Cleveland Browns to Relocate and Construct Covered Stadium in Outlying Areas

The Cleveland Browns intend to depart from their waterfront stadium in the city for a covered field in suburban Brook Park, according to Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb on Thursday.

Bibb held a press conference to declare that Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam informed him on Wednesday night of their plan to relocate the franchise elsewhere. The two parties had been working towards drafting an agreement to upgrade Huntington Bank Stadium, which was established in 1999 on the shores of Lake Erie in the downtown area of the city.

\"The Haslams' decision to move the team away from the city is frustrating and deeply disappointing,\" Bibb expressed. \"Over the past three years, this administration has made persistent efforts to devise solutions that advance HSG's (Haslam Sports Group) objectives and the long-term interests of our residents and the wider community.\"

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The Browns proposed a public-private partnership to fund $1 billion in renovations to the current stadium, with each side contributing equally. According to Cleveland.com, Bibb offered $367 million plus funding for future maintenance, but the Haslams opted for Brook Park instead.

Bibb seemed unwilling to compromise if a proposal did not serve the best interests of the people of Cleveland.

\"Haslam Sports Group may want a roof over their heads, but it is my responsibility as the mayor of this great city to ensure that Cleveland residents have a roof over theirs,\" Bibb stated.

A statement released on Thursday afternoon by the Haslams stated that Brook Park offers the Browns - and the region - the best option.

\"We have had positive, productive, and collaborative discussions with the mayor and his team, working together to find the best long-term solution for our stadium,\" the Haslams said.

\"We explored many possibilities, with our initial focus on renovating the current stadium and engaged design, construction, and engineering experts to develop a plan to do so. We also considered constructing a new stadium on various sites, both within and outside of Cleveland. Through our exhaustive research, we have come to the realization that renovating our current stadium will not solve many operational issues and would only be a temporary solution. After further reflection, we have also recognized that without a dome, we will not be able to attract the type of large-scale events and year-round activity to justify the magnitude of this public-private partnership. The economic opportunities created by a dome far outweigh what a renovated stadium could generate with only about ten events per year.\"

The Browns are proposing to construct a domed complex in Brook Park, a suburb approximately 15 miles southwest of Cleveland and near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The estimated cost is $2.4 billion, and the Haslams stated that they are willing to split the cost with the public through the sale of bonds.

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\"With the funding mechanisms we are currently working on, this stadium will not utilize existing taxpayer-funded resources that would divert funds from other more pressing needs,\" they explained. \"Instead, the private investment of over $2 billion, combined with the public investment, will create a significant economic development project that will generate enough activity to cover the public bond debt service through revenue generated by the project and the Browns.\"

The office of Cuyahoga County executive Chris Ronayne - the county encompasses both Brook Park and Cleveland - released a brief statement on his behalf on Thursday, stating that Ronayne \"has made his position clear: the Browns stadium should remain downtown. Today, he is focused on the business of Cuyahoga County and rooting for a Guardians win tonight (against the New York Yankees).\"

Bibb stated that Cleveland will be open to discussing alternatives if the Brook Park location falls through.

\"My team and I are prepared to resume discussions with the Haslams if the Brook Park option proves to be unfeasible,\" he said.

\"And if the Haslams have a change of heart, we are ready to return to the negotiating table and continue working towards a solution that keeps the Browns in the city that has supported them for decades and decades - Cleveland, Ohio.\"

Under former owner Art Modell, the Browns left Cleveland before the 1996 season and relocated to Baltimore, with Modell dissatisfied with the conditions at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Under an agreement with the NFL, Modell was granted a new franchise, which became the Ravens, while the Browns name and franchise history remained in Cleveland.

What is now known as Huntington Bank Field was constructed by the city and opened in 1999, the same year the Browns returned to the NFL.