DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Your First Browns Game

What details can you remember about your first Browns game (that you attended)? Date, stats, weather, anecdotes, etc?


Sunday November 7, 1993 ... I was 7 years old

Denver Broncos vs Cleveland Browns (1:00 start time)


I remember it was a cold/gray autumn afternoon. I attended with my cousin and my grandfather (we stayed in Cleveland at a hotel on Saturday night, which was quite a treat). I was raised to be an avid Browns fan, but also remember thinking we had little chance against "Elway."


We got down early (16-0) and ended up losing 29-14 in a pretty uneventful game.

A few things I remember:

1. the urinals seemed so strange to me ... and the bathroom was packed!
2. when we got to our seats (endzone seats) someone had left a HUGE pack of football cards ... I was pumped
3. i ate a ton of food ... hotdogs and popcorn IIRC
4. it began to flake some snow towards the 2nd half
5. the walk to the stadium seemed to take FOREVER
6. i remember being confused that the lake outside the stadium was Lake Erie (the same one near my house?!)
7. Metcalf was an electrifying player ... fans were loud when he had it
8. on the drive home we listened to sports radio talking about the game and my grandpa was swearing
9. the hotel we stayed at (Quail Hollow) had an exceptional pool and great room service
10. fans HATED Elway


you guys turn...

Home opener. 1989. I was 6. Browns beat the Steelers 51-0. Best day ever.

Edit: I just talked to my brother about it. My memory is shot. We were actually in Pittsburgh for that game. Wow, you think I'd remember that. Went with our family who lived there at the time.

I wasn't able to hit my first browns game until last year. Also against Denver. At least last year it went to OT so it had some good back and forth action to it. I wish our team was better last year, but at least I will be able to say I saw Peyton play in person.

1979 or earlier? Not sure. My dad had season tickets for quite a few years and I went to 2-3 per year, sharing with my older sister.

I remember always getting a new pennant after each game, that's about it.

I drove my Dad down to Cincinnati to watch us beat the Bungles. 1980. I remember my Dad laughing about us getting back to the car, because he said we were getting some mean looks from some Cinci fans. I had my Browns gear on but my Dad was not really a fan of anyone. I asked why he clapped when we scored if he wasn't a fan, and he said "cause that's what you wanted", Good Times

Don't remember a whole lot. I was about 19. Would've been probably 1989. It was a little chilly. Seats? When I looked behind me, the Indian that was at the old stadium was right there.

I don't remember who they played, if they won or not. But I was hooked on going to the games at that point. Seeing the orange hats come out of the dugout onto the field, the song they played (I wish so bad I knew the name of the song).

First Browns game I went to was in 1975 or 76.. it was in Pittsburgh at 3 Rivers Stadium. We sat at the very top of the stadium with our backs against the concrete at the top. I'm pretty sure the Browns lost and I remember that it was so cold my weenie almost froze and fell off.

11/19/1967 against the Vikings. 14-10 win. I remember seeing Collin's, Warfield, E. Green, Groza, and Ryan playing.

11/1968 vs Steelers at old Pit Stadium

45-24 or something like that win

loved that old stadium, first one I ever saw that was dug out so when you entered you at the top level, common now but so much then.

Remember my dad telling me to cool my enthusiasm since we were out of town fans.... still it was an ass kicking.

I was at that game....the Browns beat the bungles 27-24 to clinch the AFC Central. It was frickin' cold but we were dressed for it. The game featured the "hit heard round the world"....Thom Darden laying out Pat McNally. We heard that hit in the upper deck. Sipe's bomb to Rickey Feacher was a thing of beauty.

I couldn't remember the score, but I do remember it was pretty cold. My Dad was asking me who the little guy was throwing the ball all over the place, I said it was Sipe! We had nose bleed seats, but even my Dad jumped up on that long pass, I just remembered what a shot that was. My Dad, God rest his soul. Good Times

Dec. 29, 2002.
My only game so far.

• flew to Cleveland the day before, met up with some buddies from Ontario who drove down - not Browns fans.
• tailgated beforehand, didn't drink but a cool bunch of guys gave us food, lotsa laughs.
• had to get past bomb-sniffing dogs at media entrance.
• didn't sit with the fans, had a media box pass, which allowed me to go down to the field at the two-minute warning. Was in the end zone opposite dawg pound when Atlanta was driving at the end and it was so loud, quite intense, I was very jacked up. I remember how grey the the darkening sky was at the end, when Rudd stuffed the Falcons back on 4th down at the one.
• Botch ran right by me pumping a fist at the stands, also remember northcutt and William green running past.
• that was the game we won to make the playoffs with a goal-line stand, William Green's 64-yard TD.
• 24-16 Browns, I still have the Plain Dealer newspaper from the next day.

• the Falcons kicker hit the upright just before the half on a FG attempt
•Holcomb hit Kevin Johnson with a 16-yard TD pass on third down
• there was one play where Vick was running around forever escaping sacks, couldn't find anyone open and fumbled when he got hit. Might have been Gerard warren
• before he got hurt, Tim Couch was picked off throwing into basically triple coverage.
• a couple fans tried to get into the field but the cops were on them as soon as they jumped over the wall.
• the media box had a buffet, I had a burger and salad , I think.
• at half-time some of the Browns assistant coaches showed up to chase down film from the first half.
I was talking to a guy in the media room and Carmen Policy walked up to this guy and said hello to him. The guy later pointed out Policy's personal bodyguard to me.
• interviewed Paul Zukauskus and Mark Campbell in the Browns locker room , found out Paul's mom grew up about two hours from where I live in Canada. She died about a year later.
• definitely a major weekend in my life. Never thought I'd get to a Browns game in Cleveland.
My problem at Hopkins the next day is another story lol.

Could you imagine trying to find something that small in such a large place?

August 15, 1970

My brother took me to see the Browns beat the niners 17 - 10 at Tampa stadium. I was 11 and the happiest kid on the planet.

Don't remember the exact date but it was '03, playing Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, we lost but I got to see Ben throw his first pick six-against us.

2002 Preseason game against the Lions. I think we lost the first half, but won the game. Safe to say I was hyped. A great weekend where my Dad showed me his childhood home in Berea. Caught an Indians game the next day. Really cemented my belief in all things Cleveland.

I think it may be 10/9/2016.

I have seen 2 or 3 games in San Diego, but I think I may be back in Cleveland for this date.

It happened when I was an adult. I dont remember much other than we were sitting in the nose bleed seats and it was very cold. We lost. Dont remember who we played.

I have much better memories watching at the sports bar.

Mid 70s. Against the Bills in Cleveland. OJ was winding down his career. Bitter cold, a lot of snow. Can't remember who won. I was a kid and I remember running up a down escalator so I could ride it back down because there were heaters over it.

I also remember walking back to the car and my step-father not being able to find his keys. They were in the car, in the ignition, and it was running. Car was warm once the police got us inside.

Been seeing at least one game a year since 2006. Joined the men's club at my church and we make an annual trek to see a game. Bus ride, tailgating, hitting Cleats in Strongsville on the way back to CBus. It's a great day.

And we're 6-4 in those games!

I honestly don't remember, but I did get to go to a few games when I was younger. I lived next door to a bookie who had season tix, and she would pass them along to my dad every once in a while. I remember seeing the Bengals, it had to be late 80's, early 90's.

I remember my first game at CBS/FES. 9/23/2001. It was a big deal, because it was the first slate of games after the 9/11/ attacks. It was an incredible scene. Ty Detmer threw 7 picks, and the Browns rolled. I will never forget that day.

It was against the Giants, we won. Otto was the QB. It was pretty cold as I recall, so maybe Dec? Nov?? I may have been 7 or 8, so 1955 or 56.

What I remember most is that my Dad took important people to games....business clients and associates...that day he took me, so to me, I became a important person that day. Yep, that's what I remember most.

Mom and Dad retired to Florida. He was a Tampa Bay Bucs season ticket holder since they entered the league. I was lucky enough to be able to see the Browns play with Daddy by my side 2-3 times before he passed in 95.

Funny how various memories bind us as people.

great story about you and your dad, thanks peen.

I agree ... something like an NFL franchise can connect families, strangers, etc ... memories are great

First game was vs Bengals in Cinci & it sucked. We were better but lot when Riley had Sipe pick 6.

First Cleveland stadium game also the Bengals in 1993 & the air show was going on at same time. Brown got down 14-0 and I was in shock. Then we started pummeling David Klinger with crush & rush, Jerry Ball & M D Perry.. Great 1st & goal line stand inside the 5 when it seemed every time Klingler tried to call signals a jet would fly over and they could not hear the snap. I think we won 27-14

How about my first Browns playoff game?

That was the 1st AFC Championship against the Broncos. I closed at work Sunday night, and drove up with a buddy to Cleveland to camp out and buy tickets. It was so cold, but they has barrels burning away, to keep people warm. I wound up talking to these 2 girls, and they actually gave me their money so we could get tickets together. That was really a huge trust move. It was cool though.

One thing that really struck me was how there was no mad stampede for the ticket windows, but a very orderly and polite bunch of Browns fans, who had been in the cold all night long. None of us had any idea how long tickets would last, because you never know how many tickets people are buying. I bought something like 11 or 12 total, including the ones I bought for the girls I was talking to.

And finally, I can say with absolute certainty, that final FG that"won" it for the Broncos was NO GOOD. We were sitting right behind that goalpost, and our section started cheering the miss, until the Refs raised their arms.

They WAS a big trust, kudos to you for rewarding it.

Well, in the interest of full disclosure .... they were both very cute girls .... lol

1994, at home in Municipal Stadium up in the cheap seats vs Arizona. They were still coached by Buddy Ryan at that point, Browns won in a shut out. Remember some kid got hurt and the instant Belicheck trotted onto the field, there was a LOUD chorus of boos.

Been to a few at the new stadium, haven't seen a win yet...

At this point I've been to multiple games at the stadium (including pre-season) so they sort of run together at this point, but I would guess first game would be around 2005. Started following the team around 03 and remember seeing Kelly Holcomb as our QB and then when I went to the game it was Trent Dilfer. I think we played the Bears or someone like that and remember losing.

After that game I was hooked and I started following the team all year around, through the draft and going to the training camps sometimes. Since this I've been to a share of games, maybe 4 or 5. My most memorable game in person was Browns vs Bengals in 2007 where we won 51-45 and Anderson took the starting role as QB and we went on to have the 10-6 season.

September 10, 1978 ~ Browns vs Bengals

I was 12 and just started watching football the previous year. Going to a game seemed like a really big deal to me. I was with my soon-to-be step-dad... besides a couple of fishing trips, this was one of our first "bonding" experiences.

We were stuck behind one of the infamous columns in the upper deck. The game was pretty boring, because the Browns couldn't score. "The Waterbug" was having a pretty big day, but we stayed in self-destruct mode and were down 10-0 late in the third. First a Cockroft FG going into the 4th. Then Sipe to Rucker with a couple minutes left in the fourth.

I remember, after our TD, some fool marching up the aisle "I'll bet anybody $10 we lose... Anybody? 10 bucks... we're gonna blow it like we always do... anybody? anybody?" as he glared up and down each aisle. By this time I was pretty blown away by the whole scene. People were getting pretty drunk and crazy. At the beginning of the 3rd some Hell's Angels showed up. There were three I could see, walking up and down three aisles in a row scanning the crowd - obviously looking for someone. I was scared lol. I had heard about them in the past but now I was watching one stare people down and everyone afraid to look back at him as he walked the aisles.

The game goes to OT. We win the toss and march straight down the field for a Cockroft FG to win. I was pretty excited that my first game went to OT. When we scored our TD, and then the FG in OT, and the old Muni erupted - that was the moment I became a Browns fan for life. The passion and exuberance, people turning around with high fives... and how that flowed all the way out through the hollow walkways and parking lot. Excitement still echoing in my ears as we walked out of the stadium and saw the party atmosphere outside... Everybody that followed from our general vicinity still making fun of the dude that had the nerve to think we would lose lol.

I'll never forget that day... I'll also never forget walking into the bathroom as a 12 year old and seeing everyone pissing in a trough and some drunk guy pissing in a sink lmao.

That was game 2. We started the season 3-0 before losing to the Steelers 15-9 in OT. I had high hopes. We finished 8-8 (again) and I was well on my way to learning the pain and anguish of being a Browns fan.

2004 vs Washington.

Top row, lake side. Chilly.

Jeff Garcia.

We rocked the stadium, it was shaking.

We won.

Downhill from there.

No. Warren recovered a fumble by an Atlanta receiver. Lang forced the fumble from Vick after a sack. Atlanta recovered and was forced to try a FG when in the red zone.

Ah, I see. It's been nearly 14 years, was just going by memory.

Edit: trolling day, berea?

I want to say 92 or 93, hosting the Oilers.

We lost.

My 2nd game was the last ever Pittsburgh visit to the Muni'. The Rock Hall of Fame was brand new and it was swarming w/ ugly black & yellow clothing. The chanting at the game went back & forth "Pittsburgh Sucks!" "Cleveland Sucks!" but by the 4th, everyone together chanted, "MODELL SUCKS!" Such a bitter-sweet (mostly bitter) memory.

We lost.

Only been to three games.
The first was in the old Muni against the Dolphins. Marino got hurt and Scott Mitchell came in and tore the Browns apart. Browns lose.
The second was a preseason game in the new stadium. The Browns won the meaningless game but Chris Spielman gets a career ending injury. So we actually lost.
The third was up in Seattle. The Couch lead Browns got dismantled.

I'm done with live games. We always lose in some fashion when I attend. It's better on TV anyway.

I remember that Seattle game. That was a bad one.

Not as bad as the Seattle game I went to in 2011 that we "won" 6-3.

Charlie Whitehurst vs Colt McCoy

That was awful. Seattle was missing their starting QB AND starting RB. That one against the Buffalo / Cleveland 6-3 game where DA went 2-17 and our receivers dropped 7 passes and we only won because McKelvin fumbled the punt inside of 2 minutes in field goal range... ugh. Two fish I'd like to throw back.

We won the Seattle game because of a phantom block in the back on a Seattle PR TD.

I also recall one game against a team where their backup QB threw something like 5-6 INTs, we forced like 10 turnovers, and BARELY won ... for some reason I think it was either against Cincy or Detroit

My dad took me to my first game in 1984 I think. It was sometime in November against the 49'ers. Montana was coming into his own and he promptly tore the Browns apart something like 41-7.

All I remember is that we had really good seats. Lower rows of the Upper Deck on the 50 yard line. Great view of everything.