Cavs won't host ASG unless they upgrade arena, NBA says

The Cleveland Cavaliers need to fix up before winning any bids to host All-Star weekend.

NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum informed the Cavaliers that they won't host the 2020 or 2021 All-Star Game festivities if construction on upgrades to Quicken Loans Arena isn't underway by Sept. 15.

Tatum's letter to Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert was obtained by Robert Higgs of Cleveland.com. It explicitly states that the NBA will look elsewhere if the renovation project remains stalled.

The league initially pushed back its decision to accommodate Cleveland, but evidently cannot wait any longer.

The $140-million proposal to upgrade the 22-year-old Quicken Loans Arena includes adding a glass facade that would expand the interior space for restaurants and bars. Construction is expected to finish in 2020.

Cost estimates, however, are unclear. They range from the current $140 million to as much as $282 million over the next 17 seasons, according to Cleveland.com. The Cavaliers will pay $122 million toward the total, while the city of Cleveland plans to commit $88 million in taxpayer funds.

A disagreement over the allocation of those tax funds is holding up the proposal in the Ohio Supreme Court. A coalition led by the Greater Cleveland Congregations argues that those funds would be best served to address poverty, unemployment, and living conditions in Cleveland neighborhoods.