Cleveland's problems are not just Cleveland's anymore. Many of the suburbs in Cuyahoga County are facing the same issues.
From Cleveland's own planning commission [emphasis added]:
My point is not to knock Cleveland (its own population has done that already by spending the last half a century moving out, farther and farther away), I'm merely pointing out where the CLE flyers live and suggesting that a place nearer them (rather than in the City) might make a better meeting place.
While I'm sure you are right about FT'ers living in the 'burbs, there is probably a nice split between west and east siders, thereby making downtown CLE a nice middle point.
As far as downtown CLE not being a place you'd ever want to be on a weeknight-have you really never been downtown when one of our beloved sports teams are playing???