Construction begins on Quicken Loans Arena renovations

Renovations on Quicken Loans Arena have begun.

According to a report from Crain’s Cleveland, the Cleveland Cavaliers have begun placing fencing and creating a staging area near the north side of the arena that will be updated. The Cavs’ desired start date for construction was Sept. 15.

What this means for the Cavs, and their hope of hosting an All-Star game 2020 or 2021, is unclear. Over the summer, NBA commissioner Adam Silver wrote in a letter that the Cavs had to begin construction this month in order be in the running for an All-Star game. At this time, it’s also unclear how long construction will take and how it will impact the Q when the Cavs begin playing there again in a few weeks time.

Construction was originally halted when a the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that a public referendum was required before the renovation could begin. At that time, the Cavs withdrew their funding. But when the group behind the renovation, Greater Cleveland Congregations, withdrew their petition, the Cavs announced soon after that they would again be contributing $70 million of the $140 million required for the construction. The other $70 will come from the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County and Destination Cleveland.