Cleveland Celebrities Took Over
Two Cleveland Heights brothers were the talk of the town this year — whether its Superbowl powerhouse Travis Kelce’s star-studded relationship with pop princess Taylor Swift, Jason Kelce’s retirement from the NFL or the duo’s spotlight in a children’s book and their award-winning podcast. Meanwhile, local native Machine Gun Kelly’s heyday continued with an official holiday celebration of MGK Day on Aug.13, which transpired into a weekend of electric events. In the latter half of the year, it was also announced the singer would accompany Gwen Stefani on The Voice as a playoff advisor, and plans were revealed to open his second Flats-based business in the former Shooters on the Water. And to round out Cleveland’s superstar success, Westlake native Jake Paul made headlines after reigning victorious over boxing legend Mike Tyson on Nov. 15.
Browns Stadium Conundrum
"Brookpark Browns" doesn’t ring like Cleveland does, but it might be the reality for our home team’s new home base. After months of circulating rumors, disputes and heated discussions among fans, Haslam Sports Group seemed to settle their sights on a 176-acre, multi-billion dollar plot of land next to Cleveland Hopkins Airport for the future Browns stadium. As a dome, the new project is intended to be multi-purpose throughout the entire year. For the undetermined future of our lakeside stadium and beloved Muni Lot, fans have had a lot to mourn.
Cannabis Sales Kicked Off
Following the passage of Issue 2 in Nov. 2023, recreational cannabis sales made a long-awaited arrival at local dispensaries on Aug. 6. Cleveland Magazine contributors booked their tickets early, including Patrick Williams’ coverage on sustainable marijuana cultivation in February, plus Julia Lombardo and Julia Soeder’s guide to some popular cannabis products on the recreational market just in time for sales in early August.
Ohio Went Red for Donald Trump, joined by Ohioan JD Vance as VP
Following the 47th presidential election on Nov. 5, Donald Trump will return to office a second time, while J.D. Vance debuts as the first Ohio-affiliated vice president to occupy the White House. Together, the Republican duo painted Ohio red for the third consecutive election cycle.
Bernie Moreno Ousted Sherrod Brown
After nearly two decades as senator, a streak starting in 2006 came to an end for Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown, as Republican-elect Bernie Moreno won his seat in the Senate. Following a long career in the car sales and bitcoin industries, the position will be Moreno’s first foot in the world of politics.
(Photo by Daniel Lozada)
Totality Touched Cleveland
On Monday, April 8, an astronomical phenomenon was on full view from Northeast Ohio, as a total solar eclipse plunged the region into darkness for four minutes of totality. (Oh, and it was also the same day as the Cleveland Guardians’ home opener — truly a wild day for the city.) Clevelanders got a clear sight of the cosmic event, unlike much of the United States which experienced cloudiness and storms. It was such a big deal that we made it the April cover story of Cleveland Magazine. This also marked one of the first events of the year that made Cleveland a tourism hub.
The Northern Lights Popped Off, Too
Locals found a show in the sky with a rare display of the aurora borealis over Northeast Ohio not once this year, but twice. Happening in the late hours of the evening, early birds had major FOMO, while many photographers stayed up to document the experience.
Women’s Sports Saw Renewed Interest
Just before the total solar eclipse, Cleveland had an extremely big weekend. The NCAA Women’s Final Four Championship brought basketball stars Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for a weekend of competitive fun, showcasing the best players in the sport and creating memories for fans. Fueling Cleveland’s fire for women’s sports, bids are in progress for the city to host both a professional women’s soccer and basketball team, with the soccer expansion reaching finalist status for consideration.
Big Concerts Came Through
All generations and all genres got to live out their dreams in the music scene this year. With everything from punk shows in a Taco Bell parking lot, the "World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band" on Cleveland’s biggest stage and Noah Kahan — Gen Z and Millennials’ newest favorite folk star — Cleveland truly rocked. The Tri-C High School Rock Off closed the curtain on an illustrious 27-year career in Cleveland, while notables like Missy Elliott saw the city for the first time on a headlining tour. And we reviewed much of it.
(Photo by Kaitlin Walsh)
We Said Goodbye to Cleveland Legends
In the wake of an uplifting year, we lost personalities that contributed greatly to Cleveland’s spirit. Among them were TV host Phil Donahue and Jim Donovan, the voice of the Cleveland Browns.
Superman Filming Turned Cleveland into Metropolis
Life in Cleveland this summer was a movie — literally. The Superman franchise returned to its chosen Metropolis to grace the streets of Downtown with David Corenswet’s blue suit and red cape. Through this filming, we uncovered other superhero stories, like that of local filmmaker Rob Montague, vying to direct a documentary on the city’s Superman ties.
West Side Market Moved to a Nonprofit
The people’s favorite local market became a little more for the people at the early part of 2024. Cleveland Public Market Corporation took over the vendor space as a nonprofit business, with Rosemary Mudry named its first executive director. The shift hopes to bring more seating and more vendors to the space, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
Case Western Campouts
In the continuing wake of disruptions and tragedy between Israel and Palestine, local college students engaged in peaceful protests to voice their stance on America’s contributions to the dispute. As part of an ongoing protest in April, students and faculty at Case Western Reserve University took to the campus’ oval lawn for a campout, demanding the university administration to divest from Israel’s aid, in support of Palestine. Following 11 days, the demonstration was broken up — and in following months, protests continued to pop up on campus.
It’s The Cavs’ World, And We’re Just Living In It
Donovan Mitchell’s July decision to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers seemed to be a good omen, as the team went on to tie the second-best start to a NBA season with a 15-game winning streak. In between the craze, we also saw Cavs’ legend LeBron James team up with his son, Bronny, on the L.A. Lakers. Off the court, plans officially took shape for the Cavs’ joint riverfront training facility and wellness program center provided by Cleveland Clinic.
Cleveland Metroparks Makeovers
The Metroparks continued to evolve this year, with sites like Garfield Park Reservation finalizing a restoration project for trails and ponds, as well as unveiling a park program center. The Bedford Reservation broke ground as the first of the Cleveland Metroparks to install a disc golf course, with 18 holes spanning nearly 10,500 yards, while Euclid Beach Park recently finalized its controversial acquisition of a mobile home park for a new green space, displacing more than 100 residents. Most notably, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo closed its rainforest exhibit to start construction on a new Primate Forest. The 140,000 square feet space of three habitats, costing $60 million, will open in 2026 and rack up as the zoo’s largest construction project.
Great Lakes Publishing Bought Cleveland Scene
At the start of 2024, Great Lakes Publishing, the home of Cleveland Magazine, welcomed a new member to its family of publications. Cleveland Scene’s robust coverage of food, arts, music and news added a fresh perspective and flair to the company’s local journalism offerings.
Sherwin-Williams Joined the Cleveland Skyline
Cleveland-based paint purveyor Sherwin-Williams finished a big build at the tail-end of 2024. Its newest headquarters, located Downtown near Public Square, is a glistening glass tower in the sky, measuring in as the city’s fourth tallest building.
(Photo courtesy Cleveland Museum of Natural History)
Museum Expansions
Cleveland’s hubs for history and culture just got a whole lot bigger and better. In December, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History capped a $150 million dollar, 375,000 square foot renovation project centered around Visitor Hall — a free, public exhibit offering immersive galleries that promote scientific literacy and empower community members to be a voice for the planet. The Cleveland Museum of Art also unveiled two renovated lobbies at the main and lower-level entrances. Each space’s updated aesthetic is intended for educational, optimized experiences upon arriving at the museum, each donning galleries and displays of their own. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame also continued a $135 million expansion project for a new, 50,000 square foot wing to the museum that will offer multi-purpose space for the visitor experience.
Rock Hall Induction Returned to Cleveland
Speaking of the Rock Hall: The stars aligned for one electric night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, as legends like Cher, Dave Matthews Band and Peter Frampton were honored with induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Cleveland Magazine editors Julia Lombardo and Annie Nickoloff saw it all unfold from the Press Room, documenting the night’s most iconic moments on and off the big stage.
The Guardians were Great
In his first season with the team, Guardians Manager Stephen Vogt might be partially to thank for the team’s 92-69 record and two-series run in the postseason. Though the Guards fell short to the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, there’s hope for more wins on the horizon.
MetroHealth CEO Suddenly Fired
After being hired in 2022, MetroHealth president and CEO Dr. Alicia Steed — named a 2024 Most Interesting Person by Cleveland Magazine — was terminated from the hospital “without cause” this August. Reports from the Board of Trustees remained vague, citing “performance issues” as a contributing factor. In October, Dr. Christine Alexander-Rager was promoted to fill the position.
Northeast Ohio was Represented in Paris
This summer at the Olympics, we saw five local athletes in the spotlight, competing for gold in their respective sports. Among the likes of basketball icons LeBron James and Steph Curry were pole vaulter Katie (Nageotte) Moon, boxer Morelle McCane and BMX rider Marcus Christopher.
Cleveland Cracked Down on Crime
"As a son of this city, I've witnessed too often, in others, a feeling that we are a city past our prime; a sense that our best days are behind us," Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said in this year’s State of the City address. "But I strongly push back on that thinking every chance I get." Bibb particularly has honed in on safety issues in Cleveland, and noted that his RISE (Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone) initiative, which was designed to recruit and to retain law enforcement, has paid off: There's been a 45% uptick in applications to join the police force. He also commented on the city's new EMS hires, 19 new ambulances, the new $10 million neighborhood safety fund, the work of the city's crisis intervention team and the expansion of ShotSpotter — a controversial gunshot detection system that was installed and has been active in Cleveland for the past few years. Bibb says that the system has helped save 40 lives. Overall, homicides have decreased in Cleveland by 14% since the pandemic.
(Photo courtesy Johnny's Bar on Fulton)
Some Big Birthdays Happened
For decades — some, even centuries — small businesses have been the fabric of Cleveland’s appeal and grown into big, household names. Many saw their livelihoods celebrated with a major milestone in 2024, including 100 years of Mahall's, Johnny’s Bar and Nela Park’s Holiday Lights. See others covered by Cleveland Magazine staff, such as Mitchell’s Ice Cream, Fridrich Bicycle, Cleveland Bazaar, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Flowerville, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and DayGlo.
(Lead photo courtesy Matt Shiffler, Erik Drost via Flickr and Elsa Olofsson via Flickr)
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the number of days the Case Western Reserve University demonstrations ran.
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