Follow along with us for updates from the Cleveland parade:
11:42 a.m.: The Lake Erie Monsters, winner of hockey’s Calder Cup, are riding a float in the parade. They are sharing in the love going to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
11:40 a.m.: Machines in the parade are shooting clouds of confetti into the air. Each machine is loaded with 1,500 pounds of confetti.
11:37 a.m.: The parade is under way.
11:33 a.m.: The crowd has been generally well behaved and patient. Some alcohol consumption is evident but the crowd appears to be very family friendly. A few took a shot at defeated Warrior and MVP Steph Curry. “F*** Steph Curry. F**** Steph Curry” was the chant.
11:30 a.m.: Cleveland police had a one-word description of the crowds that filled downtown Cleveland: “Wow!” That was issued about eight minutes ago. Confetti started flying about 15 minutes ago along spots along the parade route.
11:23 a.m.: 74 degrees and sunny in Cleveland for start of the parade.
11:19 a.m.: No sign of the parade starting yet.
11:05 a.m.: Some people are standing on the edges of Interstate 77 near Cuyahoga Community College to view the parade.
11:03 a.m.: The Goodyear blimp is providing breathtaking views of the massive crowds that are lining downtown streets, 30 people thick in places. Some are saying the crowds may hit 1 million.
10:56 a.m.: Cleveland fans upset with the planned removal of the giant LeBron James banner across from Quicken Loans Arena can take some comfort in knowing that Sherwin-Williams Co. will put it back up this fall, the Associated Press reported. The company announced in May that it would be replace the 10-story-tall James banner with a red, white and blue one that says, “This Land is Our Land.” A company spokesman says that banner is meant to celebrate Sherwin-Williams’ 150th anniversary and to welcome visitors to the Republican National Convention. Upset fans recently created a petition drive on Change.org urging the company not to remove the James banner after he led the Cavaliers to the city’s first major sports title in 52 years. The spokesman says the LeBron banner will stay up until July 4, two weeks before the start of the convention. The tri-color banner will be on the wall of the paint company’s headquarters for about three months, the Associated Press said.
10:52 a.m.: Eight minutes until parade is scheduled to step off near the Quicken Loans Arena.
10:51 a.m.: Beacon Journal sports reporter Nate Ulrich made it into downtown Cleveland on foot. He parked in Ohio City and walked across the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge that was closed to traffic. Nate called his trek “our adventurous journey.”
10:49 a.m.: The Akron Police Department provided six motorcycle officers to help on Cleveland with escorts and the parade, said Lt. Rick Edwards. Those officers will also be working at the upcoming Republic National Convention in Cleveland.
10:40 a.m.: Beacon Journal reporter Craig Webb said there is no space available at the city of Cleveland’s Free Stamp sculpture on Lakeside Avenue. Big crowds around and on the sculpture.
10:34 a.m.: Cleveland Cavaliers post a photo of fans on a parking deck displaying J.R. Smith’s missing shirt. The shirt was painted with red words: J.R’s Shirt.” Someone has a sense of humor.
10:24 a.m.: Fox 8 reporter Patty Harken, in a helicopter, described downtown Cleveland as “a sea of people…a beautiful sea of humanity.” Traffic leading into downtown Cleveland is light.
9:47 a.m.: Ohio State University athletic officials are thrilled to hang out with football great Jim Brown in the Quicken Loans Arena. That included athletic director Gene Smith, football coach Urban Meyer and basketball coach Thad Matta, according to a social media post. Ohio State’s world-famous marching band is marching in the parade.
9:24 a.m.: Parking in downtown Cleveland was scarce before 8 a.m. The biggest highways delays getting into Cleveland were from slow-moving I-77, according to reports.
9:22 a.m.: Greater Cleveland RTA issued several apologies for long delays and said it was running as many shuttle buses as possible. In one Facebook post, RTA said: “Yes, we apologize for all delays and headaches.”
9:09 a.m.: A Cleveland police motorcycle officer was injured after being hit by a SUV at East 9th Street and Vincent Avenue. The officer was taken away in an ambulance, according to reports.
9:06 a.m.: Mall B opened to parade goers a few minutes ago. It is where the 1:30 p.m. ceremony will be held at the end of the parade. Earlier folks had chanted: “Let us in.”
9:05 a.m.: Beacon Journal reporter Bob Dyer reported that the wait for trains at Cleveland Hopkins Airport is five hours. There are media reports that some flights are being delayed because flight crews cannot make it through the heavy traffic around the airport. A spokesman for the airport said those reports are false and that no flights were delayed. But parking at the airport is full and any out-going passengers should be dropped off because the parking lots are full. There are long lines waiting for trains at the Brookpark Station, according to media reports.
9:00 a.m.: Hundreds of parade goers are parking along West 25th Street and walking across the bridges and through the Flats area to get into downtown Cleveland. The Lorain-Carnegie Bridge iis closed to traffic but open to pedestrianjs.
8:58 a.m.: Traffic on Interstate 71 is backed up from Strongsville to West 150th Street. Traffic is still heavy on I-77. Some exit ramps in downtown Cleveland have been closed by Cleveland police.
8:55 a.m.: JackCasino reported that patrons will be unable to park in its garage after the city of Cleveland closed OIntario Avenue.
8:54 a.m.: Traffic is gridlocked around Cleveland Hopkins Airport with long lines waiting to ride RTA’s Rapid Transit to downtown Cleveland.
8:43 a.m.: Beacon Journal staff writer Craig Webb and newsnet5.com reported that the Akron-based Lebron James Grandmothers Fan Club had successfully made it through traffic to Cleveland aboard a bus.
8:37 a.m.: All hotel rooms within 15 miles of downtown Cleveland were booked Tuesday night, according to media reports.
8:22 a.m.: Parking lot operators near the parade route are charging as much as $50.
8:05 a.m.: The Ohio Department of Transportation OHGO traffic website shows I-77 from Rockside Road to downtown at a stop. I-90 is also stopped from the Tremont area into downtown.
8:00 a.m.: Television stations are reporting that most parking garages are now full in downtown and long waits at RTA stations.
At the parade for the Beacon Journal are Marla Ridenour, Jason Lloyd, George Thomas, Nate Ulrich, Bob Dyer, Craig Webb and Phil Masturzo.