What if Haslam just got sick of waiting? He does seem rather impatient.


Looking at Cleveland's 17th plan to develop the lakefront

From some of the stuff I've been reading and listening to, this is essentially one of the big reasons. Allegedly Mayor Bibb/City has been dragging their feet and Haslems might have just said.....screw it, we're out. Location makes sense for several reasons but City of Cleveland won't fully benefit. People will still use hotels and restaurants since it is less than 10 miles away but might no longer be part of the fabric of downtown life.

If this happens, it might be a blow to Bibb politically who is up for re-election in 2025.

He could just be forcing the city’s hand. Lloyd said this morning that the city has not made a new stadium a priority.

How is moving right next to a major airport improving the fan experience?

Well, the lease runs out in 2028.

In April, Bibb declined to use city funds for stadium renovations...

“I’m no longer going to risk general new fund dollars for maintenance of a privately owned football franchise,” Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb said Wednesday in his State of the City address. “So we’ve got to be creative.”


Things got shady in July and Haslam said this:

“The only thing Dee and I would say for sure is we’re not leaving Northeast Ohio, that’s for sure,” Jimmy Haslam said in July 2023. “Our preference is for us to be on the lakefront. But we’ve got to see how things play out. It will be fluid. There will be bumps in the road and it may be different in three months than it is now.”

It's a bold move by Haslam. Either a very expensive wake-up call or a sign of the future and an owner fed up with Cleveland's slow-motion bureaucracy.

Even this 'new' renovation cycle has changed directions 38 times. In November they said the new plans were "60% done".

It's not, really. But honestly, the 'lakefront plan' has changed many times and the latest iteration has almost all tailgate space and 'fan experience' type stuff eliminated anyway. It's really turned into a nightmare of a scenario that will take decades and billions to complete... to the point where it's drawing ire from many residents that point to "much better things" to do with the money.


Planners acknowledged that altering the Shoreway and longstanding Browns tailgating traditions could raise eyebrows, but they said the new ideas are needed to create a better lakefront.
https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023...eventual-move-for-browns-tailgaters.html

I have a great idea for the Destination Cleveland regional per Bowl Ad all of sudden!

I hope the stadium stays downtown. It's really convenient to walk there straight from the hotel.

Eve..I hear ya but as the years and decades pass, I find that it becomes more difficult to hold onto the present and past...

In the name of PROGRESS change continues.

For the life of me, I could never understand why the Browns didn't build a dome when the new stadium was built in 1999.

Brook Park would seem to be a good location.

That doesn't seem to represent a dome stadium.

Here's my own quick rendering of what the current stadium would look like on that kind of footprint.

Bingo.

If Haslam could not/can not get the money from Cleveland to fund a chunk of the stadium, he certainly will not find the money in Brook Park.

Also, if he decides to just pay for it all himself, he'd just keep it in downtown and develop the waterfront. Much more money to be made developing on Lake Erie.

Building in Brook Park is the equivalent of the Cavs building the Coliseum in Richfield.

Flex move by Haslam, though. Downtown businesses will put the pressure on Bibb.

Stadium news will be interesting to follow as things progress.

News from the other day allocates money for the long-awaited pedestrian foot bridge. This would an important piece in keeping the stadium downtown.

Talking with Browns fans at work today about this.

I said I like the Stadium where it is, I enjoy it being by the lake and downtown.

Someone said "if they build a dome, you won't see the lake anyways"

I said, it's about walking by the water, the Rock & Roll HOF, the William G Mather ,the science center, people out on the lake on those boards dressed as Santa and the city.

There are cool places around 9th street to hang out at

What's there to do around that area except for hearing planes go by and not being able to hear the replay

Don't make a mistake, keep it by the lake !

If this would ever come to fruition, I don't see this as the same thing. Going to Richfield, among many things I'm sure, was really an attempt to connect the Cavs to Akron and taking advantage of the the assumed growth of urban sprawl in the region. It never really worked. Going down 71 South less than ten miles in an already developed area (seemingly very commercial) doesn't feel that way to me.

I do agree with Lloyd and do believe this is a leverage play to the city. The Haslem group could certainly repurpose the land for something else if it came to it. I just don't see it as Richfield-esque, essentially by distance but also by motive.

With doing zero research, so my take is full of malarkey.

Maybe they are using it as leverage, with the possibility of moving their headquarters from Berea to Brook Park in the future?

Either way, I hope the plan is to build a Jimmy World. Basically, the updated equivalent of Jerry World.

Maybe they are going to build a soccer complex

#MoveTheCrewToCleveland

#ClevelandCrew

The last time politicians in Cleveland tried to play hardball with a browns owner, we lost the team. Not saying that's what they would do, but who knows?

Eh, I look it as no man's land. I would not consider the area developed. It's . It's 15 miles from the airport to the current Browns stadium, but that's nitpicking.

I would imagine the Haslams want to develop something similar to The Battery in ATL. New stadiums are being constructed with mixed-use development in mind, i.e., retail, restaurants, office space etc... I cannot see that happening in Brook Park. Just seems like it would be destined to fail in that area. We'll see what happens.

that's all we need is an Airbus taking off while we are on a crucial play, and the center can't hear the QB with all the noise to hike the ball. I dunno, just doesn't seem like a great area to support the stadium

We'll have the huge jets take off while the opposition is on offense!

I think the browns are primarily using this as leverage... but frankly, being in brook park wouldn't be the worst... easier access to get in and out.... closer to their head quarters... either way, they need to build a complex similar to LA/Vegas with a dome... I understand the purists.... but it makes zero sense to have an open stadium that will sit vacant for half the year... put a dome on it and you can use it year round for concerts, events, etc.... if you want to be able to have the weather when you want, then put a retractable roof on it....

I loved going downtown for games.... but being in brook park wouldn't have changed my experience by much...

Is Cowher building a house near there?

I don't think it is being sick of waiting. The lease is up in 4 years. Projects such as this don't go up overnight. Four years out is the time some plans need to be set and things need to start moving. If the Browns are going to continue to play in the stadium through any construction, that means you can't work on things year round, which will add to the timeline. Haslam and the NFL also have some history on the last time the city and team were discussing a new stadium project. Regardless of who you want to blame, things were fumbled away.

The NFL want domes, that is pretty clear. The city needs to build a dome for year round use. The ROI will be seen much sooner. Those acres in Brook Park are a good buy for the Haslams no matter if it is used for a stadium or something else. My thought on something else would be to move the Casino out of downtown and stick it out in Brookpark on the Haslam property. A connector to the airport via underground tram would be easy enough. Make Cleveland a weekend gambling destination. Walk to the terminal from you airplane, get on the tram and you 're in the casino/hotel area. Have a theater where you could book name act entertainers. The possibilities are numerous. Including a stadium if the city keeps dorking around. Unlike Model, Haslam has the money to do anything he wants. He is a man of action. He isn't going to sit there doing nothing while others hem and haw over things.

I think we're pretty much on the same page here.

Every smart businessman has a solid contingency plan. The city seems to be dragging its heels as they did before Modell left. If Haslam didn't have a contingency plan in place in the event a new stadium deal wasn't in place in time for him to build one elsewhere before the lease expires he wouldn't be doing his job.

It seems to me that fans should be thankful that everything indicates that if he can't reach a deal with the city in time for a new stadium to be built before the lease expires he still plans to keep the team in the area and not use another city for a new stadium and move the team. Many of us have vivid memories on how that all played out.

The current stadium lease runs out in four years. To have a new stadium in place before that lease runs out Haslam will have to have an answer from the city of Cleveland in two years. He's simply hedging his bet as any smart person would do if they had that option.

100% agree!

We agree. I might not agree on needing an answer in two years. Yes, a stadium could be built in that time, but not the kind of stadium the NFL and Haslam wants.

The plans I see are more complex than simply building another "generic" stadium. If they stay downtown in an open air facility you are talking land bridges over major roads, parks, hotels being constructed. If it moves out of downtown, you are talking a domed stadium which takes longer to build.

I think the sheet or get off the pot moment is way sooner than 2 years. Maybe 6 months. It appears that Haslam Sports Group feels that way with this recent land acquisition.

Jimmy is a mover and shaker. He moves the needle, and this land purchase is the shaking.

After taking a closer look at it I think you're right. The new stadium they're getting ready to build in Nashville will be a translucent dome stadium and the building process is a three year timeline. They've moved pretty quickly on the plans, approval and moving forward with a new stadium here.

Translucent is a great idea 👍

Building a stadium next to a major airport doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Keep it downtown!

The downtown stadium is on top of an airport. Allegiant stadium in Las Vegas is next to an airport. Raymond James in Tampa is next to an airport. Thosse are the ones that come to mind.

Sofi stadium is next to an airport.

it's not a good idea for Cleveland. Keep it downtown.

I prefer the stadium downtown. Last time I was there my hotel room had a view overlooking the stadium and the lake. It was badass.

I want it downtown as well. It needs to be a dome if you want big time. If rinky dink is what is wanted, we have that. A dome gives you the opportunity to go after BIG events and allows you the chance to use it year round. It's stupid for the city and team to go after another half ass stadium, but I understand some people don't think big. It is what it is.

And to add....it makes sense for Haslam to move to his property.

We know about the Browns, but somewhere he has a Haslam land company or some such corporation.

The Browns pay rent to play in the current stadium. He might as well have the Browns Inc. pay rent to his land company Inc.

The beauty of having a ton of money. As they say, money makes money.

I know where you are talking. I usually stay at the Weston when we play night games. Perfect location and you don't have to drive out of town at 11PM or later. It was Crown Plaza before Marriott took the property. It was closed for 2-3 years before Marriott took the property.

My .02 is that moving the stadium out of downtown Cleveland would be devastating to the city and its hopes to further revitalize. Cleveland is a football town and good or bad the team is near and dear the heart of the city. Psychologically and economically it would be very very bad for a city trying to get some investment and development momentum. The city needs to get the push on and make something happen.

That said, as a business and property investor myself (small time I promise you) I’m always hesitant about the city of Cleveland. I’ve had the opportunity a handful of times to do things, invest in or buy things in the city and it’s the city itself, the way it’s run and it’s seeming crippling inertia that always gives me pause. The view from the outside is a city mired in decades and decades of beurocratic quicksand. And they sometimes (not so rarely) make head scratching “committee” decisions to shoot themselves squarely in the face. I don’t want to turn this into a rag on the city but 17 iterations of lakefront plans!?!?… come on now. At some point leadership has to be able to get the freakin’ ball over the goal line. If you can’t, you have to start looking at what (or who) is systematically wrong with the city. Maybe that time has already long since come. I frankly wouldn’t have much faith either if I were the haslams!

And I wouldn’t put much stock in the Haslams declarations of allegiance to NE ohio. If things go sideways badly enough and another midsize city starts seriously batting eyes and showing cleavage, the haslams are billionaires, they’re gonna do what’s right for them, full stop. I’m not saying all billionaires are alike and I haven’t met many but do actually know a few and if one thing holds true across the board, they have allegiance only to themselves and their people. Being absolutely singular in purpose is largely how they get to where they are and stay there. Promises and contracts are meant to be broken if they can be and if the grass is truly greener on the other side. They’re perfectly ok to take the public relations black eye for a few years. So yea, brook park, Toronto, Austin, whatever.

Get your together Cleveland

Funny you say that. I think that is how many commissioners sit on the city commission along with the mayor. It's hard to get anything done when you have that many people trying to find solution to an issue.

I find it hard to think the city can't cobble up enough space for a stadium somewhere downtown. I think they could make the space on the bluff above the muni lot. Both the TV3 broadcast station and FBI could easily be moved. After that it is blocks of rundown buildings with only a handful of small businesses that would have to be relocated.

They're not moving all that stuff to build a stadium. They're either rebuilding on the same site or renovating on the same site. The Browns will play somewhere else (probably Canton) during that time. They can't even put their heads together to build a pedestrian bridge, now they're gonna relocate TV stations, businesses and the FBI?

Just my .02.. one of my friends recently went to a concert in at the Raiders Stadium in Vegas. He said that it is amazing how easily he was able to get in/out the parking lot. Pretty much said that everything about indicated how well-planned and intelligent of a design for the building and overall property itself. As for Browns games, I know several people who won’t go because traffic is horrible getting out of that place. I think that the stadium actually looks good and is in good shape so I don’t see the need to change it. However, if they build in Brookpark, I hope that they take a page out of Vegas plans.

Just think of all the extracurricular activities this location would offer:

😂

Couple that with beer and booze and we’d put Bills mafia to shame,

The parking at Allegiant stadium is inadequate and atrocious. The stadium was planned for people to walk/ride share over from the strip. If you’re doing that it’s not bad.

THAT is a blast. Just get your butt in the water before that bird takes off. You'll only stand on the beach for it once.

I could watch planes land there all day though.

There is a much cooler bar, with a much better beach, right around the corner. Planes don't land on your face there, but still pretty up close and personal. Maybe my favorite place in the world.

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but the property in Brookpark might not be a viable option due to FAA and their rules, together with the League rules on aircraft flying over their stadiums during games.

I'm pretty sure Bibb would be forcefully removed from office if he lets the Browns leave downtown.

I think it would be a great idea. Now, I know I don't live in Cleveland, but developing that area would be a benefit for a lot of people in the area. There are many Stadiums next to airports, I don
t think that is a problem. Building one of these new style stadiums would open the doors to the area to host many big events. I understand the nostalgia of having the stadium on the waterfront, but in the long run I believe it would be a great move. If you ever wanted a Superbowl in Cleveland, this would probably guarantee it. Think of the major musical tours that could be lured to perform there. I don't see any downfall to this idea. More space, a better environment to watch the games, and the entertainment potential would be huge.

I definitely know nothing of FAA rules, so I can't speak to that.

However, it seems that flying over a stadium on that site would be a near impossibility given the trajectory of the runways.

I’ll ask him to go into detail the next time that I speak with him. He stayed at an Airbnb while there so presumably he didn’t stay on the strip. I’ll do some digging.

Can't fly under 3,000 within 3 nautical miles of a stadium while an event is going on.

It's on google maps, definitely official.

Well, there must be exceptions or other language concerning flight path... Allegiant Stadium is less than 1/2 mile from the airport in Vegas.

Typically, FAA will put up a temporary flight restriction(TFR) with the restriction noted above(or more). I think Vegas went out to 10 nM for the Super Bowl. However, ATC can authorize a plane into the restricted area. Arrival/departures are typically allowed.

From FAA:

Full FAA text if you want to make your eyes bleed


As far as Brookpark location goes, I don't think this would impact air traffic into or out of Hopkins during game day.

Wow, you're not kidding about making my eyes bleed... yikes. Thanks for doing the heavy lifting lol.

I figured the exceptions would be for arrivals and departures. I would guess most language would be a directive to ATCs to advise traffic anomalies during event times.

The Haslams aren't stupid. I am sure that all the restrictions associated with the property were researched. I am sure that they wouldn't purchase a property to possibly build a stadium, then find out after the fact they couldn't.

There's no doubt you are correct. That would be one of the early and most basic things they would do.

This is all beginning to sound sadly familiar.

Simply put, Jimmy Haslam is too smart to be dealing with the unqualified idiots in charge of Cleveland. Jimmy - Take a page out of the Chicago Bears book and take your money and our team elsewhere.

Like I said. He is a man of action. He isn't going to wait around while others fiddlefart around.

Throw a retractable hat on the Stadium on the lake and call it a day.

It's a near impossibility, structurally, that would cost nearly as much as a new stadium. At least, that's what the experts have said.

Not only that, the stadium is on landfill and engineering says the land can't support the extra weight of a roof.

Ahhh. Yes sir, I knew there was something else I was forgetting.

they can drill down to bedrock to support the roof

Maybe. Below that area are vast salt deposits. I am not sure if hitting that would work or if they would have to drill down further, which could be quite a bit further.

How about a nice canvas cover

Saran Wrap so we can get some natural light.

Like Peter, I find that Saran Wrap can be a pain in the ass. Wife can navigate that no problem, I end up tearing it wrong, getting it stuck together and using twice as much - or more - as I needed, just to wrap a sandwich.

Maybe Haslam is looking at building a whole entertainment complex like the Patriots did with Patriot Place. Shopping, restaurants galore, dome stadium and a new state of the art training facility. With the dome (hopefully retractable) or consisting of the field being moved out to maintain a grass field (like Vegas and Arizona), the Browns could build an entire entertainment complex that would be open year-round with the dome in play. It would be a huge draw for Northern Ohio and actually, IMHO, benefit the entire area including Cleveland. Not to mention the opportunity for a Super Bowl, NCAA Final 4, year-round major concerts and/or a major bowl game which Cleveland currently has zero chance of getting.

Maybe it's just me but with proper planning and investment, a new entertainment complex larger than Patriot Place would be a huge financial benefit to the area, including Cleveland.

That's possible. If the city won't come to the table it becomes more of a possibility. I don't know how a cost analysis would work with something like this. I know there's always an argument with the dome it would be constantly filled with all kinds of other events... color me skeptical.

Cleveland is not quite the destination as many other places where these huge projects have come to pass. You're also talking about Haslam spending 3B+... with no help from Cleveland if it's outside the limits.

Have you ever been to a Browns game? If you have, or have this city in your blood, you would probably have strong feelings about our stadium being on the shores of Lake Erie.

Just some examples of numbers:

The new Las Vegas Raiders stadium area consists of 41.322 acres.

Patriot Place (minus the stadium) area consists of 29.84 acres. Or>
The Star District for the Dallas Cowboys consists of 40 acres consisting of 35 restaurants, shops, parking garages, and specialty services. 

The new Las Vegas Headquarters/Training Facility consists of 30 acres. Or>
The new Dallas Cowboys Headquarters/Training Facility consists of 51 acres consisting of much more than a training facility such as DALLAS COWBOYS RING OF HONOR WALK PRESENTED BY DR PEPPER, TOSTITOS CHAMPIONSHIP PLAZA, MILLER LITE®HOUSE AT THE STAR, BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE HEALTH, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TRIBUTE PRESENTED BY TEXAS LOTTERY COMMISSION, Ford Center is a state-of-the-art, 510,000 square foot indoor athletic facility shared by the Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco, and Frisco ISD’s high schools.

Anyway, the total acreage needed would be between 102 acres and 133 acres leaving at least 40 plus acres for additional parking or expansion.

The numbers seem to fall withing the range of building a massive entertainment complex including a new stadium and headquarters/training facility.

I've been to more than 30 Browns games at the stadium as a spectator and also spent 2 seasons working concessions inside the stadium. So, I get the sentimental part, but things change.

Just spitballing here but it seems Halsam could do much of what you have described on much less acreage than what he purchased. I believe it could be accomplished using half or less than half the land he purchased. But can you imagine how much the rest of that land would be worth if he decided to sell it off after the stadium was complete? The value of that remaining land would skyrocket.

I can understand why the citizens of Cleveland would be upset about the possibility of the stadium being built outside the city. I can also see how Halslam may see that as the most advantageous move he could make. Most people hate the idea of they themselves having to deal with the government. Until it's Haslam. Then they expect him to deal with it at possibly much great expense to himself. Cleveland already lost the Browns once by dragging its heals. If Haslam can't work out a satisfactory deal with the city of Cleveland, at least he isn't bribing another city and moving the Browns. Those who remember those days should be thankful for that.

But tradition is something that's hard to let go of.

An entire complex is the direction I think they (the owners) all want to go. The added year-round revenue would be massive. Add a couple of hotels to that land, and maybe a second sports complex for his other teams (can be multi-purpose like Gund Arena or whatever its name is this week). It could also be an additional Convention facility.

Hosting a Super Bowl at your stadium has specific requirements, and if he ever wants to have one at his team's stadium, a LOT has to be added to Cleveland's facilities.

It just occurred to me that some of the land will be "lost" for traffic management in to and out of the area.
Lots of roads will have to be widened and then the land inside will have to accommodate vastly more traffic than that area currently handles. I-480 ramps, Rt 237 access, I-71 ramps, etc

Yeah, that land is going to shrink a fair amount due to infrastructure. 176 acres sounds like a lot until you try to make it into something special.

For comparison, Cowboys stadium is on 140 acres. Granted, it's huge and can house 100,000, but there is a stadium and parking -- that's it.

Patriot Place is a huge: Shopping, restaurants, a hotel, practice facilities and Patriot HOF... 450 acres.


There's room on this site for a VIP hotel and a decent food/shopping alley (vendors and food trucks would be cool), a decent amount of parking... that's about all.

Plenty of room, but the "wow" factor would have to be created by the structure itself and sensible infrastructure.

I imagine it would improve convenience for out-of-towners being that the airport is right there. Something creative could be done to take advantage of the fact that the Rapid Transit has a stop across the street as well.

That's easy. Right there is your built-in, ready-to-roll transport from the airport to your hotel complex and stadium as well as transportation from as far as the east side to the stadium.

More likely than not, however, that land will likely:

** sit in it's current state until all existing leases on buildings on it are up, perhaps indefinitely, then be re-sold for a profit in 5-10 years
** be a new training facility at a location with better highway access than Berea (and perhaps better tax situation)
** was a feint to spur the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and the State of Ohio to get in gear on a serious proposal

The only thing about your last point is the state of Ohio will gain whether the new stadium is in Cleveland or by the airport.

If the city of Cleveland proper loses the stadium and the Browns it’s going to hurt the city significantly. There’s no getting out of that. They’ve been trying for decades to resuscitate downtown, bringing the Cavs back, the guardians their own park, all the on-again, off-again flats development, east 4th and Ohio city etc etc. It would be a huge psychological and financial hit to the city if the browns moved out. Lots of other hard-luck cities have figured out how keep their gems close and build their relevance and appeal to the people and business that would want to move into a city and be part of a growing thriving community. The powers that be in the city have to make it happen or this is just the kind of thing that starts a more general exodus. And once an exodus builds a little momentum, it’s very hard to reverse. It’s taken Cleveland 60 years to stem the loss of population and jobs and it’s only just leveled off in the last 5-7. So yea, it’s still great for Ohio but Cleveland, the city the Browns represent would be hurt pretty bad.

I don't care about it being on the lakefront. The lakefront limits ingress and egress.

Also, Haslam wouldn't be forced to pay the entire amount. He would still get county and state support if push came to shove. LOL...he might still get support from the city. I suppose he could call the team the Brookpark Browns unless the city paid for naming rights.(mostly kidding here)

A good oration on why the city needs to quit dragging their feet. The best solution is for the city to find the 50-60 acres of ground inside the city limits and build there, and keep the Browns playing on the lakefront until the new stadium project is complete.

If it took one more year due to moving things around in the way of site work and relocations, I am sure the city and Browns would find a way to extend the lease a year. The land purchase out in Brookpark willl still be a valuable addition to the Haslam portfolio.

I could be wrong, but it seems that the owners that are cash heavy want more than just a stadium. The trend seems to be having a complex that they can put their signature on. The Cowboys, New England, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and eventually Carolina are building whole complexes with multi use capabilities. I'm not sure that 50-60 acres will meet those desires and the Brookpark purchase is a strong message being sent to the city of Cleveland as to the thought process of the Haslam's. JMHO, the city lost the Browns once by dragging their feet - which by the way they eventually did anyway - haven't they learned the lesson yet?

If you look at the oldest stadiums in the NFL:
Bears - Soldiers Field 1929 - Renovated in 2003 for 632M but team in process of looking for a new site & stadium
Packers - Lambeau Field 1957 - Last renovated in 2003 for 295M
Chiefs - Arrowhead Stadium 1972 - In the process of negotiating a new stadium or major renovation
Bills - New Era Field 1973 - The New Highmark Stadium is scheduled to open in 2026
Saints - Caesars Superdome 1975 - Last renovated in 2011 for 450M
Dolphins - Hard Rock Stadium 1987 - Last renovated in 2016 for 755M
Jaguars - EverBank Field 1995 - Renovations are scheduled to start in 2025 and take 2-years to complete
Panthers - Bank of America Stadium 1996 - Renovations in progress and additional talks continue
Washington - FedEx Field 1997 - 2023 stadium upgrade at 40M
Ravens - M&T Bank Stadium 1998 - The Ravens announced a multi-year 430M project (2024-2026) to enhance M&T Bank Stadium with significant projects to upgrade the stadium
Buccaneers - Raymond James Stadium 1998 -160M in stadium renovations made in 2016-2018
Browns - Browns Stadium 1999 - last renovated during the NFL off seasons in 2014 and 2015. The total cost of the renovations was estimated at $120 million with the city of Cleveland paying $30 million over 15 years and the Browns covering the rest of the cost. The current lease is up in 2028. Through the 2023 season, Cleveland Browns Stadium is the only NFL venue that has yet to host an NFL postseason game of any kind.

I certainly get all of that. And you would think the powers that be would take note of how it impacted the city when they lost the Browns back in the 90's. One would think they would have figured out that it's not a good idea to play a game of chicken with a multi billionaire. Modell wasn't even a multi billionaire which is why he needed a bribe from the city of Baltimore to leave. Haslam doesn't. I think maybe citizens of Cleveland should unite and let their politicians know that if they sit on their hands and allow the Browns to leave the city they won't be able to elected as dog catcher. That seems tto be the only message politicians care about anymore.

I agree they want a complex. That is why I think the odds are good they move out to Brookpark. They also want a dome. I think if they really want both, downtown is dead. If it boils down to one or the other, I think they want a dome.

Something I have been wondering for a while is could the city annex the said area in Brookpark in to the city? It's not an unincorporated area, so Brookpark would fight that, but maybe it wouldn't be necessary to fight over it. It could turn in to the city saying come to some agreement, or the stadium will be built downtown. Some sort of tax agreement could be had, and Brookpark would surely gain with the stadium at their doorstep.

It's a stretch, but not an impossible one.

I've found out that in these times even things I would have thought to be far fetched and impossible are entirely possible. So I would consider this a possibility as well.

I get it too... but I also think if I looked it up, the Browns would have more losses in that stadium than any other team... I'm ready to make some new memories... I vote we build new in Brookpark

j/c

To give you an idea of just how cash flush the Haslam's are, Berkshire Hathaway bought Pilot Flying J from them for approximately $13.6 billion. The payment for the final 20% which was paid just last month was $2.6 billion. This of course doesn't tell us anything about their plans moving forward on a new stadium. But what it does tell us is they have the funds to do whatever the hell they want to do.

Berkshire Paid $2.6 Billion for Haslam Family's Remaining 20% Pilot Stake

https://money.usnews.com/investing/...-haslam-familys-remaining-20-pilot-stake

So, we have one of the oldest stadiums in the league that won't be replaced or haven't had significant renovations of 250m or more. Not a good look for Cleveland.


Others are
Chiefs - Arrowhead Stadium 1972 - In the process of negotiating a new stadium or major renovation (struggling to get a deal done)
Washington - FedEx Field 1997 - 2023 stadium upgrade at 40M (already planning on building a dome by 2031 and more upgrades coming for up to 230 mill)
Buccaneers - Raymond James Stadium 1998 -160M in stadium renovations made in 2016-2018

Everyone knows that the Haslams cannot move the team from Greater Cleveland... It was written into the contract along with not adding a logo to the primary helmet.

I think the city council is looking at this situation and understands that the Browns only play 10-14 games a year downtown with a couple of events sprinkled in between.
I bet they are wondering if it is worth investing 1 bill for 20-30 years (at 1 billion, it will cost the city about 2.7 to 3 million per game over 30 years).

I do believe a dome would open opportunities to generate more revenue for the city and add 20-30 more events a year which, would reduce the cost significantly while injecting more $ into the businesses in the city.

Now, if the Browns do move to Brookpark... I bet a lot of people will still stay downtown because they can ride the Rapid to the airport and would probably add several stops to the stadium.

If a new stadium agreement isn't reached by the end of the current stadium lease, how can a city force a team to no longer function? I do know there's what's called "The Art Modell law" that prevents Haslam moving the team out of the state, but I haven't heard of anything that prevents him from moving the team out of downtown. I find it to be quite odd to say the least that any city can force an owner to sign a continuation of as lease after it expires and hold him hostage in a position where he can no longer operate his business. I don't believe that such a situation actually exists.

I think i understand the disconnect here. You don't consider a community only 14 minutes from Cleveland as a part of " the greater Cleveland area". I think you may be mistaken about that. The greater Cleveland area isn't restricted to the city of Cleveland.

I found what constitutes " Greater Cleveland "....

The Cleveland metropolitan area, or Greater Cleveland as it is more commonly known, is the metropolitan area surrounding the city of Cleveland in Northeast Ohio, United States. According to the 2020 United States Census results, the five-county Cleveland–Elyria Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consists of Cuyahoga County, Geauga County, Lake County, Lorain County, and Medina County, and has a population of 2,088,251, making Greater Cleveland the 34th most populous metropolitan area in the United States, and the second largest metropolitan area in Ohio. The city of Cleveland is also part of the larger Cleveland–Akron–Canton Combined Statistical Area with a population of over 3.6 million people, the most populous metropolitan area in Ohio and the 17th most populous in the entire United States.

https://kids.kiddle.co/Greater_Cleveland

I think it reads, Greater Cleveland, not Cleveland proper. I think that range extends even out of Cuyahoga County. I don't know if there is any language in the agreement, but I think if we wanted to move to a site down towards Akron or Lorain County and it could still be considered Greater Cleveland.

I don't think we would do anything that drastic, but Brookpark would certainly fall within the realm of being Greater Cleveland.

Also, it will never get to the point of the lease expiring and us not having a place to play. We currently have the land. The city needs to figure this out by next fall or Haslam Sports group is going to flip the switch.

As for the land size, nothing says the Browns are going to leave Berea. From the current training complex, you can run out Eastland Road and be at the stadium site in maybe 5 minutes. I do it all the time. I stay in Middleburgh Heights most of the time when I go up to games. I run that route out to the Brookpark train station to get downtown. $5 for a day pass gets me parking and transport downtown and back.. It sure beats driving downtown and then have to pay $60 to park the car.

I wonder if this will have any influence on the Browns' situation.....

I wonder if that is going to be on the existing site? The advantage they have is the Bears could play at Northwesterns stadium. I think it hold 45-50000 fans.

Cleveland doesn't have anything like that. Even Akron is pretty dinky. It holds maybe 25,000 people. The Browns probably have more than that many season ticket holders Probably more like 40,000.

Are they going to demolish Soldier Field? I thought the plan was to build something close, but not on top. I think SF is the oldest stadium in the NFL.

I guess it was a landmark before it was remodeled in 2004. In either event, if they can tear down Old Yankee Stadium, they can tear down anything.

I guess Lambeau would become the "new" oldest stadium in the NFL if SF were to be demolished.

Soooo.... this is happening?

This tweet kinda makes it seem like we've flipped a switch and are serious. Did I miss something?

Not at all, Haslem just playing both ends against the middle right now, as he should.


Cleveland Browns huddle with state lawmakers to show off Brook Park stadium plans
Though the team is still negotiating with the City of Cleveland about renovating the lakefront Browns Stadium, it pitched lawmakers on a domed stadium and entertainment development near the airport.

by Nick Castele and Mark Naymik
April 29, 2024

The Cleveland Browns took another step last week toward winning support for an alternative to renovating the team’s current lakefront home.

Representatives of the Cleveland Browns last Wednesday showed state lawmakers the team’s proposal for a new multipurpose stadium in Brook Park near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The plans included a major entertainment and redevelopment of the area, according to people familiar with the proposal.

The team sat down with a bipartisan gaggle of lawmakers, which was organized by state Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney and Tom Patton.

It’s not hard to imagine why the Browns would want Columbus on their side. The team, which is owned by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, will need help from the state – plus others – to build a domed stadium costing multiple billions of dollars.

Sweeney told Signal Cleveland she had to leave the meeting before the conversation turned to the numbers. But it was “clear Brook Park would be substantial,” she said – meaning substantially expensive.

Cleveland may not be out of the game just yet. Earlier this month, Sweeney and other lawmakers got the lowdown on Mayor Justin Bibb’s lakefront offer to the Browns. Sweeney said City Hall had what it believed was a competitive proposal that still protected Cleveland’s budget.

So what do the Brook Park plans look like? The public may find out soon. The team is expected to start circulating the plans more widely in the near future, sources told Signal Cleveland. Drawings shown to lawmakers depicted a multipurpose stadium that appeared built deep into the ground and with room for development around it, people knowledgeable about the pitch said.

The project was sold as an unprecedented economic development effort that includes a domed stadium and entertainment and lifestyle district that would be mostly privately funded – but would likely cost taxpayers significantly, too. The public portion of the stadium was pitched as drawing on revenue generated by the project. (The renovation of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, for instance, relied in part on admission and sales tax from the arena.)

Sweeney indicated that she is reserving judgment on the plans for now. A new Browns deal will cost a lot of taxpayer money, and those expenses need to be justified, she said.

“Sometimes that gets lost in the discussion,” she said.

For one example of stadium sticker prices these days, look to Chicago. The Bears recently unveiled plans for a multipurpose stadium replacing their longtime Soldier Field home. The stadium is expected to cost $3.2 billion, plus another $1.5 billion in infrastructure. The Bears ownership said it will contribute $2 billion toward the project.

https://signalcleveland.org/clevela...rs-to-show-off-brook-park-stadium-plans/

One week before, Mayor Bibb also held a meeting with the Cuyahoga County delegation of state lawmakers. Bibb reportedly told the legislators that his administration and the Browns were still having “productive discussions” about a proposed $1.2 billion renovation of the existing, 67,431-seat Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Interestingly, Bibb apparently spent most of the meeting talking to legislators about the need for state funding for the proposed land bridge between downtown and the lakefront. The roughly $200 million land bridge would connect downtown’s grassy malls and a redeveloped waterfront via a wide, landscaped pedestrian and bike bridge over the Shoreway and railroad tracks owned and/or used by Norfolk Southern, CSX, Amtrak and the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority.

“He (Bibb) talked about the land bridge about 90 percent of the time and gave us a basic rundown on the stadium (renovation),” said Rep. Mike Skindell (D-13, Lakewood). “He was kind of joking about it going to Brook Park while trying to convince us that renovating the existing stadium would be the wisest and cheapest move.”

Bibb spoke about Cleveland Browns Stadium even less in his State of the City speech March 28 at the Mimi Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square. In that speech, which focused on a “bright future” for the city, he did not mention the stadium once although he did discuss lakefront development. But in separate communications, he has called keeping the Browns downtown a “priority.”

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/04/29/b...te-cost-sharing-for-either-stadium-site/

I think in the end this will boil down to building a dome stadium. I've heard it stated many times that the ground at the current stadium site will not support the weight of a dome stadium though I can't find any factual articles which supports that. If true I don't think the Halsam's will find it wise to continue forward with a stadium that does not have a dome. Maybe the city could come up with a sweet enough deal to keep the stadium downtown but IMO it would have to be one helluva sweetheart deal.

In the end, Cleveland will continue her 120 year tradition of talking about fixing the problem and not doing anything. Jimmy won't stand for it, and I don't blame him. He's offered to help in every way, they agreed to a timetable and have failed at every juncture. It's not all about the dome. The dome is simply the upside of washing his hands of the baboonery that is Cleveland politics.


Looking at Cleveland's 17th plan to develop the lakefront
By Nora McKeown Cleveland
PUBLISHED 11:00 AM ET Nov. 16, 2023
CLEVELAND — For the 17th time, the city of Cleveland has unveiled plans to develop the lakefront by the Browns stadium.

What You Need To Know
Cleveland has unveiled plans to develop the lakefront by Browns stadium

Since 1903, the city has put forward 17 plans with various methods of reaching the water

This plan would rely on a land bridge to connect Mall C to the waterfront, where residents could enjoy a sandy beach area and a park, restaurants, sports courts, exercise paths and more
The city doesn't yet have a price estimate for the project
Many are skeptical it will be seen through, as past attempts weren’t completed.

Nevertheless, leaders working on this plan remain optimistic this time will be different.

As the city’s planning director, Joyce Huang has played a large role in creating the plan to develop Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor, which she said has been a long time coming.

“We officially started planning it since 1903,” Huang said. “So, it’s been over a hundred years, but we really feel like this time is different.”

Since 1903, the city has put forward 17 plans with various methods of reaching the water.

In October, they unveiled the latest one, which they said is 60% complete, as they continue seeking community feedback.

“The master plan is really looking at what we’ll do on the lakefront once our connection is made,” Huang said.

The connection she’s referring to is the North Coast Connector plan to build a land bridge connecting downtown to the waterfront.

The concept has been in recent plans, getting mixed reviews from residents, some of whom believe it will be too costly.

Currently, a highway divides the lakefront area from downtown, limiting people’s ability to access the water.

“On top of Mall C up there, you’d just be looking across, but not able to actually walk or bike or roll across,” Huang said. “So, our goal is that we’d connect this section all the way over here so we can actually access the lakefront.”

Huang said the city is working to tie in plans for renovations at the Rock Hall and Browns stadium as well.

“We anticipate that all these different projects are going to come together and make one really great lakefront experience,” she said.

But to have that experience, residents need access to the water, and as of now, there’s no real place to do that in the area.

A 20-acre, city-owned parking lot, about the size of Edgewater Beach, sits right on the water, largely unused.

Huang said her role has been to listen to the community about how to best utilize that space.

“Our goal is to really see this become more active on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “So, we want to see people here every day of the year, whether it’s summer or winter time.”

Their plan involves creating a sandy beach, walking paths, sports courts, a splash pad, restaurants and more.

One element Huang is especially excited about is branding the area as “Cleveland’s Front Porch.”

“So, we’re going to develop 10 to 20 front porches that are almost going to be like little cabanas where you and your family can hang out and be a part of what’s happening all around you, but at the same time, have a little bit more of your space," she said. "We feel like that’s definitely a flavor of Cleveland.”

Huang said the city doesn’t have an estimate for the cost of the projects yet.

However, she said they’ve already been working to connect with state representatives for support on the project and have plans to apply for federal grants as well.

“We’re also prepared to make sure we can match that locally, so we’re coming up with some strategies on how to pay for the infrastructure as well as the overall park estimate,” she said.

Despite some skepticism from residents, Huang is confident the plan will be seen through, something she’s looking forward to as a resident as well as a city planner.

“I’m personally looking forward to when it’s all completed because I know my family will be here,” she said.

Huang said she’s hopeful the project will be completed in 10 years.

https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2023/11/10/cleveland-lakefront-proposal

They have been serious from the start. Haslam isn't going to wait for the city while they dork around. Haslam wants a dome and entertainment area. The area needs that. Investing a $billion in to the old stadium is stupid. You're still going to have an old outdoor venue that can't be utilized for half the year.

Lots of Cleveland sports people are beginning to share this rendering. Not sure how legit it is.

That looks sweet. Crocker Park with a domed stadium. People will go to that.

I don't have any population figures and don't intend to look them up, but I'd be willing to say the largest concentration of people live on the west side of Cleveland and the west and south suburbs. At least people who have some money to spend.

This right here. ^^^^^^

IMO this was a done deal long ago.

When Haslam went shopping for land and then bought Brook Park.

I'm rooting for the dome in Brookpark. Closer to Berea and Fairview Hospital, both of which I spent a lot of time at.

I am not sure the land has been purchased. Haslam has an option on the land. That is much like putting up earnest money when trying to buy a home. I don't know the terms of the option, but Haslam has put some sum of money down to keep the property from being sold to anyone else. If Haslam doesn't come through to purchase the land in a set time, the seller keeps the money.

Peen you are correct. Haslam has a land purchase agreement in place with an option to buy.

I hope the city of Cleveland works with Jimmy Haslam to make this project come to fruition. I don’t live in Cleveland but from what i’ve read and the artists rendering it looks like a win win for everyone involved. Jimmy and Dee Haslam are the best owners the Browns have ever had IMO. They really care about the team and are doing everything they can to bring a winner here. As a long time Browns fan that means a lot.

I don't go to enough games to care - I just want the site that works for most of you all

Go back and remember that Art Modell had a deal to play at the Ohio State stadium in Columbus while a new stadium was being built. Is that a reasonable idea or just nutty because of distance? They have what, seating for 100,000 or so!

What an ugly stadium. It looks like a barn and an airport hangar had a baby. And the baby is supposed to be a stadium??? I hope they dont go with this.

Eve, this is just our beloved Cleveland Browns being leaders and at the forefront of new and unprecedented ideas. The first organization to give a 100% guaranteed contract and now a completely new designed state of the art stadium. I've never been prouder to be a Cleveland Browns fan!!

If all that money will be spent, the least they could do is hire an architect with taste. That stadium is an abomination. You would be much prouder to have a gorgeous league leading stadium that doesnt look like an intern drew it. I dont want to be mocked by other teams about the barn we play in.

I know, and Haslam has relationships in Columbus. For me, it cuts 2 hours off my 600 mile drive and makes it 400 something....but it's still not the best place to see a game. I don't know that most Clevelanders would like driving to Columbus to see a game. You live on the near east side and don't go to games.

I am not putting you down, I am just saying.

I apologize if it has been mentioned in here before, but in what geographical location in regard to Cleveland, is this site? IE NE, Sw etc. of where the stadium is now.

Slightly south....maybe 5 miles and maybe 15 miles west, if that. Once on an interstate route, maybe a 15-minute drive, tops, barring a traffic hiccup.

I agree. They are investing and plan on investing billions in to the area. Some just don't imagine the scope of their planned investment.

It looks like Building 9 off of Rt. 21 in Massillon.

The Cleveland Barn in Brookpark. Has a nice ring to it.

Read a little about the new stadium vs renovating the current.

Haslam seem in what I have read want a dome. The new stadium would cost about double renovating the lakefront.
They are looking for about half public financing for either option.

If they went out to Brookpark, they could have the schedule meet the end of the current lease in 2029 if they start moving quickly for financing, permitting and site renovation. Construction schedule for Buffalo's stadium is about 36 months.

If they move, I wonder what that would do to the rest of the Flats renovation and the rest of the area around the current stadium.

If they move to Brookpark, they could recoup all of the cost associated with parking and the leases from the mixed use development around the stadium. They could control all of that for all events.

That picture did not show the stadium elevated. I looked it up and they said that they would have to recess the stadium into the ground because of the restrictions from Hopkins airport. And the FAA would have to sign off on the stadium

Thank you. I would be coming from SW Ohio that would be a bit closer for me.

I don't see any parking spots

Just trees buildings and people walking

Walking how far from a parking lot ?

Who knows, bro. This is a terrible rendition of something that would never, ever resemble the artist's drawings by the time it's built. It was an effort (and in that regard, a successful one) at saying "we're serious about this".

It doesn't clarify anything or answer any questions, it looks like a barn, and shows about as much excitement as a dead mouse. Speaking of mice, what's that big triangle half the size of the stadium? A cheese wedge??

Maybe there's a large parking garage behind the barn that's built to look like a giant rat trap? Your guess is as good as mine.

I feel like AI made this. The more I look at it, the less sense it makes. That big triangle, like Fate said, is what exactly? And whats going on on the left side? Is that some weird rideshare place, or a bus terminal, what is it supposed to be? And the stadium itself is a bunch of triangles thrown together.

Yeah, I could do as well with 90 minutes in MS Paint, circa 1997.

https://www.mercedesbenzstadium.com/

They need to model the stadium after this. By far the best NFL Stadium I've been in. And retractable roof. They hit the fan experience just right with this stadium. I've sat all over it and never had a bad time. I'll be going there tomorrow for a soccer match.

I will be in a club, not the best club but it's all inclusive. Here is the buffet menu for tomorrow https://am.ticketmaster.com/atlantaunited/harrahsmenu
Its a lot cheaper to go to soccer than NFL, but just as fun. Cleveland could get a soccer team and then youre set.

Check this out

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/03/26/browns-stadium-likely-going-to-brook-park-if/

Also, you guys have the power to comment on Cle media pages to get cheap concessions in the stadium. This is what we pay for generic stadium food: https://www.mercedesbenzstadium.com/menus/atl-fan-fare-2

Yell at them to do something similar. Put the fans first.

Now is the time to get everything you want as a fan. Start telling them.

Probably closer than walking from the muni. That is probably a good mile, mile and a half walk.

It's just a rendering of concepts of what that firm has designed before. Once things gets to official phase, we will see an actual model, rendition of what is going to be built.

No doubt club food in Cleveland lacks. In my lake club they have some decent spots, but nothing to get excited about. Still your basic burgers, dogs, and pizza/meatballs.

Maybe 10 years ago they had a buffet style server who had a beefed up menu every game. Sliced prime rib, salads, etc. I ate there many times. They would post up menus for each game similar to the menu options you linked.

I guess they just didn't do the business and one year they just weren't there anymore.

Thanks. That's a much better hint at the concept.

That really looks nice.

Cleveland or Brook-park, I just want a Browns team in Northern Ohio

Thank you for posting that.

It's going to stay in the area. The Haslams are dropping a ton of coin in the area. Not much is being said about the expansion at the training facility and the large plot of land they bought to develop some mixed use and public access...fields, etc. They have become big movers and shakers in NE Ohio.

Assuming this pans out, what do they now use the current facility for or at least the site of the current facility?

Surely they will demolish the stadium. It would be too expensive to maintain without Browns revenue. I assume they will come up with a lakefront development after dorking around for 10-15 years after debating various proposals.

They demolished that place a few years ago when they found a giant drug ring running out of it.

I heard it was a giant drug bracelet but I can't confirm that.

j/c...

Could the state chip in $600M for a new Browns stadium? A top Ohio lawmaker says the state doesn’t have it.

Story by Jeremy Pelzer, cleveland.com Updated: May. 07, 2024, 4:40 p.m.|Published: May. 07, 2024, 4:21 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—If the Cleveland Browns move ahead with building a proposed new, $2.4 billion stadium in Brook Park, the team would look for state government to cover $600 million of that cost.

But Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens said Tuesday that he doesn’t think the state should or could give that much money toward a new Browns stadium.

“We don’t have $600 million to give,” Stephens, a Lawrence County Republican, told reporters at the Ohio Statehouse. “I mean, it’s really easy to not support it when you don’t have it.”

Stephens said he would prefer to offer financial help to professional sports teams in Ohio by issuing bonds, either through the local municipality or some other sort of bonding authority.

But, Stephens added, “That doesn’t necessarily mean that taxpayers pay hundreds of millions of dollars for a stadium in Cleveland.

“Then Cincinnati, and then everybody else will be wanting a stadium,” he said.

Browns representatives, during closed-door meetings last month with state lawmakers from both parties, said the team is currently weighing whether to build the new stadium near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport or launch a $1 billion renovation of its existing downtown stadium.

In either case, lawmakers were told, the Browns want taxpayers to pay half the cost – $1.2 billion for a new stadium or $500 million to renovate the current stadium. The $1.2 billion in public funding for a new stadium, in turn, would be split evenly between state and local governments.

Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer has reached out to a Browns spokesman for comment on Stephens’ remarks and to see if the team still considers it possible to build its proposed new stadium without $600 million from the state.

Several lawmakers who attended last month’s meetings indicated to cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer that the proposal for $600 million in state funding wasn’t a total nonstarter.

However, they said, the meetings were intended for the Browns to make introductory presentations on their stadium plans and field general questions from lawmakers, not for team representatives to make a specific request for state funding.

"I think most every lawmaker there just wants to make sure that there’s a good deal for taxpayers if we’re using taxpayer dollars, and that it makes sense for taxpayers,” state Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, a Westlake Democrat who spearheaded the largest of the meetings with several Northeast Ohio state representatives, said at the time.

Ohio House Finance Committee Chair Jay Edwards, an Athens County Republican who talked with Browns representatives in a different meeting, previously said he thinks the team is looking for lawmakers to include state funding – whether it’s for a new stadium or a renovation of its existing one – either in next year’s two-year state operating budget or in a 2026 state capital budget.

It remains to be seen whether Stephens will still be House speaker when either of those two spending bills move forward, as term-limited Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican, is looking to take the speaker’s gavel from Stephens next year.

If the Browns move ahead with the Brook Park stadium, they want to open it in time for the 2029 NFL season, a year after the lease on their current stadium ends, Edwards said he was told.

Even if state lawmakers approve Browns stadium funding of some sort, any such appropriation would have to be signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine.

DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney previously said the governor is generally supportive in principle about providing state funding for stadium projects because they contribute to a better quality of life in Ohio and help lure in out-of-state businesses. The governor spoke about the Browns’ stadium plans with team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, as well as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, in Cleveland last December, prior to attending a game between the Browns and the Chicago Bears.

But Tierney said Tuesday that he wouldn’t comment on whether the governor supports the idea of spending $600 million – or any amount of state money — on a new Browns stadium until team and local government officials reach a final agreement on what each of them would contribute to the project.

“It’s a bit premature to comment on any funding split, because we don’t have a concrete plan,” he said.

Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024...maker-says-the-state-doesnt-have-it.html

I don't normally pay attention to what a single politician says on matters such as this. Somehow if politicians decide they want to spend money on something they find it. He himself may not want to but he's a single voice which he will need a lot of others to follow his lead.

Or print it.

I know that hapens at the federal level because they have the power to do that. I'm not sure that applies at the state and local levels however.

State of Ohio has 3.7 billion in their rainy day fund, it is maxed out. So when the next surplus comes, where does it go?

Personally, I prefer floating a bond issue. But that's just me.

I apologize if this has been posted, but it has some interesting takes.

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2...rowns-stadium-handouts-brent-larkin.html