SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
Guards’ success draws crowds
Team to bring most fans to Progressive Field in a season since 2017
CLEVELAND BROWNS
By Joe Scalzo
WHAT’S IN A NAME? Here’s what goes into a naming rights deal like Huntington Bank Field’s By Jeremy Nobile
What Huntington Bank paid for the naming rights to brand the Cleveland Browns' stadium Huntington Bank Field — and what else it gets as part of that investment — remains a mystery, with both organizations and the agency that
worked on the deal, New Yorkbased Legends, all declining to discuss the terms of their 20year partnership. So Crain’s reached out to the Superlative Group, a Cleveland-based firm that specializes in brokering naming rights and corporate sponsorship deals between companies,
sports teams and the municipalities they’re involved with, for some insights into how a deal like this may have come together.
Why Superlative? Superlative Chief Operating Officer Kyle Canter said his
firm was not directly involved in the partnership struck between Huntington and the Browns, though it did have some initial “conversations” with both organizations while they were early on in their process. See NAMING on Page 27
The Guardians are about to do something that hasn’t happened in Cleveland since the Browns’ struggling quarterback spelled his name Deshone, not Deshaun. Buoyed by new group spaces at Progressive Field, the continued success of the Ballpark Pass and a division-clinching baseball team, the Guardians will soon draw more than 2 million fans in a season for the first time since 2017. Total attendance through 75 home games is 1,942,894. With a per-game average of 25,905, the Guardians were likely to pass the 2 million mark Friday, Sept. 27, against the Houston Astros. They drew 1,834,068 fans last year and 1,295,869 in 2022. “For us to do it for the first time since 2017, it means a lot,” Curtis Danburg, the Guardians’ vice president of communications and community impact, said. “The fans have been so supportive all year long, and we’ve had a lot of fun at the ballpark. See GUARDIANS on Page 26
Northeast Ohio colleges tout enrollment victories Schools find success amid challenging demographics By Joe Scalzo
Thanks to a botched FAFSA rollout, the ongoing demographic cliff, Cleveland State’s financial woes and the closures of Notre Dame College and Eastern Gateway Community College, Northeast Ohio’s recent higher educa-
tion stories have been about as fun as leaving the parking lot at Blossom Music Center after a Kenny Chesney concert. But over the last month or so, a funny thing happened: The region’s four-year colleges and universities started reporting good news. To wit: John Carroll University enrolled 600 students this fall — its largest new class since 2020 —
as its “Inspired Futures” strategy helped attract more out-of-state students (31% of this year's class). Baldwin Wallace University welcomed 698 students this fall, which, while slightly down from last year’s freshman class, helped BW boast its highest full-time undergraduate enrollment (2,739) since 2019. See ENROLLMENT on Page 29
Baldwin Wallace University welcomed 698 students this fall. | BALDWIN WALLACE UNIVERSITY
VOL. 45, NO. 36 l COPYRIGHT 2024 CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. l ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Representing all industries and communities, these leaders are working to enrich our city. PAGE 11
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