CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -
The NBA season is all but over after the players rejected the league's latest offer and announced they're dissolving their union.
So what does all this mean to Cleveland?
Before Monday NBA Commissioner David Stern refused to even talk about the possibility of canceling the NBA season but Monday everything changed and businesses neighboring the "Q" are bracing for the impact.
Without the Cavs to draw people downtown the city and surrounding businesses are taking it on the chin.
According to some estimates, the NBA can account for up to 35% of downtown restaurants' annual revenue.
The following NBA cities have estimated their losses: Portland would lose $59 million; Oklahoma City $60 million; and San Antonio a whopping $90 million.
We asked the Mayor Frank Jackson if he's getting concerned. Has he considered calling Commissioner Stern to tell him "get the deal done!"
"Well not really, if I thought it would make a difference, maybe I would, then it would be a matter of calling the players union too and say the same thing to them," said Mayor Frank Jackson.
For the bars and restaurants around the "Q", a canceled season would be a huge loss. NBA crowds are their bread and butter, it's why they pay their rent to be here, and now they're already talking about ways to make up for the loss.
"Hopefully they'll schedule more concerts at the Q. We have Judas Priest tomorrow so we'll bank on that, it definitely makes a big difference when we're trying to bank on three or four concerts a month compared to 15 home games," said Caitlin Cassidy.
They can try, but no way can they make up for the loss of 41 dates at the "Q".
Mayor Jackson is not that concerned about the city losing millions in taxes. It's the little guy who'll be hit the hardest.
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