The 2021-22 All-Star weekend in Cleveland last February was indeed a very memorable experience for NBA fans everywhere. As it turns out, it was also a smashing success for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the city of Cleveland as well.
Economically speaking, the festivities of the All-Star weekend turned out to be highly beneficial for Cleveland. This came in the form of an estimated $141.4 million in direct spending by the 121,600 people that attended the weekend’s spectacle. This resulted in an estimated total economic impact of a whopping $248.9 million.
“The NBA and their corporate partners really exceeded our expectations when it came to direct spending in our community during NBA All-Star 2022,” David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Destination Cleveland, said in a release (h/t Chris Beeble of wkyc studios). “Hosting the first fan-facing All-Star in two years, welcoming so many incredible NBA legends to The Land for the NBA’s 75th Anniversary season and everyone wanting to make this a very special celebration, definitely helped provide a level of excitement and aided in surpassing our original estimated economic impact number.”
Not only did the All-Star weekend generate significant income for the city’s economy but also, it helped provide jobs for the locals. Needless to say, it was indeed a very successful event. No wonder cities from around the NBA are vying to host this annual event.