CLEVELAND – The Cavaliers and Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the largest flat-rolled steel producer in North America, announced an expansion of their existing multi-year marketing agreement to put the Cliffs logo on the Cavs player uniforms beginning with the 2022-23 season. The announcement was made Tuesday inside the Cliffs entrance of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland.
Since 1847, Cliffs has been headquartered in Cleveland and operating in the Great Lakes region. The Company’s headquarters are located downtown, less than a half mile from the home of the Cavaliers, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Cliffs has a long-standing relationship with the team and have entitlement branding to one of the marquee north entry points into the glass atrium of the newly transformed and completely modernized FieldHouse. Cliffs is also the only steel company to have a jersey patch partnership within the NBA.
“Cliffs has been an anchor for Cleveland and the Great Lakes Region for 175 years. We share an immense amount of hometown pride and love for this region and are committed to having a positive influence on the people that live and work here,” said Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO, Len Komoroski. “While our respective roles in the community are much different from each other, both Cliffs and the Cavs are considered part of the ‘fabric of life’ here in Northeast Ohio. It is now very appropriate and relevant for Cliffs to be represented, literally, on the fabric of the Cavs player jerseys.”
Lourenco Goncalves, Cleveland-Cliffs' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, “Cleveland-Cliffs is proud of our partnership with the Cavaliers and the NBA, for our employees, their families, their communities and the entire Great Lakes Region. The Cavs stand out as a unique and authentic showcase for the importance of teamwork with its talented players, coaching staff and management team, coming together strategically to win. Cleveland-Cliffs is no different. We are made by our 26,000 employees. These people, situated across the entire Great Lakes region, are talented and dedicated, working together to execute a well thought strategy to produce a vital material, steel, that is woven into the fabric of everyday modern life. The power of this Cliffs-Cavs partnership is our common culture of teamwork, family and community, which are fundamental to our on-going success. The journey together will be rewarding, and winning is about the whole team.”
Cliffs also announced on Tuesday that the partnership will yield a very special community benefit for Boys & Girls Clubs throughout communities in which Cleveland-Cliffs operates. The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation is proud to pledge $500,000 of new funding to clubs serving in or near host communities. Area Clubs will be invited to apply for grant dollars to support capital and program expenses that encourage healthy lifestyles. The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation’s announcement aligns with the Company’s commitment to have a positive impact in the areas where it operates. Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis later this year.