FirstEnergy and The Illuminating Company Prepare for NBA All-Star Game
From the MLB’s All-Star Game to the NFL Draft, Cleveland has seen its share of event success stories in recent years. And from Feb. 18-20, Cleveland will again be in the spotlight when the 71st NBA All-Star Weekend is held across iconic downtown locations, including Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Wolstein Center and many restaurants and hotels that will host official events throughout the weekend.
When events like the NBA All-Star Game occur without a hitch, most people do not notice or even consider the preparations that went into ensuring a smooth outcome. However, the work to make sure it happens without incident began last year, and FirstEnergy’s utilities play an important role in that effort.
“The NBA isn’t the only organization touting their stars later this month,” said Brent Coakley, director of operations for The Illuminating Company, FirstEnergy’s utility that serves the greater Cleveland area. “Our crews are the best in the utility industry, and they’ve spent countless hours performing enhanced inspections and maintenance on our equipment to help ensure Cleveland shines as brightly as possible during the All-Star Game.”
Over the past year, The Illuminating Company crews have inspected underground vaults and assessed equipment to help ensure the power continues to flow safely and reliably during one of professional basketball’s most televised events. The company has also installed new, automated equipment and technology in substations and along power lines that serve NBA All-Star venues and surrounding areas to reinforce the system against lengthy service disruptions. To assure system reliability wherever the crowds are likely to go, overhead and underground inspections were completed in tourist areas across the city, including Tremont and Ohio City.
Additionally, dozens of streetlights throughout downtown Cleveland were replaced with bright, LED streetlights to improve visibility for motorists and pedestrians in the area. Operational plans are also in place to increase utility crew staffing levels to ensure the local grid remains secure and reliable through the event.
Beyond the operational preparation that has gone into this event, the NBA All-Star Game coming to Cleveland has put the community in a unique position to help further advance important conversations and awareness about diversity, equality and inclusion, as well as social justice. That’s why FirstEnergy is again co-sponsoring the Cleveland Power of Sport Summit – a free, public event that will be held in person at the Cleveland Metropolitan Conference Center in conjunction with the NBA All-Star game to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion in sports. This event was also held last spring alongside the NFL Draft.
“FirstEnergy focuses contributions in areas that drive meaningful change in the communities we serve,” said Lorna Wisham, vice president of corporate affairs and community involvement at FirstEnergy. “The Cleveland Power of Sport Summit reflects FirstEnergy’s core values of diversity and inclusion, social responsibility and teamwork, and we’re honored to once again co-sponsor this free event for the Cleveland community.”
The Summit will feature local and national organizations addressing topics related to adaptive sports, gender equity, LGBTQIA+ athletes, mental health and racial equality. For more information about this event, or to register, please visit www.clesportsummit.org.
MEDIA CONTACT: Lauren Siburkis, (330) 203-8850