The Chat Sports: Minds Behind The Game panel series returned Wednesday night in Cleveland, Ohio. The event featured Cleveland Cavaliers CEO Len Komoroski, who is also the CEO of the Quicken Loans Arena Organization. At the fire-side chat with Chat Sports CEO James Yoder, Komoroski spoke on a variety of topics, from the Cavs to hosting the Republican National Convention. We've compiled the four most interesting things he discussed at Minds Behind the Game below.
1. Just How Massive The Parade Was
The Cavs' celebration parade was nothing short of massive. It was difficult logistically, since it was the first sports parade in Cleveland since 1948. Back then, there were only 200,000 people to show up. The 2016 version blew that number out of the water.
"We had 1.3 million people show up, which is the largest turnout of any parade in NBA history ever," Komoroski said. "It was the sixth largest sports celebration that the world has known. We're talking about entities like Real Madrid and the Boston Red Sox, and it was he sixth largest ever. It's really a statement and a testament to the great fans from Cleveland. Per capita, it's the largest parade."
Cleveland had been without a pro sports championship since 1964, so it's not a surprise so many showed up.
2. The Influence Of Indoor Soccer On The NBA
Today's pre-game events of videos, light shows and smoke wasn't always the norm. Komoroski says the influence in the NBA started when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But the Timberwolves stole the idea from, believe it or not, indoor soccer.
"Indoor soccer back then, in the 80s, was a sport that featured lights-out introductions, lasers, smoke, pyrotechnics, mascots, dance team all that stuff," Komoroski said. "The NBA's game presentation at that point was rolling the ball cart out for halftime. We're in Minnesota and we've got guys coming from indoor soccer. So what are we doing? We've got lights-out intros, smoke and all that. And the league is going 'what the heck are you guys doing?' At one point, they were coming down on us because of the 'integrity of the game.' Of course, now it's become prevalent. I credit the indoor soccer influence on the NBA and now it's everywhere."
Indoor soccer remains a fringe sport, at best, in the eyes of the American consumer. However, it's clearly had a notable impact, even if few realize it.
3. Finding Out LeBron Was Coming Home
LeBron James announcing he was coming home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers was a huge moment in the NBA landscape and for Cleveland. Komoroski said the Cavs were told only a few moments before.
"We were at a meeting in Downtown when that broke," Komoroski said. "Our owner had gotten a call five minutes before. We found out moments before the rest of the world, or basically at the same time. I can just remember, we're trying to make our way back [to Quicken Loans Arena] and it was like we won the championship. People were coming out on to the streets, hugging me, just so excited about what's going on."
Cleveland, and the NBA, has never been the same since James returned home. Interestingly enough, James' Decision 2.0 came around the same time that Cleveland was awarded the RNC.
4. Why Cleveland Wanted The RNC
The 2016 NBA Finals wasn't the only major event that Cleveland hosted. The city also hosted the 2016 Republican National Convention, an event Komoroski played a key role in getting to the city. The goal of hosting the RNC was to help get Cleveland viewed in a more positive light.
"This was about changing the dialogue on Cleveland on a national and international basis," Komoroski said. "This is the second-largest media event in the nation, second only to the Summer Olympics ... And guess what it's at the Q so it's in our building and we're front and center with every aspect."
The city of Cleveland and the RNC had four weeks instead of the usual six to get the convention set up, but managed to make it happen. Komoroski feels the event was a success.
"It was a Cleveland love fest," Komoroski said. "The real winner out of all of that was Cleveland. For most people either don't think about Cleveland or their image is of Cleveland in black and white with a river on fire in the background. And we totally turned the heads of all the media and people that were here."
The entire talk with Komoroski can be viewed here. Chat Sports: Minds Behind the Game, is a panel series that has featured the likes of Jed York, Charles Woodson, Tiki Barber and Dan Gilbert in the past. For more information on the series and future events, check out the Minds Behind the Game page.
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