Q renovation deal beneficial to both sides

Wisdom finally prevailed on the Quicken Loans Arena upgrade deal this week when Greater Cleveland Congregations ended its drive challenging the deal and referendum petitions were withdrawn . ...

The Cavs should push ahead with a Q deal so clearly beneficial to all sides. Critical to unstopping the logjam was Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish’s demonstration of the scope of the county’s existing commitments and spending to address mental health and substance abuse — and widespread community and political pressure on GCC to abandon its destructive tactics, including from U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge.

If construction can begin soon, Cleveland should still be in line to get the NBA All-Star Game in 2020 or 2021, with its estimated $100 million in revenues, dwarfing the estimated cost of the city’s share of the upgrade deal . ...

Striking for its equal publicprivate partnership at a time when many pro teams are demanding full public underwriting for sports arenas, the deal includes hugely beneficial terms for the city and region, with the Cavs paying half the upgrade costs and agreeing to extend the team lease to at least 2034 . ...

A true focus on neighborhood needs and the city’s future should prompt all sides to pull together to identify where strategic investments and further public-private partnerships can best help Cleveland’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens.