Chorus grows against Browns domed venue plans

Image: Steve DiMatteo on Unsplash

Jimmy and Dee Haslam (Owners of the National Football League [NFL] team Cleveland Browns) have been anything but shy in sharing imagery for the dome and surrounding development they hope to build in Brook Park in Ohio, US.

‘SCENE’ stated that the possible future home of the Browns – a $2.4 billion project with a proposed $1.2 billion privately financed by the Haslams and $1.2 billion coming from public coffers in the form of State and County bonds – has been teased in photos, videos and sizzle reels as the team sells the idea to the Government officials, the business leaders and the public.

But with the chorus growing against a Brook Park stadium for the Browns it is being speculated that the Haslams may have to revisit the lakefront stadium plans.

The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio (US). The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference North Division.

The 67,431-capacity Huntington Bank Field is a stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Primarily for American football it is the home field of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) and serves as a venue for other events such as college and high school football, soccer, hockey, and concerts.

The Cleveland Browns are proposing to build a new domed stadium in Brook Park, Ohio (US) and are seeking a significant public investment to make it a reality. The plan involves a mixed use development surrounding the stadium with the goal of creating a year-round entertainment hub.

‘SCENE’ further stated that but what they haven’t shared publicly is how renovations at the current lakefront stadium would look.

For years before the pivot to Brook Park those plans weren’t secondary but instead at the forefront of discussions with the City, the County and the State. And through late 2023 and early 2024 the Haslams did share renderings of that renovation plan in presentations with the assorted officials, the stakeholders and the business leaders in the region.

Renovation is not, after all, the plan the Haslams prefer at this juncture but it is one that given the budget process in Columbus and opposition to the Brook Park move from both the Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland remains a distinct possibility.

Commented Chris Ronayne, Cuyahoga County Executive, “From Day One I said we need to reveal your lakefront transformation plan as well so that the public can get an honest comparison of the two plans because both involve a request of the public for subsidies and support.”

Ronayne has staunchly opposed the possible move to Brook Park.

The Mayor of Cleveland Justin Bibb’s administration agrees there’s something exciting the public should see not only for how the renovation would change how the stadium looks and operates but also for how it fits into the larger plan for the City.

A City of Cleveland spokesperson stated, “The early renderings of the downtown Cleveland stadium transformation demonstrate the possibility for a world-class, year-round facility on the lakefront that builds on decades of investment made in Cleveland.

The $1 billion project, as the rendering shows, would dramatically change the outside of the stadium from the concrete jungle as it currently exists replaced instead with vertical columns in exoskeleton and glass walls that open up the area to light and surrounding nature.

A statement sent out by the Haslam Sports Group (a value-driven organization committed to unifying people through sports and entertainment) read, “Those renderings were created as part of a process almost three years ago. We haven’t had substantive renovation discussions in months and have never been presented with a viable funding plan for a renovation from the Cuyahoga County or the City of Cleveland to pair with our private investment.”

Remarked Ronayne, “In 2023 and 2024 the Browns were entertaining two plans: Brook Park and Cleveland. But the lakefront transformation plan including the Browns has been around for a number of years and for four or five of them the Haslam Sports Group led the plan, they led the advocacy. When I took office in 2023 it was a full-throated effort to petition the State to assist with the lakefront with the Browns as a key anchor. We’ve netted $280 million now in ready infrastructure and that has been secured in part because the Haslam Sports Group helped us make the pitch down State. But, at some point, the Haslam Sports Group revealed to – let’s say civic and business circles – their plans for Brook Park instead.”

The City of Cleveland spokesperson added, “We finalized a master plan, refined the design for the North Coast Connector and secured over $150M in State and Federal funding to build a new world-class connection to a world-class facility on the lakefront.”

On the funding front for Brook Park there are open questions about whether or not the State of Ohio will come through with what the Haslams want in terms of public support.

The Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine, said, “We can’t really afford to continue to put money in sports stadiums out of a general fund.”

Meanwhile, the Ohio House, in its proposed budget, allocates $600 million in bonds for the Brook Park dome.

As for the State Senate it is mulling a hybrid model between the two but hasn’t yet indicated whether it will propose that version or any support at all for the Haslams.

And while the Browns have touted economic impact reports championing the number of additional events, visitors and revenue a dome would bring.

Ronayne is more direct in his qualms about the project’s proposed financing calling $600 million in county bonds “too risky” for the health of the Cuyahoga County’s coffers.

Averred Ronayne, “I want to keep surfacing the truth and the truth is the Brook Park proposal is too risky. Our analysts at the County have deemed it too risky and it’s overly risky for the State.”

He instead has called on the State to issue $350 million in bonds for a renovation of the Huntington Bank Field.

And will the Haslams, after declaring Brook Park or bust, be forced to revisit the lakefront?

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