Advertisement

Cavs move up ring ceremony so Indians fans can watch World Series Game 1

dan devine
Senior writer

After the Cleveland Indians knocked off the Toronto Blue Jays last week to win the American League pennant, Northeast Ohioans found their elation at the Tribe earning the right to play for their first Major League Baseball championship in 68 years briefly punctured by a sticky sports fandom dilemma.

[Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Basketball | Mock Draft | The Vertical | Latest news]

Game 1 of the 2016 World Series between the Indians and Chicago Cubs — who, as you might have heard, also haven’t won a title in a while — will take place at Progressive Field in Cleveland, and begin Tuesday night, Oct. 25, at 8:08 p.m. Eastern time. There was another pretty big event slated to happen in Cleveland at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, though:

That’s right: Tuesday marks the regular-season opener for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who back in June bested the Golden State Warriors to win their first-ever NBA championship. Before that kickoff contest against the New York Knicks, the Cavs will receive their 2016 NBA championship rings and hoist their championship banner to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena. The simultaneous events put Cleveland fans in a difficult spot: should they tune in to watch the cap-off celebration of the city’s first pro sports title in 52 years, or the opening festivities of the city’s first World Series game in 19 years?

[BDL’s 2016-17 NBA Season Previews: In-depth looks at all 30 teams]

Well, worry not, Clevelanders: the NBA and the Cavs acted quickly to give you and your viewing habits a little bit of wiggle room.

By bumping the scheduled tipoff of Cavs-Knicks up to 7:30 p.m. ET, the NBA also moved up the scheduled start of the ring ceremony and banner-raising by 30 minutes. That means fans will be able to tune into TNT at 7 p.m. ET to watch LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love and the rest of the Cavaliers receive their hard-earned bling.

[The 2016-17 BDL 25: The key storylines to watch this NBA season]

LeBron Janes and the Cavaliers have shown their supports to the Indians during the playoffs. (AP)
LeBron James and the Cavaliers have shown their supports to the Indians during the playoffs. (AP)

The shift allows fans at home a chance to check out both events, which is pretty neat, considering the magnitude of the occurrences for two of the city’s premier franchises. And, from the sound of it, the staff at Quicken Loans Arena might also be working on a way to let those in attendance for Cavs-Knicks catch at least part of Cubs-Indians Game 1:

The Knicks and Cubs will both be eager to spoil the celebratory atmosphere in downtown Cleveland, of course, but no matter what, it ought to be an electric environment for a pair of happenings several decades in the making.

More NBA coverage:

– – – – – – –

Dan Devine is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at devine@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

Stay connected with Ball Don’t Lie on Twitter @YahooBDL, “Like” BDL on Facebook and follow Dunks Don’t Lie on Tumblr for year-round NBA talk, jokes and more.