Akron and the LeBron James Family Foundation will host a celebration for LeBron James at 8 p.m. Thursday at Lock 3 in downtown Akron.
The city announced the event Tuesday, saying that James and students from the Wheels for Education and I Promise Network programs will be featured.
The James-led Cavaliers won the NBA championship Sunday, ending a 52-year drought for major sports titles in Cleveland. The championship further cemented his legacy as one of the most beloved sports figures in Northeast Ohio.
A parade is set for 11 a.m. Wednesday outside Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland. But Akron leaders wanted a celebration in James’ hometown as well.
“This is a guy who came back home,” Mayor Dan Horrigan said, referring to James’ decision to return to the Cavaliers from the Miami Heat. “Akron is home. He’s said that a thousand times. We want to celebrate that. We want to do that in a big way.”
He added that James is more than just a basketball superstar. He’s a role model for the community.
James Hardy, Horrigan’s chief of staff, emphasized that Akron’s event will be different from the one in Cleveland, focusing more on James than the Cavs.
“This event provides the opportunity for Akron to show our pride and our gratitude for our hometown hero and for our hometown hero to celebrate his Akron roots,” Hardy said.
The event will include a special presentation to James by Horrigan on behalf of the city.
There will be performances by the St. Vincent-St. Mary High School cheerleaders, dance team and marching band. Speakers will include University of Akron basketball coach Keith Dambrot (who coached James at St. V-M) and James’ former high school teammate Willie McGee, who now serves as athletic director at the school. UA alumni director Willy Kollman will serve as emcee. Organizers were still lining up other speakers and entertainment Tuesday night.
Admission to Lock 3 is free, with free parking at city and Summit County parking decks and locks. Concessions and free water will be available inside Lock 3.
The Lock 3 gates will open at 7 p.m.; the venue has a standing-room-only capacity of about 7,000, with space for another 4,000 people just outside of the park on South Main Street. Other fans will be able to watch and listen to the event on LED Jumbotrons on Main Street, which will be closed from Mill to Exchange streets starting at 5 p.m.
West Bowery Street will be closed from Center Street to South Main starting at 4 p.m. Church Street and University Avenue will be closed from High Street to South Main starting at 5 p.m.
Backpacks, umbrellas, chairs, signs and blankets will not be permitted inside Lock 3.
The celebration’s sponsors are Akron Children’s Hospital, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Summa Health, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, FirstMerit Bank, GOJO Industries, Huntington Bank, University of Akron, the Akron RubberDucks, Summit County, FirstEnergy, PNC Bank, the Greater Akron Chamber, the K Company, Oak Associates, State and Federal Communications, WKYC Channel 3 News and Rubber City Radio Group.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.