The city of Cleveland has proposed a plan to upgrade the Browns’ stadium in an effort to keep the team in downtown rather than moving to a new stadium in suburban Brook Park.
The proposal includes $461 million from the city, with $227 million coming from a tax on tickets. It also offers a 30-year lease extension, replacing the current one that ends after the 2028 season.
Mayor Justin Bibb has asked the Browns to respond by August 12.
In a letter to team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, Bibb emphasized that improving the existing stadium is the best option for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. He stated that no public funds should be used for building a stadium outside the city.
The Browns have played in Cleveland since 1946. Their current stadium, built in 1999 after the team’s return as an expansion franchise, faces issues like traffic congestion and a lack of parking.
Bibb mentioned that keeping the Browns downtown is important for local businesses and jobs.
The Browns are weighing whether to renovate the current stadium, which would cost over $1 billion, or build a new dome 14 miles south of Cleveland, which would cost around $2.4 billion or more. The Haslams are seeking funding from city, state, and county taxes for the new stadium project.
