The LeBron James banner that has towered over downtown Cleveland since he rejoined the Cavaliers basketball team was taken down on Monday to receive a championship upgrade.
ESPN said the banner will be replaced with a new image – one that reflects the Cavaliers’ first ever NBA championship.
The new banner will include “a gold patch of the Larry O’Brien Trophy on the back of James’ uniform to represent the Cavaliers winning the NBA title last season, ending Cleveland’s 52-year championship drought,” per ESPN.
The new banner is set to go up by Friday, just a few days before the Cavs’ season opener against the New York Knicks, when the players will receive their championship rings, and a title banner will go up in the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena.
Since the 10-story-tall mural – showing a black-and-white image of his arms outstretched with “Cleveland” on the back of his jersey – was originally put up, it’s become a major tourist attraction and “symbol of civil pride,” according to USA Today.
The last time the banner was almost tampered with was when it was set to be temporarily removed during the Republican National Convention early in the summer, said CBS Sports, but a public backlash prevented the Sherwin-Williams company from removing it.
The upgrade comes as the Indians, who play at Progressive Field next door to the Cavs’ arena, are looking to end a World Series drought that dates back to 1948. They’re currently leading the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 in the AL Championship Series, USA Today noted.
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