The birthplace of rock 'n' roll boasts gorgeous outdoor spaces and world-class museums and orchestras. But Cleveland is also a sports town through and through, with MLB, NBA and NFL franchises, a thriving college sports scene, and local traditions galore. Shirts are optional at every Browns home game, no matter the temperature (especially if you're sitting in the Dawg Pound) and Guardians fans of all ages fondly remember John Adams (R.I.P.) banging his bass drum in the bleachers to stir up a rally.
And while Cleveland's sports teams might not always have winning records, the fans always find the silver lining. After all, what other city would throw a "Perfect Season Parade" when their football team has a winless season and use it to support a local food bank? That's Cleveland in a nutshell: Acknowledging frustration and sadness, but remaining loyal and having hope that (as Yogi Berra once said) there's always next year.
There’s something for everyone in Cleveland, including bowling and music at a century-old alley, donuts and pierogies galore, and a deep, intimate sports history. Get ready for a three-day sports fan journey to the Lake Erie area with the below itinerary.
Who I am: I’m Annie Zaleski and I grew up in Cleveland going to baseball games at the cavernous Municipal Stadium, collecting baseball cards (shout out to 1988 Topps!), and watching the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cleveland Browns every weekend. I wanted to be a sportswriter when I grew up—and while I ended up becoming a music journalist instead, I still write about sports (and sports culture) when I can. My fandom also dies hard: It’s still too painful for me to talk about The Drive or The Fumble (or the 1997 and 2016 World Series, for that matter) but I’m eternally grateful to LeBron James and the Cavs for finally giving us (and, more important, my long-suffering sports fan dad) a championship.