Cavs playoffs, Guardians, Zach Bryan: What you need to know for busy weekend in downtown Cleveland
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Thousands are expected to make their way to downtown Cleveland this weekend for sporting events, concerts and graduations.
Here is what you need to know about traffic changes, parking and more:
The city of Cleveland released some details ahead of the events:
Road closures:
- North Marginal Drive: From East Drive to Burke Airport
- East 9th Street: North of Lakeside Avenue
- West 3rd Street: North of Lakeside Avenue
Route 2 ramps closures:
- East 9th Street Eastbound Off-Ramp: closed until traffic clears
- West 3rd Street Westbound Off-Ramp
- West 28th Street Westbound Off-Ramp: Use West 49th Street Exit
Parking restrictions go into effect at 10 a.m. on Saturday and continue through midnight.
The following streets will have no-parking restrictions in place:
- East 9th Street: Euclid Avenue to Bolivar Road
- East 4th Street: From Huron Road to Prospect Avenue
- East 2nd Street: From High Street to Prospect Avenue
- Prospect Avenue: From Ontario Street to East 14th Street
- Bolivar Road: From East 7th Street to Prospect Avenue
- Huron Road: From East 9th Street to Ontario Street
- Sumner Avenue: From East 9th Street to East 14th Street
- Erie Court: From East 9th Street to East 14th Street
- West 3rd Street: From Lakeside Avenue to Huntington Bank Field
- Lakeside Avenue: From East 9th Street to West 6th Street and West 3rd Street to Ontario Street
- St. Clair Avenue: From East 9th Street to West 3rd Street
- Carnegie Avenue: From East 9th Street to East 14th Street
Parking:
Downtown Special Events Zones will be in effect on Saturday.
In these zones, on-street parking will be $8/hour and is only temporary, starting two hours before events and remaining in effect through the conclusion of the event or until 10 pm, whichever comes first.
Parking lots and garages:
- Willard Garage – Opens at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday, and the rate is $40
- Municipal Lot – Opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, and the rate is $50 per space
Here are some specifics for each event:
Cavaliers Playoff Game 3
The Cavs return home for Game 3 on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Rocket Arena.
Go to Cavs.com/Playoffs to get available tickets.
RTA:
- Walkway from Tower City opens four hours before game
- $5 all-day pass
- Free parking at rail stations
Zach Bryan
Gates open at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and the event starts at 7 p.m. at Huntington Bank Field.
Halsam Sports Group (HSG) encourages anyone coming downtown to arrive early due to heavy inbound traffic to other events.
Road Closures:
- Rolling stadium road closures will start as early as 2 p.m. With that closure, you won’t be able to come Northbound on West 3rd St.
- East 9th, Northbound could close as early as 3 p.m.
- North Marginal Road will be available for ingress into the stadium.
- The Route 2 off-ramp at East 9th will also be open for stadium ingress
HSG provided a link to the routes here.
Parking and transportation:
- Parking at Huntington Bank Field is for passholders only.
- Downtown parking: book your spot here.
- Rideshares: Those heading to Huntington Bank Field will get dropped off on Lakeside Ave between West 3rd and East 9th.
- RTA
The clear bag policy is in effect, according to HSG.
Guardians Games
The Cleveland Guardians face the Minnesota Twins this weekend.
- On Friday, first pitch at 7:15 p.m.
- On Saturday, first pitch is at 6:10 p.m.
- On Sunday, first pitch is at 1:40 p.m.
Cleveland State University Commencement
- Doctoral/Ph.D.
- Friday, May 8, 2026 at 6 p.m.
- Walter B. Waetjen Auditorium Music and Communications Building (MU)
- College of Health, Monte Ahuja College of Business
- Saturday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m.
- Wolstein Center
- College of Arts and Sciences, Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, Washkewicz College of Engineering
- Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m.
- Wolstein Center
- CSU College of Law
- Sunday, May 17 at 1 p.m.
- Wolstein Center
Complimentary parking will be available in the CSU Central, East, West and Prospect parking garages until 5 p.m., and ADA parking is available in the South Garage.
Parking will be open only to CSU graduates and their guests.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District is also hosting the 27th Annual Rock Your World with STEAM Family Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cleveland Public Auditorium, the city added.
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