by Shana Black
I think it’s fair to say that we Clevelanders know how to host a large event. From last year’s NFL Draft to the RNC in 2016 AND a certain championship parade (insert joke about a 3-1 lead here) our city seems to shine when the national spotlight turn to us.
Next month we get to do it all again. This time we welcome the NBA as they return to Cleveland for the All-Star game. I’ll admit I’ve gotten to straddle the fence as both an insider and a fan. On one hand, I’ve been told how electric and excited the city is. On the other hand, it seems as some people are just starting to think about it or how they want to participate in the weekend’s events,
A moment of real-talk for my fellow Clevelanders
I know some us, hear “big event” and we go running to the neighborhoods proclaiming “I don’t want to be nowhere near downtown” with an additional comment about parking or traffic. Don’t worry we’ll still have our newsletter of weekend events for you.
Some of us are excited and wondering if we “should get a room downtown for the weekend” so we can be close to all the action. Good luck, most hotels have been booked for months but there’s always still a chance right? Others feel that they have a few more weeks to decide what they want to do. My suggestion, start deciding now if you want to go to one of the official events. Those tickets have been on sale for a while and are VERY limited.
Where ever you are on this All-Star attendance spectrum we’re here to help. First, my team wants to answer your questions about All-Star weekend. If you have questions, we’ll do some digging and see if we can find some answers for you. You can leave a question in the comment section of this story, or text us at 216-279-5284 and use the hashtag #allstar. If I know the answer I’ll text you right back but if I need to do some digging I’ll let you know that too. All answers will be shared on a future story here on this website and on our social media channels @blackgirlinCLE so you’ll be able to check back to stay informed.
So here’s what we know
The App: The NBA events app should be on your phone. This will be the quickest and easiest way to stay up to date on events, other official NBA opportunities including opportunities to meet the players and autograph sessions.
Scan to win: Since August businesses around the city have been displaying QR codes for you to scan. Scanning the code earns you points that you can redeem for prizes, like autographed merch and All-Star game tickets. Locations can be found on both the East Side and West Side of town and of course downtown. The 1st prize level is 20 points
All-Star Voting: Voting began December 25th ends January 22nd (THIS SUNDAY). You can vote for up to 10 players each day and can only vote once per day. There are a variety of ways you can vote for your favorite player including on Twitter, at NBA.com, or on the NBA app. Click here to learn more about voting.
Tower City: Coming downtown on Saturday? You’ll definitely want to plan to spend some time at Tower City. The Real Black Friday be hosting the 7th Annual Real Black Friday Business Expo, an official NBA event. They will have Black businesses and vendors for you to support and entertainment for you to check out. Learn more here or follow @therealblackfriday on Instagram for updates.
NBA Crossover is an immersive fan experience. Think of it as a fan fest. The event runs all weekend starting on February 18th and will feature WNBA and NBA player appearances, limited edition merch and more. Tickets start at $30. Learn more here and don’t forget to use our promo code: BLACKGIRLINCLE for a discount on single-day tickets
Other NBA Events: Besides the actual All-Star game on Sunday, there will also be an HBCU Classic, the Rising Star Game, the House of Glo presented by Gloria James, The Power of Sport including a Performing Art Competition, the Celebrity game, and State Farm’s All-Star Saturday Night which includes the skills challenge, 3-point shootout and slam dunk competition. Check out the full list of events or purchase tickets here.
So what did I forget? Leave a comment in the box below or ask your All-Star question in the comments.