CLEVELAND – Rock Entertainment Group has once again been recognized as one of Sports Business Journal’s Best Places to Work in Sports, marking the organization’s third consecutive year earning this honor. The distinction celebrates companies in the sports industry that demonstrate exceptional workplace culture, employee engagement and commitment to professional growth.
Rock Entertainment Group, formed in 2021 under the Dan Gilbert ROCK Family of Companies, oversees a diverse portfolio of sports and entertainment properties. These include the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, WNBA’s Cleveland expansion team coming in 2028, AHL’s Cleveland Monsters and the NBA G League’s Cleveland Charge. REG operates and manages Rocket Arena and Cleveland Clinic Courts in Independence, Ohio. In partnership with Gray Media, REG also owns and operates Rock Entertainment Sports Network, providing 24/7 local Ohio sports and entertainment programming.
“This honor reflects the vibrant culture we’ve cultivated and the relentless energy, commitment and care that every team member brings to our organization,” said Nic Barlage, Rock Entertainment Group, Cleveland Cavaliers and Rocket Arena CEO. “Rock Entertainment Group’s continued ascent in the industry is driven by a culture that champions transparency, encourages us to embrace our imperfections and sets an uncompromising standard for impactful leadership that goes well beyond expectations. Guided by our Chairman Dan Gilbert’s visionary leadership, we prove that doing well and doing good can in fact, go hand-in-hand. When these values unite, they ignite a spark that creates long-lasting impact for our organization, team members and community.”
Sports Business Journal’s annual Best Places to Work in Sports list is an editorial initiative that recognizes organizations excelling in workplace culture across the industry. More than 200 companies were nominated for consideration this year with employees at each participating in a thorough online assessment by Quantum Workplace. Survey results were compiled and analyzed to identify the companies that surpassed the benchmark for employee engagement and workplace excellence.
Rock Entertainment Group marked a year of outstanding achievements in 2025. The organization was awarded the 16th WNBA franchise, with the inaugural season set to tip off at Rocket Arena in 2028. Among other milestones, REG celebrated the topping off of the Cavaliers’ new Cuyahoga riverfront practice facility, the Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center, hosted the PGA Tour’s Rocket Classic in Detroit and unveiled plans to introduce Cosm’s immersive sports viewing experience to downtown Cleveland and Detroit. Additionally, the Cavaliers boast an active sellout streak of 157 games, the Monsters finished first in AHL attendance for the fourth consecutive year and the Charge finished sixth in attendance in the G League.