CAVALIERS
Quicken Loans Arena is being renamed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse after the company's digital arm. Rocket Mortgage will have new exterior and interior signage at the arena -- including LED roof signs and its logo on the court and rink. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed (Mike Sunnucks, THE DAILY). In Cleveland, Chris Fedor notes arena renovations like a "new glass facade and 42,000 square feet of public space" are "expected to give the look and feel of a FieldHouse, which the organization believes will tie in well with the name change." The new name is a continuation of the $185M "renovation and transformation that will increase the total square footage of the venue from 95,380 square feet to 152,970 square feet." The arena will "close in May to complete the renovation in time for the grand-opening on Sept. 30" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/9). Also in Cleveland, Kevin Kleps cited sources as saying that the original naming rights deal with Quicken Loans "was extended" in '18, and the deal with Rocket Mortgage will "represent a lucrative longer-term extension." The change to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse also "comes prior to the arrival of two big events" -- the '22 NBA All-Star Game and the '24 NCAA Women's Final Four (CRAINSCLEVELAND.com, 4/8).
QUICK WORK: In Cleveland, Sam Allard noted the decision to change the arena's name "looks to have occurred only within the past month." In March, "new 'QUICKEN' lettering was being installed on the E. 6th side of the renovated exterior, but was taken down within a few weeks." This is also "the first instance (among the four major professional sports) of an arena being named for a company's product, not the company itself" (CLEVESCENE.com, 4/8).
