Letters and statements continue to flow back and forth between Cleveland-area government officials and the Browns regarding the ongoing question of the team’s stadium future.
The latest salvo came from Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and County Council Chairman Pernel Jones Jr. The two co-signed a letter to Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam on Sunday about the future of the team’s game-day home stadium.
In the latter case, the two made it clear that they would not support the Browns’ apparently preferred option, which was to build a new covered stadium on a currently vacant lot in Brook Park.
“The proposal to build a new stadium in Brook Park does not make financial sense for the residents and taxpayers of Cuyahoga County,” the letter said. “Furthermore, no proposal can be considered that would pose an unacceptable risk to the general finances of the County. We believe it is our responsibility and in the best interest of our community to prioritize reinvestment in existing public assets.”
The Browns’ lease with the city of Cleveland for Cleveland Browns Stadium expires at the end of 2028. The Haslams have said they are considering two options as a long-term solution to the stadium problem.
Option No. 1 is a renovation of the existing lakefront stadium, expected to cost about $1 billion. Option No. 2 is the new covered stadium at Brook Park, a project that would cost at least $2.4 billion.
The Browns and Haslam Sports Group issued a statement Sunday afternoon in response to the letter from Ronayne and Jones.
“A stadium project that could be a transformative opportunity for this region requires careful thought, objectivity, innovation and patience,” Browns spokespeople said. “The process of renovating or building a new stadium is incredibly complex. We have been reminded many times that the problems with the current stadium are the result of a rushed and incomplete process, and we do not want to see that repeated. We have received the county’s response and are still gathering information and carefully considering both paths.”
“It would be shortsighted for Northeast Ohio to eliminate all options for a long-term decision of this magnitude at this time,” the statement continued. “We look forward to the City of Cleveland’s responses to our detailed questions about their proposal last week and remain committed to working and communicating with all stakeholders. Collaboration and openness in thoroughly reviewing this project are critical to achieving the goal of finding and implementing the best long-term and sustainable stadium solution for this region.”
The latest exchange of letters came just days after the Browns sent their own letter to season ticket holders last Wednesday through Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins. The letter was the Browns’ first public statement on their vision for what the Brook Park project would entail and included both video and photo representations of the new stadium and the area surrounding the stadium.
The letter said no final decision had been made and asked the city to seek more information on its Aug. 1 proposal to renovate the current stadium.
“We know this is an issue that is important to our fans and the broader public,” Jenkins’ letter states. “After Mayor Bibb released the City’s latest proposal for a renovated stadium last week and increased public dialogue about the future of our stadium, including the possibility of a domed stadium at Brook Park, we believe it is time for us to communicate directly and provide an update on our stadium process. We are currently reviewing the City’s proposal and have requested additional information from the City to be able to do so comprehensively.”
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb sent the Haslams a letter on August 1 in which the city pledged $461 million to support the lakeshore restoration. The city’s proposal includes the following conditions:
- “$367 million ($227 million from increased admission tax revenue, $120 million from Cuyahoga County sin tax revenue and $20 million from existing stadium capital reserves) over the 30-year lease term, with a five-year extension option”
- “The city will lease the Willard Garage and Muni parking lot to the Browns for exclusive use on game and event days. Parking revenue is expected to generate $94 million for major repairs and improvements.”
- “Under the current lease, the city pays $1.3 million annually in property taxes and insurance, while the Browns pay $250,000 in rent. Under the proposed new lease, the Browns will have their rent waived, but they will assume responsibility for insurance and tax payments. This adjustment is consistent with the Guardians’ and Cavs’ leases and is therefore consistent across all Cleveland sports franchises.”
The property the Haslams purchased in Brook Park, where two Ford plants once stood, is located in an area bordered on three sides by State Route 237 to the west, Snow Road to the south and I-71 to the east. The Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks run between the property and Ohio 237.
The Browns have called the current lakefront their permanent home since Cleveland Municipal Stadium was built on the site in 1946. The current stadium opened in 1999 when the expansion franchise began play after a three-year hiatus when the original franchise became the Baltimore Ravens.
Reach Chris Easterling at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
