CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns’ plan to move to a new domed stadium in Cleveland’s suburbs has encountered a significant obstacle.
Cuyahoga County officials announced in a letter to team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam that they support a proposed $1.2 billion renovation of the current stadium and are dedicated to keeping the NFL franchise in downtown Cleveland “for generations to come.”
The team recently unveiled designs for a $2.4 billion state-of-the-art stadium and entertainment complex to be constructed in Brook Park, Ohio, around 15 miles south of Cleveland.
The Haslams, who have owned the Browns since 2012, believe that a new stadium with year-round event capabilities, including potential Super Bowls and Final Fours, would catalyze development and economic growth for Northeast Ohio.
Following Cleveland’s offer of $461 million for a major renovation of the current 65,000-seat stadium built in 1999, the county argued in the letter, signed by executive Chris Ronayne and council president Pernell Jones Jr., that a new stadium “does not make fiscal sense” for Cuyahoga County residents and taxpayers.
The Haslams acknowledged the complexity of a stadium renovation or new project in a statement, emphasizing the need for thorough research to avoid repeating mistakes from the past rushed process.
Funding for the proposed dome/complex project presents a significant challenge, as the Haslams suggest a 50-50 private/public partnership in the $2.4 billion project, with bonds being considered to cover the public portion.
The Browns’ current stadium lease expires after the 2028 season, with the team having played at the location since its establishment in 1946.
The county stressed the importance of having the Browns downtown, citing it as essential to a vibrant city core alongside investments in other key city attractions like Progressive Field and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
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