Upcoming Cleveland Cavaliers dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Wine and gold: the Cavaliers in brief
The Cleveland Cavaliers play home games at Rocket Arena in downtown Cleveland, with a regular season that runs from late October to mid-April. The team joined the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1970 and plays in the Eastern Conference's Central Division.
The Cavaliers have one championship, and it is one of the most famous in league history. In the 2016 NBA Finals they trailed the Golden State Warriors three games to one and won the series, the first time a team had come back from a 3–1 deficit in the Finals. It was the city's first major professional title in more than half a century, and it remains the franchise's defining moment.
That title capped a run of four straight Finals trips from 2015 through 2018, all against Golden State, and the team also reached the Finals in 2007. LeBron James, from nearby Akron, led every one of those Finals teams. Seven numbers are retired, honoring players such as Mark Price, Brad Daugherty and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. The rivalries that matter most are with the Warriors, the Boston Celtics and, for older fans, the Chicago Bulls.
Rocket Arena on a game night
The arena opened on October 17, 1994, at 1 Center Court, as Gund Arena. It became Quicken Loans Arena ("the Q") in 2005, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in 2019 and Rocket Arena in 2025, so older tickets, maps and directions may use any of those names. It seats 19,432 for basketball and is also home to the AHL's Cleveland Monsters. A major renovation, completed in September 2019, expanded the concourses and the public spaces.
The seating bowl, as shown on current seating guides, has three parts:
- The 100 level: the lower bowl wrapped around the floor, the most sought-after seats for basketball.
- Club and mezzanine rows: smaller sections marked with a C (club) or M (mezzanine) prefix, set between the lower and upper bowls, with club amenities on the C side.
- The 200 level: the upper bowl, which holds most of the arena's lower-priced seats.
The center-hung scoreboard, installed in 2014 and nicknamed the "Humongotron," is one of the largest in the NBA, so even the upper level gets a clear replay view.
Where to sit for a Cavs game
The lower sideline
For the best basketball view, look at the 100-level sections along the sidelines, roughly rows 6 to 15. You sit high enough to see the whole floor over the courtside row and the benches, and close enough to feel the speed of the game. Courtside and floor seats are the premium tier, priced on the experience more than the view.
Corners and baselines
Corner 100s give much of the lower-bowl atmosphere at a lower price than center court, with a full-court view on an angle. Seats directly behind the baskets are better for watching your end of the floor; the far basket is hard to judge from there, and the stanchion can block part of the view from the lowest rows.
Club and mezzanine
The C and M sections are a short climb above the lower bowl. They suit fans who want a full-court sightline and easier access to food and restrooms without paying courtside prices. Compare a mid-row 100-level corner against a club seat before you buy; at similar prices, the club seat often gives the better view of plays developing.
The 200 level
The upper bowl is the budget choice. Front rows near center court are the value pick. The top rows behind the baskets feel far from the floor, and for a long playoff night the climb and the height are worth weighing.
When the Cavs play and which games go first
The NBA's year starts with a short preseason in early October, followed by an 82-game regular season (41 home games) that runs from late October to mid-April. Group games in the NBA Cup, the in-season tournament introduced in 2023–24, fall mostly on Tuesday and Friday nights in November and count in the standings. The play-in tournament follows in mid-April, and the playoffs run into June.
The games that draw the most demand at Rocket Arena tend to be:
- Rivals and rematches: Boston, Golden State and the Central Division opponents, especially Chicago and Detroit, whose fans make the drive.
- Marquee visitors: any game featuring the league's biggest stars, and above all a homecoming for a former Cavalier.
- Weekend and holiday dates: Friday and Saturday nights and the late-December holiday stretch.
- Playoff games: home playoff dates sell quickly and resale prices react to each result in the series.
For the widest choice of seats, look at weeknight games against Western Conference teams from January through early March.
Getting downtown and getting inside
Rocket Arena sits in the Gateway District on the south edge of downtown, next to Progressive Field. Public transit is the simplest option. The RTA's Red, Blue and Green rapid-transit lines all stop at Tower City, and an enclosed glass walkway connects Tower City Center to the arena, so you can arrive from the train without going outside. The arena says the walkway opens four hours before Cavaliers games and closes about three hours after events end. Two attached parking garages hold about 3,300 cars, and surface lots and garages a few blocks away usually cost less; allow 45 minutes to an hour to clear post-game traffic.
Arena policies, as published on the venue's A-Z guide in 2026:
- Door times: 75 minutes before tipoff Monday through Thursday and 90 minutes before tipoff Friday through Sunday, with the atrium opening earlier.
- Bags: bags and purses larger than 14 by 14 by 6 inches are not allowed, and permitted bags must fit under your seat.
- Payment: the arena is cashless; reverse ATMs convert cash to prepaid cards.
- Re-entry: there is no re-entry once you leave, except for medical emergencies.
- Children: kids 2 and older need their own ticket.
Confirm details on the Rocket Arena website before game day. GoodSeats orders include guaranteed entry.
From Richfield to the comeback: Cavaliers history
The Cavaliers played their first four seasons at the Cleveland Arena, then moved to the Richfield Coliseum, between Cleveland and Akron, from 1974 to 1994. The Richfield years produced strong late-1980s teams built around Mark Price and Brad Daugherty, and also the moment Cleveland fans would rather forget: Michael Jordan's buzzer-beater over Craig Ehlo on May 7, 1989, which ended a first-round series and is still known simply as "The Shot."
The move downtown in 1994 brought the team back into the city. Dan Gilbert became majority owner in 2005. LeBron James led the team to its first Finals in 2007, left in 2010 and returned in 2014, and the four straight trips that followed ended with the 2016 championship. The 2024–25 team opened the season with 15 straight wins, tied for the second-best start in NBA history.
The 2016 comeback is the story most visitors already know, and the retired numbers in the rafters fill in the rest of the franchise's history.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the Cleveland Cavaliers play?
The Cavaliers play at Rocket Arena, 1 Center Court in downtown Cleveland. The arena opened in 1994 and was previously named Gund Arena, Quicken Loans Arena and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
How many seats does Rocket Arena have for basketball?
Rocket Arena seats 19,432 for Cavaliers games.
Is Rocket Arena the same as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse?
Yes. The building was renamed Rocket Arena in 2025. It is the same arena the Cavaliers have used since 1994.
Can you take the train to a Cavs game?
Yes. The RTA Red, Blue and Green lines stop at Tower City, which connects to the arena by an enclosed walkway.
How many championships have the Cavaliers won?
One, in 2016, when they came back from a 3–1 deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
When do doors open for Cavaliers games?
As published in 2026, doors open 75 minutes before tipoff Monday through Thursday and 90 minutes before on Friday through Sunday. Check the arena's site for the current schedule.