CLEVELAND, September 14 - The Cleveland Cavaliers have launched an all-new design and format for its highly ranked Web site, Cavs.com. The popular NBA team site has undergone a transformation that will give Cavs fans more of what they crave with updated and innovative technology combined with insightful news and exclusive content.
The new design introduces a user-friendly navigation, debuts several new content features including Cleveland Cavaliers University (CCU), a reference guide called A to Z, The Optimist Manifesto, an interactive calendar and the Game Room.
“The leading source for information about the team, Cavs.com has taken on a life of its own,” said Cavaliers President Len Komoroski. “Fans want a connection to the team and to the players. The new Cavs.com provides that connection in an exciting multi-faceted, multi-media format.”
The new look effectively incorporates the Cavs brand into the Web site, which is colorized with the team’s wine, gold and navy colors and uses the logo and theme-line “All for One. One for All.” in the design elements. The efficient use of space on the homepage keeps it uncluttered, yet accommodates more information with less scrolling than the previous design. The horizontal tab style navigation bar features vertical drop-down menu options with one-click entrances into interior pages, and a collapsible ticker appears at the top of the page when breaking news occurs.
In addition to streaming video and macro media flash, the site introduces several new applications in technology. The homepage features a flash enabled rotating top story, which highlights the three major news items for the day. An interactive calendar sorts and displays game and event dates per the visitor’s selection; by the day of the week, by team, home or away. Visitors can browse through an embedded flash photo gallery that is presented in a slide show format and during the season, the Cavs statistical team leaders are automatically updated daily on the homepage.
Cavs.com comes alive with interactive options for visitors who want to play, win, vote, and have a voice. The new Game Room features four playtime options— Hot Shots, a jigsaw puzzle, crossword puzzle and word search. Corporate partnered contests offer visitors a chance to win great prizes. The message boards burn up with fans exchanging all kinds of thoughts and opinions from player transactions to discussing the Cavalier Girls latest dance moves. Daily, a fan poll poses a hot topic question and automatically tallies the voting.
Original editorial content is a big draw to cavs.com. The “voice” of cavs.com is columnist Joe Gabriele, aka “The Insider.” Gabriele offers his perspective on game previews and recaps in addition to insightful and colorful features about the players and team. His accessibility to see firsthand the intra-workings of the team gives Gabriele an insider’s advantage in covering the Cavs that readers find interesting.
“The Optimist” provides commentary that often raises eyebrows and provokes a chuckle. The Optimist defines himself as a “homer,” wears his love for the Cavaliers on his sleeve and definitely sees his team through rose-colored glasses. The fact that the guy is a little rough around the edges is his charm, and readers soon realize that The Optimist is just “one of them.”
Cleveland Cavaliers University (CCU) is a new content feature that is an online classroom for gaining unique knowledge about the Cleveland Cavaliers specifically, and the game of basketball, in general. The curriculum is taught by a “distinguished faculty” with diverse backgrounds.
Fans want to know what’s happening with the team by the minute, and the site delivers in many ways. New content is posted daily. Live feeds of press conferences are aired regularly. The ability to give fans an “insiders” look, exposing them to the behind-the scenes activities of the team and players with exclusive interviews and features is a big attraction to Cavs.com. Online chats with players and other front-office personnel is a regular feature. Daily during the season, the site posts game previews, recaps and box score. Following every game, fans can catch the post game interviews with Coach Brown and players.
Cavs.com is the most comprehensive resource for all things Cavaliers and that includes the full complement of the franchise’s business and off-the-court activities. The Web site provides information about ticket plans with the ability to purchase online, the Cavs Team Shop for team merchandise and in-depth coverage about the team’s community relations programs and activities, to name a few. Game entertainment is an important part of the Cavaliers home court experience and is covered extensively on cavs.com, particularly the popular Cavalier Girls dance team whose web pages and photo galleries consistently claim high page view rankings.
The redesign process for the site began last April under the direction of Cavaliers Web Manager Jeff Lillibridge. Lillibridge worked closely with the NBA Internet Services group, Adam Bloom, Jen Levinson, Chris Benyarko and Darren Misener, to design an esthetically pleasing and functional site based on best practices and an understanding of what Cavaliers fans wanted.
In August, the sports industry’s leading business publication, Sports Business Journal, ranked www.cavs.com as the #1 web site in the NBA and #10 in all professional sports. The new Cavs.com gives fans even more of what they already like about the site.
Fact Sheet about the NEW Cavs.com
New Look, Innovative Technology, New Content and
Interactive Elements… plus the Favorites
Gives Fans More of What They Want from #1 Ranked Team Site
The New Look: