Northeast Ohio waited four years for LeBron James to click his heels.
But the return of James to the Cleveland Cavaliers is more than just a happy ending to a fantasy.
[source: Cleveland] “This means so much to the community as a whole and to downtown, the heart of Cleveland,” says Nick Kostis, owner of Pickwick and Frolic, a 27,000-square-foot entertainment complex on East Fourth Street. “Losing LeBron affected us in so many ways – both psychologically and economically.”
The downtown entertainment scene took a major hit in 2010 when James left for South Beach.
“LeBron is an event and an economy,” says Kostis. “When he left, Cavaliers games ceased to be events – and you’re talking 41 games during a regular season, many occurring during the middle of winter when people really need a reason to go out.
“They’re more apt to get something to eat or drink before or after if you have a winning team,” he adds. “And then you have even more games if they make the playoffs.”
The Cavaliers failed to play a single playoff game during James’ four-year absence.
The return of LeBron, and the high-profile playoff games that are likely to go with it, promises to revive tourism, says Jen Kramer, communications manager at the city’s convention bureau, Positively Cleveland.
“We’re going to see the return of people from Columbus and Detroit coming in to watch LeBron,” says Kramer. “We had 16 million visitors outside of Cuyahoga County come to Cleveland last year – and you’re going to see that number go up.”
Sixty percent of fans who attend Cavs games come from outside of Cuyahoga County, according to Kramer, underscoring the reach of sports as a regional draw.
Things like LeBron or landing the Republican National Convention are harder to quantify, but they do wonders when it comes to the national perception of the city, she adds.
It all goes back to psychology – externally and internally.
The psychological blow of losing James, and the pop of getting him back, goes beyond dollars, says Kostis.
“The travails of our sports legacy and the pessimism about our fate and identity got reinforced,” he says. “Now you see that narrative being flipped, and we can come together in the middle of downtown – regardless of where you’re from Mentor or Strongsville or Lorain.
“Cleveland is the mother of the region and a team that says Cleveland on the jersey reinforces that,” he adds. “It brings us all together, and it’s wonderful to feel that you’re part of a region that’s bigger than just a suburban community.”
James’ “I’m Coming Home” letter to Sports Illustrated underscores that.
“The guy said he didn’t realize what he left. It’s no different than my long-lost brother saying, ‘I miss home and want to come back,’ ” says Kostis. “We talk about the talent drain in Northeast Ohio and now we see the most talented basketball player in the world coming back – it sends a message that, yes, you can come back home.
“He’s matured into a man that has come to understand the value of home,” he adds. “It’s no different than Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ ”
There’s no place like home.