Special Afternoon MLK Day Matchup vs New Orleans Pelicans
at 3:00 p.m. on January 16 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
The Cleveland Cavaliers will celebrate the memory and accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the pastor, activist, and humanitarian who led the African American civil rights movement, on Monday, January 16th when the team takes on the New Orleans Pelicans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in a special afternoon 3:00 p.m. game.
“Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to advocating for racial equality, voting rights and economic justice for all people, regardless of race,” said Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO, Nic Barlage.“On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we not only celebrate Dr. King’s accomplishments in advancing civil rights in our country, but also those who carry on his legacy of serving their communities and inspiring others to create a better world for everyone.”
Ahead of MLK Day and in the spirit of “a day on, not a day off,” the Cleveland 3-Team Alliance(CL3) teamed up with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank earlier today for a day of volunteerism and service, a core value of Dr. King’s life and legacy. Established in 2020, the CL3 Alliance is a partnership between the Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians to create lasting transformational change in communities across Northeast Ohio through collaboration in the social justice arena. Approximately 100 volunteers from the three organizations, local law enforcement departments and local youth organizations helped coordinate a food drive with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank at the City of Cleveland Municipal Lot.
Monday’s MLK Day game activations include:
- The Cleveland Chorale gospel choir will perform the National Anthem and later come back to the court for a special halftime performance. Mrs. Jessie James will also join Cavs in-game host Ahmaad Crump for a powerful and emotional rendition of player introductions.
- The Cavs will recognize the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, Marsha Mockabee, as the Jif DIFF Maker of the game. Mockabee is the first woman to hold this position in the 103-year-old history of the Cleveland chapter. In her role, she leads an agenda empowering African Americans to develop and exercise their potential on par with all other Americans through education, research, advocacy, and provision of services.
- 50/50 proceeds will benefit My Brother’s Keeper Greater Cleveland Chapter, which was launched by the Urban League of Greater Cleveland in 2021 to support boys and young men of color in the Cleveland community. The program provides enriching opportunities for students to gain exposure in various career fields as well as self-empowerment and advocacy tools.
- The Cavs Entertainment Teams will perform a special MLK-themed halftime dance.
- Cavaliers players will wear MLK shooting shirts that feature a quote from his “I Have a Dream” speech.
- The Caesar’s Sportsbook Power Portal will feature immersive MLK graphics
- Sign making stations will be set up throughout the concourse stocked with “I Have a Dream” posters that encourage fans to complete the prompt with their own dreams.
- Team social media channels, Cavs.com, as well as Cavs TV and radio game broadcasts and shows will also include special MLK features and programming.