Dancers. Mascots. Music. And fast-paced basketball. That’s what fans can expect when the development league franchise of the Cleveland Cavaliers starts playing games this November at Memorial Civic Center.

The team — which the public will name — will play a 50-game schedule (25 at home and 25 away) with season tickets for home games starting at $5 per game. The city expects to benefit financially by sharing advertising revenue and other dollars based on fan attendance. The Cavaliers also plan to renovate portions of the city-owned Civic Center.

“This is definitely going to be a financial win for the city,” said Derek Gordon, a management assistant in the office of Mayor William J. Healy II.

Healy agreed.

“We know this organization is going to be in business for a long, long time,” he said of the Cavaliers. “If we fill this building (with fans), they’ll be here for a long, long time.”

“So many times people say … we need more things to do, we need more entertainment,” Healy said at Thursday’s press conference at the Civic Center. “This is a fabulous partnership that is going to bring wonderful entertainment to the city.”

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Canton beat out other communities, including Youngstown, to land the franchise.

Jobs also will be created, said Len Komoroski, Cavaliers president. A few key positions have been filled, he said. Applications will be accepted for other positions, including through the Canton D-League team’s website: www.CantonNBA.com.

The Canton franchise will have about 30 employees, Komoroski said, with about half dedicated to business operations.

In addition, officials of Canton’s NBA Development League franchise, along with players, are also expected to be heavily involved in the community.

“Our presence is going to be everywhere,” Komoroski said.

Deposits of $50 for season tickets are being accepted, which will provide seating location priority.

Single game tickets will go on sale closer to the season’s start. For more information, call 1-866-444-1944 or visit www.CantonNBA.com. Game dates will be announced later.

AGREEMENT

The three-year agreement starts in November, coinciding with the NBA Development League’s schedule. The pact for use of the Civic Center is between SMG, the company that manages the facility on a full-time basis for the city, and the Cavaliers.

Geoff Tompkins, the facility’s general manager and an SMG employee, signed the agreement with the Cavaliers team president. Warren Price, the city’s service director and the mayor’s chief of staff, accepted the agreement.

The deal stipulates that the D-League franchise will be the Civic Center’s primary tenant.

As part of the agreement:

• A fee will be paid per game to the city and SMG based on attendance.

• The Cavaliers plan to renovate the Civic Center, including the locker room and basketball court so the playing area meets league standards. Other improvements could include a training area, office renovations, courtside suites and floor seating, and arena and television and video needs.

Gordon described the improvements as “preferred,” but not mandatory.

• SMG and the city also will share in advertising revenue, which includes the Cavaliers paying an annual $100,000 fee to serve as the exclusive sales agent for naming and advertising rights for the venue.

SMG and the city also will receive a percentage of advertising revenue. Advertising revenue will pay for Civic Center renovations, Gordon said.

The D-League team is considering using the Edward L. “Peel” Coleman Community Center on Sherrick Road SE as a practice facility, Gordon said. However, the Cavaliers are considering other facilities in the area; if the Coleman Community Center is selected, the facility would be renovated and customized for basketball purposes at the team’s expense, he said.

Also under the agreement, SMG will contribute $50,000 toward renovations of the basketball court and/or arena lighting.

After the initial three-year agreement, the Cavaliers have two five-year options to renew.

ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE

At the press conference, Komoroski and Daniel Reed, the president of the NBA Development League, said that fans can expect an entertainment experience similar to that of a Cleveland Cavaliers or Lake Erie Monsters hockey game at Quicken Loans Arena.

“We think this is going to be a fantastic market,” Reed said of the Canton area.

The Cavaliers are holding an online contest to pick a name for the Canton team.

Both Reed and Komoroski said that the league provides family-friendly and affordable entertainment.

“We’re the best basketball in the world outside of the NBA,” said Reed, who flew in from New York for the press conference. “You’re guaranteed to enjoy the basketball here.”

The development league team “will bring all the entertainment (and) excitement the Cleveland Cavaliers have right here in Canton,” Reed said.

Regular Cavaliers games include the Scream Team dancers, female dance squad, mascots, music, T-shirt tosses and interactive events on the court during breaks.

Along with dancers, mascots and music, fans at Canton games will be offered an “interactive experience,” Komoroski said.

Komoroski said the Civic Center, which holds about 5,000 people, may actually offer more opportunities to thrill fans than larger venues.

“In a lot of respects the stage … and the atmosphere will be that much more intimate,” he said.

Fans also will have more access to players to get autographs, Reed said.

“You will find fans here will get to know the (players and coaches),” he said. “The fans will feel like they’re part of the experience.”