LeBron Is Not Coming Back: CLE Daily

🌦️ 88°; Humid

🎹 Keys to the City: Piano Cleveland's International Piano Competition for Young Artists hits its semifinal chamber rounds July 27-28 at Mixon Hall, with Grammy-winning pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet coaching a final masterclass July 29.

🎭 Spirit Fingers: Bring It On — The Musical, with music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, opens July 28 at Near West Theatre and runs weekends through Aug. 6.

🏈 House Hunt: Former Browns star Myles Garrett has listed his Wadsworth home — nearly two acres behind a gated entrance with a four-car garage and finished living space above. 

ICYMI: Ever wonder what happens after you go viral? Cleveland Magazine talks to the Northeast Ohioans behind some of the internet's most famous moments — including "Bad Luck Brian" — about life after becoming a meme.

Support our local journalism with a print subscription to Cleveland Magazine. 

Trivia Question

In the 1970s, a World Team Tennis League was started, and Cleveland got a team, which played variously at Public Hall and then at Richfield Coliseum, as well as “home” games in Pittsburgh, Nashville, Miami and New Orleans, where the team eventually moved in 1978. What was that team’s name?

Sports: LeBron James is not coming back.

By Cleveland Magazine staff

LeBron James, whom many hoped would return to the Cavaliers to put the finishing touches on his illustrious career, instead sent a shockwave through the NBA again, announcing on X that he would sign with the Philadelphia 76ers.

LeBron: “This is my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?” James said in a post on X. “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team, and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”

Long Time: He has played for the Cavaliers twice, the Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers and now the 76ers. This will be his 24th season, a league record.

Read more about LeBron.

Talk of the Town

Cleveland Public Power admits to "deferred maintenance." After summer storms and heat knocked out power for thousands, CPP's chief acknowledged a history of deferred maintenance, with some equipment dating nearly to the utility's early-1900s origins.

 Counties can now cut your property taxes. A new state law gives county budget commissions the power to reduce property taxes — but how, and whether, they'll use it remains an open question.

 Big money lines up behind Ramaswamy. A group of billionaires has joined Elon Musk in backing Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy, adding to Musk's $5 million donation.

 Uncertainty for Akron vendors. The coming closure of Akron's Northside Marketplace on July 31 has left the small businesses inside scrambling for their next move.

 The Metroparks keep growing. Cleveland Metroparks added 68 acres to its holdings in 2025, continuing steady expansion across Cuyahoga County.

Development: A new riverfront amphitheater headlines the Flats' next act.

By Ian McDaniel, NEO Trans

Renderings dropped this week for the Cleveland Amphitheater, a 6,200-capacity outdoor music venue that developers Bedrock and Rock Entertainment Group hope will turn the industrial Flats South Bank into a lively entertainment district. The team returns to the City Planning Commission on Friday for design approval, with Live Nation signed on as the promoter.

• Filling a Gap: At 6,200 seats, the venue slots neatly above the 5,000-capacity Jacob's Pavilion downriver — a size that could lure touring acts who currently skip Cleveland altogether.

• The Look: The standout is a white, oval "sail" canopy over the lower bowl, its steel truss echoing the nearby Hope Memorial Bridge. A retro "Cleveland" marquee greets fans at the West 3rd Street gate, with the river and skyline as the backdrop.

• Good Neighbors: The amphitheater would sit beside Cleveland Whiskey, which is expanding — and a revitalized Cleveland Brewery is relocating from Collinwood into the distillery's building, adding dining to the Flats.

• By the Numbers: Bedrock projects 60 new full-time jobs, $18 million-plus in new city tax revenue and $16 million for Cleveland schools over a 30-year TIF.

The Bigger Picture: The venue is the latest piece of Bedrock's $3.5 billion riverfront vision. Phase one — the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center and Cavaliers' training facility — is nearing completion and set to open in 2027.

Read the full story.

Things to Do This Week

Train at Blossom Music Center (July 28): This summer, the Train Drops of Jupiter: 25 Years in the Atmosphere Tour comes to Cuyahoga Falls. With special guests Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson, the show celebrates 25 years of the Drops of Jupiter album and its award-winning title track, which was recently named one of Rolling Stone’s 250 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century So Far. 6:45 p.m., $25-$688, 1145 Steels Corners Rd, Cuyahoga Falls, livenation.com

Hop College Presents Beer and Baseball (July 30): Great Lakes Brewing Co. presents another exciting Hop College, this time with Guardians historian Jeremy Feador. As you learn about the different eras of Cleveland baseball, taste a beer that pairs perfectly with each era. Every guest will receive four 7-ounce beer samples, as well as a special pint glass to bring home. 6:30 p.m., $30, 2516 Market Ave., Cleveland, greatlakesbrewing.com

Friday Night Fights: Legends Fight Series (July 31): This outdoor MMA series, taking place at Forefront Field (home of the Lake Erie Crushers), is designed to expand the audience for the growing Cleveland MMA scene. Elite competition for a full fight card will be on display for longtime MMA watchers and new fans alike. 7 p.m., $41-$126, 2009 Baseball Blvd., Avon, legendsfightseries.com

Cleveland Guardians vs. Arizona D-backs (July 31): Another beautiful day at Progressive Field is in store this week. The Guardians take on the D-backs for this Friday night game, complete with Dollar Dogs, $2 Miller Lite Pregame and Phantom Fireworks to conclude the night. 7:10 p.m., $28-$153, 2401 Ontario St., Cleveland, mlb.com

Friday's Trivia Answer

This East Side area named for an early settler was sometimes called Cleveland’s second Downtown. Doan’s Corners

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's question

From the Editor

It is the best time of the year to be a Browns fan. Especially now that LeBron has let a little air out of the Cavaliers' enthusiasm.

The Browns start training camp this week, and with a new coach, a quarterback battle and a defense without Myles Garrett, there will be a lot to study over the next six weeks or so before the season begins in September against the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida.

The youth movement didn't bring victories last season, but it did bring some hope by the end of last year. Can they build on that?

— Ron Ledgard

Have a story idea? Tell us what we should cover at conversation@clevelandmagazine.com.

Subscribe to Cleveland Magazine in print or daily email newsletters.