Browns’ Brook Park ambitions nudge ahead

Article posted by Coliseum, January 22^nd, 2025

Image: Cleveland Browns

The NFL’s Cleveland Browns have completed the next step in their aim of building a new domed stadium and mixed-use entertainment district in Brook Park, Ohio.

The Browns said progress has been made on the land purchase agreement for the 176-acre site in Brook Park, which will not only house the new Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium, but also the adjacent mixed-use development.

Haslam Sports Group Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins said, “We have executed the clause and taken the necessary steps in our land purchase agreement with the current owners to solidify our future purchase of the 176-acre site in Brook Park for a new Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium, along with an adjacent mixed-use development.

“While work remains with our public partners on the project, this is a key step in our efforts to create a responsible long-term stadium solution that delivers a world-class experience for our fans, attracts more large-scale events for our region and positively impacts our local economy.”

The Cleveland Browns plan to leave their current open-air Huntington Bank Field stadium in the city of Cleveland for the yet-to-be-built domed stadium.

The lease for the Browns’ current stadium expires after the 2028 NFL season, so the plan is to kick off the 2029 season at the Brook Park dome.

The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland (US). Named after original coach and Co-Founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference North division.

Located adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the new 67,000-seat stadium will be a premier venue for Browns home games, in addition to hosting multiple concerts, major sports tournaments and events, and conferences year-round, cementing Northeast Ohio as a world-class entertainment destination.

In recent months, the Browns said they have continued to take the necessary steps in pursuing the new domed Huntington Bank Field.

A report by real estate consulting company RCLCO showcased how a Cleveland Browns domed stadium and adjacent mixed-use development in Brook Park is primed for success and can serve as a catalyst for growth in Cuyahoga County.

Their market analysis included program, pricing and absorption, as well as analysis of the projected fiscal and economic impacts of the new Brook Park development.

Through the study, RCLCO found three key findings: the viability of the site for mixed-use development in conjunction with a new domed stadium, the positive economic impact of the new stadium and adjacent mixed-use development and the significant benefits a domed stadium would bring to downtown Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Lincoln Property Company – a global full-service real estate firm – has been announced as the development partner for the development, which is set to be designed by the architecture firm HKS.

The mixed-use entertainment district surrounding the stadium will be developed across multiple phases and will ultimately include 300,000 square feet of retail, two upscale hotels, 1,100 apartments, and 500,000 square feet of office space.

Phase One, which is planned to deliver along with the stadium in 2029, will include 450 hotel rooms; 575 apartments; 96,000 square feet of traditional retail, suited for unique food & beverage and shopping destinations; and 137,000 square feet of experiential retail, which will include a team store, and other experience-based retail concepts that will drive year-round activation and community involvement.

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