A hotel on Public Square since 1918. The hotel says it’s connected to Tower City Center, where the enclosed walkway to the arena starts, and steps from Rocket Arena.
The hotel site publishes no parking details, so check before you bring a car.
Getting to the game
Walk to Rocket Arena at 1 Center Court in the Gateway District, or from Public Square walk through Tower City Center and along the enclosed walkway to the arena lobby.
Getting back
Walk back with the crowd, or take the walkway back to Tower City while it’s open.
A historic converted mansion in University Circle, near Case Western Reserve University, with a complimentary breakfast buffet. The hotel lists the Cleveland Museum of Art among the sights a short walk away.
The shuttle serves the airport, not the arena, so you ride the Red Line from there. The 11 p.m. last shuttle can come before you’re back from a 7 p.m. game. Parking is paid, and the rate isn’t published.
Getting to the game
Take the hotel shuttle to CLE, where the Red Line station is on the terminal’s lower level, ride to Tower City in under 30 minutes and walk the enclosed walkway to the arena.
Getting back
Walk back through the walkway to Tower City and take a westbound Red Line train to the airport. Check your hotel shuttle’s last run before you rely on it.
From Public Square through the Tower City walkwayDowntown (Public Square, East 4th and East 9th)walk
Getting there
Walk into Tower City Center from Public Square and follow the enclosed walkway from the food court to the arena lobby. For Cavaliers games it opens four hours before tip-off.
Getting back
Walk back through the walkway to Tower City. The arena says it stays open three hours after a Cavaliers game ends; RTA’s sports page gives 90 minutes after an event, so don’t count on the longer window.
The walkway keeps event hours only. Doors open 75 minutes before tip-off Monday to Thursday and 90 minutes before Friday to Sunday, and once you leave the building you can’t go back in.
From East 4th and East 9th on footDowntown (Public Square, East 4th and East 9th)walk
Getting there
Walk through the Gateway District to Rocket Arena at 1 Center Court. East 4th Street, with its pubs and restaurants, is in the same district as the arena.
Getting back
Walk back to your hotel with the crowd, or stop on East 4th Street on the way.
Backpacks of any size aren’t allowed, and bags are limited to 14 × 14 × 6 inches. The arena lists lane restrictions on Huron Road and Ontario Street through mid-November.
From University Circle on the Red LineUniversity Circle and Little Italy (Red Line)transit
Getting there
Ride RTA’s Red Line west from Little Italy–University Circle or Cedar–University to Tower City, then walk the enclosed walkway to the arena lobby.
Getting back
Walk back through the walkway to Tower City and board an eastbound Red Line train. RTA says Red Line service runs until after midnight.
A one-way fare is $2.50; a $5 all-day pass is good for unlimited rides until 3 a.m. the next day. RTA notes that its sports-page service times are general and can change at the last minute.
From CLE airport on the Red LineCLE airport and the western suburbstransit
Getting there
Get to the airport (the Wyndham’s free shuttle runs 7 a.m.–11 p.m.), take the Red Line from the station on the terminal’s lower level to Tower City in under 30 minutes, then walk the enclosed walkway to the arena.
Getting back
Walk back through the walkway to Tower City and take a westbound Red Line train to the airport. RTA says Red Line service runs until after midnight.
Hotel shuttles serve the terminal only; check your hotel’s last shuttle before you plan the ride back after a night game.
From the airport area by carCLE airport and the western suburbsdrive
Getting there
Drive downtown and park in the Great Day Improvements Garage (formerly Gateway East Garage), which has a bridge from Level 3 into the arena, or the JACK Cleveland Casino Garage, the arena’s other on-site garage. The arena recommends reserving a spot in advance and sells prepaid passes through SeatGeek for select events.
Getting back
Walk back to the garage and drive out.
Event parking prices vary by event, and the arena lists no fixed rate. You need an event ticket to use the garage bridge. The arena lists a closure of the eastbound I-90 exit ramp to E. 9th Street through late October.
Downtown (Public Square, East 4th and East 9th)Walking to the game and back
Stay in the downtown core and walk to the arena, or take the enclosed walkway from Tower City.
To the arena
Walk to Rocket Arena at 1 Center Court in the Gateway District, or from Public Square walk through Tower City Center and along the enclosed walkway to the arena lobby.
After the game
Walk back with the crowd, or take the walkway back to Tower City while it’s open.
The tradeoff
Downtown hotels publish valet parking only, at a nightly charge, and Hotel Cleveland publishes no parking details.
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CLE airport and the western suburbsEarly flights and a cheaper base
Stay near Cleveland Hopkins airport and ride the Red Line to Tower City, or drive in and park by the arena.
To the arena
Take the hotel shuttle to CLE, where the Red Line station is on the terminal’s lower level, ride to Tower City in under 30 minutes and walk the enclosed walkway to the arena.
After the game
Walk back through the walkway to Tower City and take a westbound Red Line train to the airport. Check your hotel shuttle’s last run before you rely on it.
The tradeoff
Hotel shuttles serve the airport, not downtown or the arena, and shuttle hours vary by hotel.
Barbecue on East 4th Street in the Gateway District, smoked over local fruitwood with a sauce made with Bertman’s Ballpark Mustard. It opens on Mondays for major Rocket Arena events.
Hours & notes
Tue–Thu 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; Fri–Sun 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Closed Monday, except 4 p.m. until the start of major events at Rocket Arena. Food is served until it sells out, so go early on a game night.