Wolstein Center

What Wolstein Center does

The Wolstein Center is a multi-purpose arena and convocation center owned and operated by Cleveland State University, located at 2000 Prospect Avenue in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Opened in 1990 with an approximate 13,000-seat arena capacity plus a separate Conference Pavilion, the facility serves as the home venue for the Cleveland State Vikings men's and women's NCAA Division I basketball programs and hosts concerts, boxing matches, family shows, high school and university graduations, conferences, trade shows, and community events. The venue generated revenue historically through ticket sales (via Ticketmaster and on-site box office), venue rental to promoters and event organizers, concessions, and ancillary services, although figures are not publicly disclosed.

Day-to-day operations are run by a small core team of 11–50 employees, with event programming, production, and marketing coordinated through promoter partnerships, performer co-marketing, and the venue's social-media channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) and email newsletter. Ticketing is delivered primarily through Ticketmaster, with calendar-feed integrations into Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365, and Outlook Live supporting event discovery. A network of venue partnerships — including Cleveland Clinic Sports Health (medical coverage), Huntington Bank (financial), Comfort Inn, Embassy Suites, and The Schofield Hotel (accommodations), Baron's Bus (transportation), and local food and beverage partners — supports touring artists and event attendees. During the 2020–2021 pandemic the arena was repurposed as a COVID-19 mass vaccination site, illustrating its dual role as a community asset and entertainment venue. Customer segments span individual ticket buyers in the Cleveland metro, touring concert promoters, combat-sports promoters, regional high schools, and the parent university.

Name

Wolstein Center

Legal name

Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University

Website

https://wolsteincenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Wolstein Center is a multi-purpose arena and conference venue on the Cleveland State University campus in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, hosting concerts, sports, graduations, conferences, and community events for the Cleveland metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Purpose Arena

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports & Arena Event Venues (Stadiums, Arenas) (THAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arenas & Indoor Sports Centers (MPAKAEAB), Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Live event venue
• Multi-purpose arena
• Concert hosting services
• Venue rental services
• Event ticketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Service Charges: The venue generates revenue through ticket sales for concerts, sporting events, and special events, typically via Ticketmaster integration and the Wolstein Center box office. Ticket prices vary by event, with service fees applied.
2. Venue Rental and Booking: The Wolstein Center rents its facilities to promoters, event organizers, and organizations for concerts, conferences, and community events. Booking inquiries are directed to Michelle Schilling for arena and conference room reservations.
3. Concessions and Ancillary Revenue: The venue generates ancillary revenue through food and beverage concessions during events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wolstein Center is a multi-purpose arena and convocation center on the Cleveland State University campus that hosts concerts, sporting events, family shows, conferences, banquets, trade shows, graduations, and community events. The venue provides an approximately 13,000-seat arena, a Conference Pavilion with six breakout rooms, and operates an on-site box office with Ticketmaster integration for online ticketing.

Product overview

The Wolstein Center is a multi-purpose arena and conference venue at Cleveland State University. The facility operates three core offerings: the main Event Venue (arena hosting concerts, sporting events, boxing matches, graduations, and community events), the Conference Pavilion (meeting and convention spaces), and the Box Office (ticket sales). The venue also partners with Ticketmaster for online ticketing and offers calendar integrations for event scheduling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wolstein Center Arena
• Conference Pavilion

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cleveland Clinic Sports HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland Clinic Sports Health is a venue partner providing sports medicine and health services for athletic events hosted at the Wolstein Center. This partnership ensures proper medical coverage for sporting events and demonstrates commitment to athlete welfare.
• Act Now Print & PromoteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing and promotional partner providing printing services for event materials, advertisements, and promotional items for venue events.
• Baron's BusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTransportation partner providing bus services for event attendees, particularly for touring concerts and sports events requiring group transportation.
• Becky's BarminorOthersLocal bar partnership providing food and beverage options near the venue for event attendees.
• Comfort InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partner providing accommodation options for touring performers and out-of-town event attendees visiting Cleveland.
• Embassy SuitesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUpscale hotel partnership providing accommodation options for VIP guests, touring performers, and convention attendees.
• Harvard Title AgencyminorOthersTitle company partnership providing real estate and title services, potentially related to venue operations or corporate events.
• Rascal House PizzaminorOthersLocal pizza restaurant partnership providing food options for events and catering services for venue operations.
• The Schofield HotelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoutique hotel partnership providing upscale accommodation for VIP guests, performers, and event organizers.
• B&N CSU Bookstore (Outfitters)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity bookstore partnership selling Cleveland State Vikings merchandise and apparel at the venue during games and events.
• TicketmasterTechnology or IntegrationPrimary ticketing platform partner for all major events at the Wolstein Center. Provides online ticket sales, mobile ticketing, and box office integration.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Huntington Center: Multi-purpose arena in Toledo (~8,000 capacity) hosting concerts, sporting events, and family shows. Closely comparable to Wolstein in size, programming, and Ohio regional touring circuit.
• Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center (MACC): University-affiliated arena and convocation center at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Highly comparable operating model: NCAA athletics plus concerts, graduations, and community events on an Ohio campus.
• Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse: Home of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Monsters; the dominant multi-purpose arena in downtown Cleveland, only miles from Wolstein Center. Most direct local competitor for concerts, family shows, and sporting events in the same metro.
• E.J. Thomas Hall: Performing arts and conference venue on the University of Akron campus. Closely comparable to Wolstein as a university-affiliated multi-purpose venue hosting concerts, lectures, and community events in Ohio.
• Nationwide Arena: Multi-purpose arena in Columbus (~18,000 capacity), home to the Blue Jackets. Competes with Wolstein for the same touring concert, family show, and Ohio-based event programming on the same routing circuit.
• Beeghly Center: University-affiliated arena and convocation center at Youngstown State University. Comparable mid-size Ohio university venue hosting NCAA Division I athletics, concerts, and community events.
• U.S. Bank Arena: Mid-sized multi-purpose arena in Cincinnati (~17,000 capacity) hosting concerts, family shows, and sporting events. Comparable venue size, programming mix, and Midwestern touring-act competition profile.

Regional players

• Playhouse Square: Cleveland's large performing arts center complex (~5,000–1,000 capacity theaters). Regional Cleveland competitor for touring Broadway, concerts, and theatrical events that might otherwise route through Wolstein.
• Jacobs Pavilion (NOW Arena): Mid-size multi-purpose arena in Cleveland area (~12,000 capacity). Regional peer with similar size profile and programming mix, competing for Cleveland-area concerts and family events.

Broad incumbents

• PPG Paints Arena: Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins; a large (~19,000) multi-purpose arena in nearby Pittsburgh. A broader incumbent that competes with Wolstein for premium touring acts and family shows in the Upper Midwest/Northeast Ohio corridor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wolsteincenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/WolsteinCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/wolsteincenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wolstein-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wolstein Center