Cleveland Sirens FanFest 2026 Review: VIP Access, Merch and What Fans Should Know

The first Cleveland Sirens FanFest was polished, free and genuinely fun. Here is what parking, VIP access, official merch and becoming an initial-payment holder were actually like.

The event was well produced without feeling overly structured. It was the kind of low-stakes Cleveland outing where you could stop by, walk around, take photos, shop or make an afternoon of it.

Activities and areas included:

• A blue half court for basketball activities
• Multiple Sirens photo opportunities
• A large sand display featuring the phrase “Hear the Call” and a basketball
• A children's area
• A cool-down area
• Games and activities on the beach
• Food trucks and other food and beverage options

Local vendors

• A pop-up version of Center Court, the official team store
• A live DJ playing throughout the event
• Sirens dancers helping energize the crowd and distribute giveaways

The vendor area included a blind-date-with-a-book seller, permanent jewelry, soaps, Cleveland merchandise and other local products. I also enjoyed running into a friend while we were there, which added to the neighborhood-event feeling.

The event was well attended, but most of the grounds did not feel uncomfortably crowded. The main exception was the Center Court pop-up, which served as the official merchandise store for the event. Entry was controlled so the store itself did not become too packed, but that created a very long line outside.

Becoming an initial-payment holder at the event

My mom and I had not placed our initial payments before FanFest. We did it at the event.

People who already held an eligible ticket in their account could scan it to verify their status. Staff were outside asking attendees whether their tickets had been scanned, and verified holders received wristbands. After my mom and I placed our payments, we received wristbands and large Cleveland Sirens flags.

The official website called this “Fan Fest VIP Access,” but it is more accurate to describe us as ticket-membership initial-payment holders. The $28 and $100 amounts were payments toward future ticket memberships, not the complete price of the season tickets.

The standard $28 initial payment holds a place in the future seat-selection order. The $100 Premium initial payment provides first priority ahead of other initial-payment holders and is intended for the team's more elevated hospitality and seating experience. Full membership pricing will not be known until seat selection.

Was the Sirens VIP experience worth it?

For me, the event-day VIP experience did not feel especially valuable.

The dedicated section was inside the Edgewater pavilion, above the beach. It offered shade and a place to sit and eat without being in the sand. Holders also received a drink ticket that could be used for an alcoholic or nonalcoholic option, including canned drinks, seltzer, water or lemonade.

The wristband identified ticket holders, and the large Sirens flag was the exclusive giveaway we received. The flag is fun if you want full superfan energy at a game, but it is large enough that storing and carrying it may not be practical for everyone.

Towels, hats, stickers and buttons were also distributed around FanFest, but those were general giveaways available to people who happened to be nearby when staff were passing them out. They were not all exclusive VIP gifts.

The pavilion did not seem to be closely monitored, so the seating area did not feel truly restricted. There was also no noticeable line to enter the VIP area. The line people saw near the pavilion was largely for holders waiting to redeem their drink tickets.

The most useful VIP benefit was supposed to be a fast-track checkout lane inside Center Court. In practice, it did not move faster. The VIP counter had one person checking people out, while the general checkout area had several employees helping customers. Wristbands did not appear to be checked closely at that line either.

What would have made VIP access worthwhile was priority entry into Center Court. The wait to enter the store was the biggest obstacle of the day, and merchandise was selling out while people waited.

The Center Court merchandise experience



The Center Court pop-up was my favorite part of FanFest, and it was also the most chaotic.

The pop-up version of the official team store carried a wide selection of Sirens merchandise, including shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, cropped tops, baby tees, denim jackets, hats, bags, children's apparel and men's apparel. I saw sizes ranging from extra small through 2X, along with children's sizes.

Prices matched what I saw online. Among the items I personally purchased, the least expensive was approximately $36 and the most expensive was approximately $70. There were more expensive pieces in the store as well.

My purchases included a sweatshirt, cropped shirts, baby tees and a hat. I filmed a separate detailed merchandise haul with the individual items and prices, so I will share the full breakdown there.

One event-specific touch was the chance to select an additional patch with a hat purchase and have it heat-pressed onto the hat. I have not confirmed whether that service is also available at the permanent Center Court store at Rocket Arena, so I would treat that as a FanFest detail rather than an everyday promise.

The store accepted cards and Apple Pay. I did not confirm whether cash was accepted.

The merchandise strategy I would use next time



If shopping is important to you, treat the Center Court line as your first stop.

The best strategy for two people would be for one person to get in the store line immediately while the other explores the event, takes photos or gets food. By the time we entered, some merchandise and promotional items were already gone. A light baby-blue tote with the dark blue Sirens logo was available for people who spent more than $100, but the bags had run out before we completed our shopping. Hats also sold out while we were there.

The controlled entry made the store comfortable enough to browse once we got inside, but waiting too long to join the line meant losing access to some of the most popular items.

Food, shade and places to sit

There were food trucks farther down the beach, and attendees could also purchase food from Edgewater Park. The pavilion gave initial-payment holders a shaded place to sit and eat away from the sand.

There were additional places to sit farther down the beach, although those would be better suited to people comfortable spending time in the sand. The event also included a cool-down area, which was a thoughtful addition for an August afternoon.

What I loved and what could have been better

From a production standpoint, FanFest looked good. The blue basketball court, branded sand display, signs, photo opportunities, dancers and official merchandise created the feeling of a real team launch rather than a small promotional pop-up.

As someone born and raised in Cleveland, there is something special about rooting for the home team. The Cavaliers, Guardians and Browns are already deeply established. With the Sirens, fans get to watch a new identity, culture and community form in real time.

I also love that this is renewed support for professional women's basketball in Cleveland. The city previously had the Cleveland Rockers, and now a new generation of fans will get to help build the excitement around the Sirens.

The VIP experience was the one disappointment. A priority store-entry line would have created real value, especially because inventory was moving quickly. A VIP checkout sign was much less useful when the general checkout had more staff.

I also would have loved an early look at the future mascot. The team name and branding had only just been announced, and the first season is still two years away, so I understand why every part of the team identity was not ready. Still, seeing a mascot at FanFest would have added another memorable reveal.

Would I attend another Cleveland Sirens event?

Absolutely.

FanFest did not make me decide to become an initial-payment holder because I was likely going to support the hometown team anyway. What it did was make the beginning of the Sirens feel tangible. My mom and I could join, shop the first collection, see other fans in the team colors and begin imagining what the atmosphere could become by 2028.

I am especially interested in seeing what additional events and access the team offers initial-payment holders as support continues to grow. Being part of a new Cleveland sports community from the beginning feels different from joining a fan base that has already existed for decades.

The first FanFest was a polished, fun and genuinely worthwhile free event. I would attend again. I simply would not base the decision to place an initial payment on the FanFest VIP perks alone. The real value is securing your priority for future seats and choosing to be part of the team before the first game is played.

Before you place a Cleveland Sirens initial payment

Current terms can change before the 2028 season, so verify the latest details directly with the team. As of this draft:

• The standard initial payment is $28 per seat.
• The Premium initial payment is $100 per seat.
• These amounts are not the full membership price.
• Earlier initial payments receive better priority when seat selection opens.
• Premium initial-payment holders receive first priority ahead of other holders.
• Seat selection is expected to begin in summer 2027.
• The Cleveland Sirens are expected to begin playing at Rocket Arena in 2028.

Check current Cleveland Sirens membership information

Watch the full FanFest experience