When it comes to sports, Cleveland really does have it all. Along with professional teams playing football, baseball, and basketball, we also have several minor league teams in the city — including our very own hockey team!
The Cleveland Monsters are a professional hockey team that play in the American Hockey League (AHL) in Cleveland. And, as with most sports in Cleveland, going to a Monsters game is really fun!
If you’re planning to attend a Cleveland Monsters hockey game anytime soon, here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Cleveland Monsters history at a glance
Did you know that Cleveland actually has a long hockey history? There have been hockey teams playing in various leagues in Cleveland since the 1920s!
Cleveland’s very first hockey team began play as the Indians in the Kitchener Dutchmen International Hockey League (IHL) from 1929-1934. The team was renamed the Falcons in 1934 when it began playing in the new International-American Hockey League (now the AHL), and was renamed again in 1937 as the Cleveland Barons.
The AHL Barons played in Cleveland until 1973 when they moved to Jacksonville. (Holy crap do hockey teams move around a lot, I have learned!)
Hockey was brought back to Cleveland from 1976-78, when we actually had a team in the National Hockey League (NHL) — also called the Cleveland Barons. That team merged and moved to Minnesota in 1978 (and then eventually to Dallas, where they actually still are today!).
Cleveland was hockey team-less for a while, until the Lumberjacks moved into town in 1992 as part of the IHL. They played at the Richfield Coliseum and later Gund Arena until the team (and the whole IHL league) folded in 2001.
Enter the AHL in Cleveland! An existing AHL team from Kentucky was moved to Cleveland in 2001, and then played as the “new” Cleveland Barons until 2006, when the team moved to Massachusetts.
In 2006, Dan Gilbert (owner of the Cavs) bought a dormant AHL franchise from Utah and launched the Lake Erie Monsters hockey team in Cleveland in 2007. The team (named for Bessie the Lake Erie lake monster) was announced as the minor league affiliate for the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.
In 2015, the Monsters became the AHL affiliate for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a partnership that still continues today. And then in 2016, the team won the Calder Cup after its most successful year as a franchise.
The team officially changed its name to the Cleveland Monsters in 2016, and now play home games at Rocket Arena (the same place the Cleveland Cavaliers play basketball).
Phew, bet you never knew there was this much hockey history in Cleveland!
Why go to a Cleveland Monsters game
Attending a Cleveland Monsters game is a great way to support a local Cleveland team. Even though the Monsters are technically just a minor league team, they offer a pro-level experience to fans at every game.
If you’re an avid hockey fan, you’ll enjoy watching the Monsters. But even if you’re not, you’re going to have a good time at a hockey game. Games at Rocket Arena use all the technology inside the stadium (lights, jumbotrons, music, etc.), and the fans (like all Cleveland sports fans!) are super passionate, starting chants and sometimes even a Wave that will travel around the arena multiple times.
The Monsters have had the highest average turnout in the AHL for several years running, drawing over 10,000 fans per game.
When it comes to actually watching the game, ice hockey moves fast, but the game is easy enough to follow for new fans. (The important things to know are that a game is made up of 3 20-minute periods with 18-minute breaks in between so they can clean up the ice, and that body-checking and full-on fist fights are totally legal in a hockey game.)
The ice hockey season runs from October to April with 36 homes games per season, making this a great activity for fall, winter, and early spring.
And another reason to attend a Cleveland Monsters game is that tickets are pretty affordable!
Where to sit in Rocket Arena
The capacity of Rocket Arena is 18,926 for hockey games, so there are plenty of places to sit!
Fun fact: There are floor seats at Cavs games, but you’ll notice those seats — and the floor itself — are gone for Monsters games. That’s because the hockey ice is installed UNDER the basketball floor the Cavs play on!
The “best” place to sit is going to depend on personal preference here. If you want to be close to the ice, the 100 sections are your best bet — but keep in mind that if you sit behind either of the goals, your view will be blocked ever so slightly by safety netting (to catch any errant pucks).
Tickets for the highest tiers in the arena (200 level) are the cheapest, starting at around $15 each (and averaging around $30), but if you sit here, you’ll be further away from the action. Rocket Arena does have large screens above the rink, though, and these are visible from everywhere.
Tickets in the 100 level average $50-$85, depending on the view. And tickets for club seats can cost $100+ — but that’s still a lot less than a Cleveland Cavs game at the same arena!
If you think you’ll want to attend multiple games, it might make more sense to book a ticket package or even get season tickets. This lets you reserve your favorite seat for every game, along with other perks.
You can see a full seating chart here and browse ticket prices on this website (and note that all Monsters tickets are sold via SeatGeek).
Note: Rocket Arena refers to its entry areas as “portals.” So if you see your seating area at Portal 21 or a concession stand at Portal 74, these are simply wayfinding markers, and you’ll find them prominently displayed around the interior of the arena.
Food and drinks at Rocket Arena
There are quite a few options for food and drinks inside Rocket Arena.
With eight bars and lounges to choose from, you can grab a drink at Jack Daniel’s Bar, Casamigos Tequila Bar, the Great Lakes Experience, and more. (Find all the bars listed here.)
When it comes to food, you’ll find all of the sporting event standards you’d expect (hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, French fries, pizza, etc.) as well as some healthier options. There are more than a dozen dining locations around the arena, many of them representing local businesses, which we love.
Some favorite spots to check out include:
- Swensons Burgs & Fries (northeast Ohio classic; Portal 22 & 74)
- P St Market Café (Portal 18)
- CLE/MKT (scan and go items; Portal 21)
- The Walking Taco (Portal 28, 69, & 77)
- Sauce the City (Delicious sandwiches; Portal 68)
- Dos-Uno-Seis Nachos (Portal 14, 29 & 61)
- Flour Pizza Co. (Portal 22)
- Rocco’s Cheesesteak (Portal 3)
There are also concession deals at many Monsters games, like 1-2-3 Fridays, which offer $1 Coca-Cola products, $2 hot dogs, and $3 beers. They also often have a “Happy 1/2 Hour” for many games where you can get $4 Modelo beers.
Can I bring my own food to a Monsters game?
You cannot bring your own food or beverages into Rocket Arena. The only exceptions are food needed for medical reasons, baby food, or child-friendly snacks like crackers, raisins, and juice boxes if you’re attending with kids.
If you don’t want to spend any extra money inside the arena, it’s a good idea to grab a bite to eat before the game.
What can I bring to a Cleveland Monsters game?
As with most sporting venues, there are restrictions on what you can bring into Rocket Arena and a long list of prohibited items.
Prohibited items at Rocket Arena
Make sure you don’t have any of these things when you’re coming to attend a Cleveland Monsters game:
- Backpacks and large bags/purses (bags/purses must be 14” x 14” x 6” or smaller and fit under seat without obstruction of aisles)
- Outside food or beverages
- Reusable food or drink containers including popcorn buckets and souvenir cups
- Any illegal substances
- Bottles, cans, or coolers
- Audio/video recording devices beyond a phone (including Go Pros, Smart Glasses, etc.)
- Cameras with interchangeable/detachable lenses
- Selfie sticks, poles, tripods, monopods
- Anything that can be thrown (like beach balls, frisbees, etc.); the exception is during the Teddy Bear Toss game every December, when throwing stuffed animals onto the ice is encouraged
- Noise makers including whistles, cowbells, foghorns/airhorns, plastic horns, etc.
- Flags and balloons
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Facial masks that are not easily removable
- Garments/clothing with explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization directed toward any person
- Long chains on clothing, wallets, or otherwise
- Signs/posters with explicit language, profanity or derogatory characterization directed toward any person
- Weapons of any kind including firearms, mace, pepper spray, tasers, stun guns, and knives of all sizes
You can read the full list of prohibited items on Rocket Arena’s website.
Note: You also don’t need to bring cash, as Rocket Arena is fully cashless at this point. Credit cards, debit cards, and Apple/Google Pay are all accepted everywhere around the arena.
Rocket Arena bag policy
Only small bags are allowed at Rocket Arena. You can bring a bag or purse that is 14” x 14” x 6” or smaller as long as it fits under your seat without the obstruction of aisles. The bag does not have to be clear, but it is subject to being searched (you’ll go through a security checkpoint when you enter).
If you have babies or small children, you can also bring a diaper bag with you that is larger than the allowable limits, but it will also be inspected by security.
Additionally, umbrellas are permitted in the arena, but only if they’re less than 16″ and fit beneath your seat.
The Teddy Bear Toss
One annual event that the Cleveland Monsters (and most minor league hockey teams) host is the “Teddy Bear Toss” game. This game usually happens in early to mid December, and everyone attending is encouraged to bring new teddy bears and other stuffed animals.
After the Monsters score their first goal of the game, a siren goes off, and everyone in the arena tosses all those stuffed animals onto the ice. All the animals are collected and donated to local children’s charities in time for Christmas.
The Monsters break records almost every year during the Teddy Bear Toss; in 2025, a whopping 30,164 stuffed animals were collected and donated!
This game is always incredibly popular (in 2025, there were more than 16,000 people in attendance), and is so, so fun.
Here’s a video of the 2025 Teddy Bear Toss:
Parking at Rocket Arena
What about parking at Rocket Arena? There are two on-site parking garages right at the arena, accommodating up to 3,300 cars. This is the most convenient option for parking, but these garages are the most expensive option.
You can pre-book your parking spot online to make your arrival a seamless experience.
There are also many other garages and surface lots within a 5- to 10-minute walk of the arena that typically offer more reasonable rates for parking.
When attending games at Rocket Arena, we often park closer to the JACK Casino. You can walk from the parking garage into Tower City, where the indoor RTA Walkway connects Tower City Center and Rocket Arena, making this a super convenient option.
Are Monsters games good for kids?
Cleveland Monsters games are pretty kid-friendly. In fact, there’s even a great deal on tickets with the Monsters Family Value Pack. You can get four tickets for as low as $79 total, and each ticket comes with a $10 loaded value for concessions at Rocket Arena.
As noted above, you can bring a larger diaper bag if you’re attending the game with babies or small children, and it doesn’t have to fit within the size constraints of regular bags. Baby food and snacks for kids are also permitted, despite the standard no-outside-food-or-drinks policy.
The only thing I would caution you about if you’ve never been to a hockey game before is that yelling (and swearing) at the refs is common at hockey games, as is some (legal) violence on the ice. So just be aware that the kiddos may hear/see this!
Pre-game and post-game logistics
These are some important things to know before and after a Monsters game:
Before the game
If you’re driving downtown for the game, plan to arrive about an hour early if you’ll be parking in a nearby surface lot and walking to the arena. Those who’ve reserved a spot in one of the on-site parking garages can usually arrive a bit closer to the start of the game without feeling rushed.
Arena doors typically open 60 to 90 minutes before the game, which leaves plenty of time to explore Rocket Arena, grab a drink, or pick up food from the concession stands before the action starts.
If you prefer not to drive, public transportation is also an easy option for getting to Monsters games. The RTA Red Line stops at Tower City, where you can access the covered RTA Walkway that connects directly to Rocket Arena. The walkway begins near the Tower City Center food court and leads straight into the arena’s lobby.
After the game
After the game ends, expect some delays getting out of the arena, especially if you’re driving. Parking garages and nearby surface lots can back up quickly, and traffic around Rocket Arena often moves slowly as fans head out after the game.
Exit times can vary based on factors like the size of the crowd, weather conditions, and how the game wraps up, but you should usually expect it to take some extra time to get out of your parking area and get on the road.
If you’re using public transportation, you’ll typically have an easier departure, with less congestion compared to driving and parking nearby.
My favorite spots to eat/drink
Looking for somewhere to enjoy a meal or some drinks before or after the game? Check out my favorite spots that are walkable to Rocket Arena:
- Mabel’s BBQ on E. 4th (food)
- Cordelia on E. 4th (upscale food)
- Butcher and the Brewer on E. 4th (beer and food)
- Society Lounge on E. 4th (cocktails)
- Jolene’s Honky Tonk on E. 4th (drinks and live music)
- Geraci’s Slice Shop on Prospect (pizza)
- Southern Tier Brewery on Prospect (beer)
- City Tap Cleveland on Prospect (drinks and pub food)
- Whistle Taproom on Huron (tons of beers to try)
Hotels near Rocket Arena
If you’re coming from out of town or want to spend the night in Downtown Cleveland after a game, there are plenty of hotels to choose from close to where the Monsters play.
The best hotels near Rocket Arena are:
- Fidelity Hotel
- Roost Cleveland
- Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade
- Kimpton Schofield Hotel
- Hilton Cleveland Downtown
- Drury Plaza Hotel Cleveland Downtown
Each of these hotels is within a couple of blocks of the area, so you can walk to and from the game.
Will you be going to any Cleveland Monsters games this year?
Amanda was born and raised in northeast Ohio, and has always been a fangirl of her home state. Now, she’s sharing her love of the Cleveland area, highlighting all the best things to do, see, and eat in the CLE. She’s been running Cleveland Traveler since January 2019.