Cavs Enjoy One of NBA's Best Home Court Aides in Quicken Loans Arena

Writer's Note: This article was originally published at StadiumJourney.com.

In the opening highlights on the JumboTron before the Cleveland Cavaliers announce their starting lineups, a video montage shows exaggerated versions of the players walking around the city, with buildings and landmarks being only a fraction of the players’ enhanced sizes.

Finally, when LeBron James crawls out of his legendary 110-foot billboard, you appreciate the imagery: The Cavaliers really are larger than life in Cleveland.

An appropriate picture, since one of the themes revolving around the Cavs this year is “XL”, as the Cavs celebrate their 40th anniversary in the league. And they’re doing it big.

While they’ve only been to one NBA Finals in the last 40 years, basketball has taken over the predominantly football- and baseball-dominated city, thanks in part to two larger-than-life figures in LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal.

With the Browns and Indians floundering in mediocrity seemingly year after year, the fans have rallied around the Cavs in hopes of finally landing the city’s first championship in 46 years.

FANFARE Score: 27 (out of 35...each category is out of five)

F ood and Beverage: 4

Go ahead, think of something you want to eat or drink at a game? How about wings? Beer? Concessions?

Of course the Q has plenty of those stations in the concourse. But there are many more options to suit your taste as well.

Check out Panini’s, home of the overstuffed sandwich. If you’ve ever watched a Cavs or Indians game on Fox Sports Ohio or SportsTime Ohio, you’ve seen advertisements for it.

When I was at Ohio State, I was unaware they even served food—I thought it was just a bar with some big screen TVs. But they also specialize in the aforementioned sandwiches, as well as wings, burgers, wraps, and a wide variety of beer selection.

If you’re feeling a little more upscale, check out Food Network chef and Cleveland native Michael Symon’s The B Spot and Bar Symon. Appropriately named, The B Spot specializes in beer, brats, and burgers, but served a little more elegantly. Case in point: the macaroni & cheese is made with goat cheese.

The Q boasts over 50 concession stands in the concourse.

A tmosphere: 4

Only two things keep the Q from getting a perfect score in this category. The first is that the Q (formerly known as Gund Arena) opened in 1994, so it’s hard to find historical significance in the last 16 years.

The second is the eerie quietness that takes over the arena when things aren’t going well for the home team. Bill Simmons of ESPN.com used to write about the same feeling at Fenway before the Red Sox finally won the World Series.

It’s the feeling that the crowd almost expects something to go wrong; going 40-plus years without a championship will do that to a city though.

Nonetheless, that demon is almost buried. Cavs fans are as passionate and knowledgeable as any of the major basketball cities in the country, such as New York or Boston.

They know when to rally behind the team, when a major stop is needed, and, as a traditional blue-collar city, appreciate the little hustle and effort plays (especially those from fan-favorite Anderson Varejao).

If the pre-game intro doesn’t give you goosebumps, you’re made of stone. The montage of highlights, capped off by LeBron emphatically letting out a man-scream and crushing a basketball with his bare hands, gets one of the loudest cheers you’ll hear at the Q.

But you can simply gauge the atmosphere in the arena from the players. From the elaborate pre-game handshakes and hugs to the way the players laugh, joke, teach, encourage, and support each other on the bench, you can tell the Cavs are almost always having fun.

As a fan, it makes it that much easier to enjoy your time.

N eighborhood: 5

There’s so much going on around the Q, at times it can be overwhelming.

Before and after the game, there’s a walkway that opens up leading to Tower City Mall. Walk over there to grab something quick to eat in the food court, or buy a new hat, jersey, jacket, or whatever at any of a plethora of stores.

My personal recommendation: The Locker Room. There are plenty of new and retro items to choose from.

Outside of the Q, there are bars and restaurants galore. Just around the corner is Cleats, a nice dive bar (and favorite of mine) with solid food selection and quite a beer and liquor assortment.

There’s also Flannery’s, which is an Irish pub that is anything but small; you’ll have options of drinking, dining, frequent live entertainment (on the weekends in particular), and a game room with classic options such as pool and darts.

But the place frequently visited by our group when in downtown is Harry Buffalo. Located about 100 yards from the Q, it boasts over 20 beers on tap, including the seasonal ale from Great Lakes Brewing Company, a preferred beer of choice for many Clevelanders.

They specialize in the bison burger, which has quickly expanded as a popular menu item across the country.

There are two different bar and dining areas downstairs, and a full bar and eat-in area on the second level.

And what makes the area for me is the fact that Jacobs Field (I refuse to call it Progressive) is right next door. Quite a lot of entertainment packed into three or four blocks in downtown Cleveland.

F ans: 4

There’s one thing you need to know about Cleveland fans in general: They are passionate and loyal, almost to a fault.

Like I said earlier though, the absence of a title looms over them. When things start to go south, they expect the worst. But once the city finally captures that elusive championship, the fans will get over that feeling.

Whether they lose their edge, that drive to win, will remain to be seen.

A ccess: 4

It’s pretty easy to find the Q. Travel up I-71N, and over the horizon you’ll see the Q and Jacobs Field appear. Get off at exit 271B, go down the ramp, and you’ll see the gigantic “We Are All Witnesses” billboard. One of the most appropriate welcomes to a city you’ll find.

Parking is relatively ample, though the easiest option is to park in the Tower City parking garage for just $10. You can use the walkway to get to the arena, or stroll around outside in your leisure.

Bathrooms are plentiful throughout the concourse.

R eturn on Investment: 3

Because the Cavs are one of the best teams in the NBA, and they have the best player in the NBA, ticket prices are quite high, especially for games against other elite teams, such as the Magic, Lakers, or Celtics.

Our seats cost $150 apiece, and they weren’t in the middle of the court or relatively close to the floor. But ticket prices across the NBA are continuing to climb, not just in Cleveland. It’s getting easier to just stay at home and watch the game on your 52-inch HD TV.

But the atmosphere and buzz around the arena make up for the price. Tickets are overpriced, but not ridiculously.

E tc.: 3

One bonus point for seeing LeBron James, the most exciting and entertaining athlete in the NBA. If you’ve never seen him play, you need to.

Another point for the fans, who are extremely loyal and zealous when it comes to their Cleveland teams. They’ve had their hearts broken, but they keep coming back year in and year out.

And finally, one more bonus point for your championship, Cleveland. It’s coming soon—you deserve it.