Cavs owner Dan Gilbert buys Gladiators for 50th birthday

CLEVELAND - Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers ownership group have purchased the Arena Football League's Cleveland Gladiators. Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena President Len Komoroski made the announcement Tuesday afternoon. Gilbert was not present.

"We're very excited about adding the Gladiators to our family of teams here at The Q. The AFL offers a high-energy, action-packed product that fits very well with our own approach to sports and entertainment. We will operate the Gladiators in a new, expanded way that will result in an even better value and fun, super-charged experience for our fans, while also creating a great platform for the team's future success on and off the field," said Komoroski in a release.

That family the Gladiators joins is becoming expansive. Gilbert’s group also owns the Cavaliers, the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League, the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League (AHL), Quicken Loans Arena, Veritix, and Horseshoe Casinos scheduled to open in Cleveland and Cincinnati.

The Gladiators were acquired from former majority owner and CEO, Jim Ferraro. They moved to Cleveland in 2007 and have played games at the Q since 2008.

Gilbert’s newest franchise will begin its 17th season on March 12 on the road against the Georgia Force. Your first chance to check out the Gladiators here in Cleveland will be on March 26, as they begin their nine-game home slate against the Kansas City Command.