The Browns’ plan to move away from the lakefront and build a new domed stadium in the suburbs of Cleveland is facing a significant obstacle.
In a letter sent to team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, Cuyahoga County officials announced they support a proposed $1.2 billion renovation of the Browns’ current stadium and are committed to keeping the NFL team in downtown Cleveland “for generations to come.”
Earlier this week, the team revealed designs for a new $2.4 billion stadium and entertainment complex to be built in Brook Park, Ohio, about 15 miles south of Cleveland.
The Haslams, who have owned the Browns since 2012, think a new stadium that could host events all year round, including potentially a Super Bowl and Final Fours, would boost development and economic growth in the entire Northeast Ohio area.
The Browns’ proposal came after Cleveland offered $461 million towards a major renovation of the current 65,000-seat stadium, which was built in 1999, and the redevelopment of the surrounding area.
In the letter signed by executive Chris Ronayne and council president Pernell Jones Jr., the county stated that a new stadium “does not make fiscal sense” for Cuyahoga’s residents and taxpayers.
“Moreover, any proposal that would create an unacceptable risk to the County’s general fund cannot be considered,” the letter said. “We believe it is our responsibility and in the best interests of our community to prioritize reinvestment in existing public assets.”
In response, the Haslams recognized that either renovating the stadium or building a new one is “incredibly complex.”
“We have been reminded many times that the issues with the current stadium resulted from a rushed process that was not thorough and don’t want that repeated,” they said.
“We have received the county’s response and are still in the process of gathering information and doing diligence on both paths. It would be short-sighted for Northeast Ohio to rule out any options at this point for a long-term decision of this magnitude.”
