LeBron & Company Open Up Tonight In Renovated Arena

Tonight the Cleveland Cavaliers open their season with the Washington Wizards at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland. Businesses have been asked if they will leave all their lights on to show their support of the Cavs on national television. Owner Dan Gilbert has put quite a bit of money into the franchise and by signing some free agents and renovating Quicken Loans Arena. Here are his thoughts on the projects:

"If I was transported here from another country or planet and I did a 360-degree turn, I want to know that I'm in Cleveland and this is the Cleveland Cavaliers' arena and this is the Quicken Loans Arena," Gilbert said. "This is not an office. It's a fun, exciting venue. We need everybody to feel proud and feel they're in the right place and it's our building."

Gilbert spent $7.45 million on arena improvements, including a new court and lots of new signage on the elevators and throughout the concourses and the Key Bank Court Club. Courtside seating has been reconfigured, and 200 seats have been added. The four swords on the scoreboard will shoot fireworks, and there's a new light shudder system that will allow the arena to instantly go dark or light. In addition, the team shop has been expanded by 400 square feet, and Bridges Restaurant has new remote control shades on the windows.

"To me, basketball is an entertainment business, a fun business, and people should work in an environment that reflects that," Gilbert said. "There's so much to do from a creative standpoint. I think people vastly underestimate how much an environment can influence a company and the people who work there. It's an open environment, it's exciting and we try to tie in basketball wherever we could."

Gilbert has done more than thought by the city of Cleveland, he's obviously showing the city that he wants to keep LeBron James here for the rest of his career and improving the facilities not only for the fans but to attract some free agents. Sounds kind of like what Dallas owner Mark Cuban has done in Dallas, or at least it's a start.

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