CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns NFL franchise owner Haslam Sports Group has released renderings and development plans for a new $2.4 billion stadium in the suburb of Brook Park, near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The proposal comes on the heels of the City of Cleveland releasing its plan to fund $461 million in renovations to the current lakeside stadium, which has been the Browns’ home for 24 years.
Haslam Sports Group is seeking a 50/50 split between its own funding and public financing, regardless of whether it elects to build a new stadium or renovate its existing home. This means the team would seek $1.2 billion in public funding were it to seek a new stadium in the suburbs. The team has not disclosed any plans on how to achieve either the private or public funding for that project.
The Browns in particular want an indoor stadium for the notoriously cold and snowy area, and putting a dome on the existing venue is not possible due to flight-path issues from the city’s airport.
The City of Cleveland renovation proposal for the current stadium, located in the North Coast Harbor area of downtown Cleveland, would offer $461 million in public money, just under half of the proposed $1 billion project. In cooperation with the North Coast Waterfront Development Corp., the City of Cleveland also plans to further develop approximately 20 acres located north of the existing stadium into public, retail, residential, commercial and parking space.
Additionally, Haslam Sports Group would have exclusive use of the nearby Willard Garage and the Municipal Parking Lot on event days, which represents 3,700 parking spaces. Under the terms of the plan, the City will establish a fund for stadium maintenance, which will be financed through parking revenue collected for game-day parking at these facilities.
The terms also specify that the Cleveland Browns will play at the stadium, with penalties for any breach of the agreement.
“We are implementing a bold vision for lakefront development, and the Browns have been an essential fixture on our lakefront for decades,” says Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb. “But our first priority is always our residents. Having the Browns play here is integral to our city’s identity and community spirit. This initiative must go beyond the Browns and be about what’s best for downtown, the neighborhoods, the suburbs and the region.”
For its part, Haslam Sports Group says it is considering the Brook Park project because of “its central location for our regional fan base, its proximity to downtown, Cleveland’s mass transit system and the airport, and its strong existing infrastructure,” according to a letter from David Jenkins, chief operating officer of the Browns and Haslam Sports Group, to the public.
“While we are excited about the possibility of building a dome and surrounding development in Brook Park, the City of Cleveland and the success of its downtown remain incredibly important to us,” wrote Jenkins. “Developing the lakefront without the stadium could be the best way to maximize the long-term success of our underutilized North Coast waterfront asset.”
The Browns currently pay $250,000 in rent, while the city covers approximately $1.3 million in annual property taxes and insurance. Under the proposed new lease, rent would be waived for the Browns, but the team will assume responsibility for the insurance and tax payments. The term for the proposed lease is 30 years and features a five-year extension option.
— Channing Hamilton