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With hundreds of rowers calling it home, The Foundry is an encouraging addition to the Flats — P. 3 Stark Enterprises and American Greetings each plan to add to the expansion of Crocker Park — P. 4
Daily fantasy sites bring real business Success of FanDuel, DraftKings can be beneficial for teams such as Browns, Cavs and Indians By KEVIN KLEPS kkleps@crain.com
KEVIN KLEPS
When LeBron James soars for a highlight-reel dunk at Quicken Loans Arena this season, viewers might notice a FanDuel sign on the padding that lines the basket support. They’ll also see signage for the New York-based daily fantasy sports operator on the court apron, the courtside LED boards and even at the players’ feet, via a logo placed on the kick plates under the team benches. A select few fans at FirstEnergy Stadium during the Cleveland Browns’ home opener on Sept. 20 watched the game, and any other NFL contest of their choosing, on huge TVs in the
A huge DraftKings advertisement adorns the Stark Enterprises headquarters on West 3rd Street and St. Clair Ave. in Cleveland.
See FANTASY SITES, page 35
Businesses will become special-event headquarters By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com
If you happen to be wandering downtown Cleveland during convention week next July, you could
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MORE COVERAGE INSIDE: RNC poised to disrupt calendars, event planners say. Page 28
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have breakfast or lunch with an assortment of political reporters, campaign operatives — or maybe
a convention-watching event at the Great Lakes Science Center. Corporations, trade associations, labor unions and other special interest groups are drawn to the concentration of politicians, party leaders and media heavyweights who attend these quadrennial events. The goals range from advocating specific issues to building brand awareness, and the groups use public and private events to make an impression. Destination Cleveland, the convention and visitors bureau, is estimating these groups could end up
holding about 1,200 public or private events during the convention week, July 18-21, 2016. When the Democrats held their 2012 convention in Charlotte, N.C., attendees were offered the opportunity to rub shoulders with influencers at sponsored programs with titles like “Building the Future of Energy Efficiency,” “Moving America Forward: Health Care Voices from the Front Lines,” and “Transportation Moving America Forward.” Even Facebook was there, showing off new software at “Apps and Drinks” a cocktail event at a lo-
cal art gallery. Event planners and space brokers are visiting venues, though few contracts are being signed. That’s because the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee and the Republican Committee on Arrangements have commitments from many venues to let the organizing groups handle matchmaking, and they have yet to gear up. But National Journal LIVE, the media company’s event planning arm, is an exception. Last week, it signed an agreement with See HEADQUARTERS, page 38
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even a politician or two — thanks to National Journal. The Washington, D.C.-based political media organization is taking over the Blue Point Grille on West St. Clair Avenue for daily, open-tothe-public breakfasts and luncheons and a few, more private, evening events. Maybe your brother-in-law can get you into a corporate-sponsored soiree at Red the Steakhouse on Prospect Avenue, a stone’s throw from the Quicken Loans Arena convention site. Or maybe you’ll want to head for
MEETINGS AND EVENTS The St. Clair-Superior neighborhood has become home for culture, entertainment ■ Pages 13-33 PLUS: CATERING ■ CLEVELAND ST.-CAVS PARTNERSHIP ■ & MORE
Entire contents © 2015 by Crain Communications Inc. Vol. 36, No. 38