Cavaliers commercial arm takes Cleveland soccer stadium to market

Cleveland Soccer Group has hired Rock Entertainment Group to lead the naming-rights and entitlement sales process for South Gateway Stadium, its proposed 10,000-seat venue in downtown Cleveland.The appointment brings the commercial arm behind the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rocket Arena and the city’s incoming WNBA franchise into the project as CSG works to secure a founding corporate partner. Financial terms were not disclosed.Chris Presson, senior vice-president of business operations at Rock Entertainment Group, said: “Cleveland has a real opportunity to create more year-round experiences that bring fans, businesses and communities together as part of the region’s growing sports and entertainment ecosystem.“We look forward to working with Cleveland Soccer Group and a future founding partner to establish a venue that reflects Northeast Ohio’s passion for sports while contributing to the continued growth and vibrancy of downtown.”South Gateway Stadium is planned as the home of CSG’s two professional football clubs, men’s side Forest City Cleveland of MLS NEXT Pro and women’s team Cleveland Astra of WPSL Pro.The venue is expected to host more than 60 events and attract over 400,000 visitors annually, with CSG targeting football, rugby, lacrosse, youth sport, collegiate competitions and community programming.Its location places the project near Progressive Field, Rocket Arena, Bedrock’s riverfront redevelopment and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ new performance centre. CSG also plans to work with Cleveland Metroparks on public space, cycle paths and connections to the regional trail network.The stadium has an estimated development cost of nearly US$80m, with CSG seeking a US$19.9m state grant to support construction. The project is planned for a 14-acre site south of Interstate 90.CSG co-founder and chief executive Michael Murphy said: “The World Cup is putting soccer at the center of the national sports conversation and is bringing millions of new fans into the game as we speak.“South Gateway Stadium is how that momentum becomes permanent in Cleveland: a year-round home for two professional clubs in the middle of a downtown that is being rebuilt around it.”The initial 10,000-seat capacity could be expanded to 15,000 and later 20,000, depending on demand and the development of professional football in the market.Naming rights will form part of a broader commercial inventory spanning stadium signage, entitlement packages, digital activation and opportunities linked to the two clubs.Rock Entertainment Group’s mandate gives CSG access to an established local sales operation as it seeks to convert the project’s downtown location and multi-event calendar into long-term sponsorship revenue.The next commercial milestone will be securing a founding partner, while CSG continues discussions over public funding and the land required to deliver the stadium.