake Erie in the north to Cuyahoga Valley National Park in the south. Or, try the 87-mile Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, its five nature preserves and wildlife.
Cleveland MonstersDestination Cleveland
Cleveland Monsters
The AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, the Cleveland Monsters continues the city's long love affair with pro hockey that goes back to the 1930s. Fun Fact: By winning the Calder Cup in 2016, the Monsters actually beat the Cavs to a championship by just over a week.