DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Haslems Buy 176 Acre Property In Brookpark

I think they will. With a glass roof I don't see why it couldn't be like a greenhouse. I am sure it will be angled just right to catch maximum sun and some roof vents/ exhausts to allow excess heat to escape in the warmer months.

Just saw the rendering of the Propsed stadium in Brookpark, Damn, that's impressive. Just wish they'd build it on the lake.

It won’t be grass. It’s too difficult/expensive to deal with during other events like concerts and trade shows. The Browns will soon be a dome team playing on artificial turf.

I wonder if they have transparent windows so they can use real grass.

I don't think it will be a question of "if they can" use real grass but a question of how difficult it would be to use real grass. If it were going to be used as nothing but a sports stadium it probably wouldn't be an issue. But that wouldn't be the case. It would also be a concert venue and a multi use facility for different events. The practicality of trying to keep a grass field in tact and maintained for everything from concerts to Wrestlemania just isn't going to work. As it pertains to football games there will far more than likely be less football games played there than other events on an annual basis.

Retractable grass field like 'Zona!!!! (I'm kidding).

I'd love a combo of window roof and real grass

Fair point.

However, concerts and other events have been staged at large sports stadiums for decades and i don’t think they created many problems in terms of wrecking the grass. Certainly not in the long term.

Mother Nature is good at correcting things and not only that, groundskeepers are too.

I just believe that there is a greater chance of injury on the fake stuff.

I tend to agree, but they can install a temporary platform elevated off the grass a foot or so. It isn't impossible.

Both Portland and yourself have made me rethink this, but I don't think we can just summarily rule out a grass surface.

It can be done. Went to a Kenny Chesney concert a good number of years ago in Cleveland. Whatever the stadium was called back then. A good 3/5ths of the field was seating, as well as about half of the stadium seats.

It can be done. It's just "how much does/would it cost to do?"

I have no idea, but I agree, they wouldn't sell out half the stadium seating. Maybe 1/3 to half the seats, then field seating. You would only need decking from maybe the endzone to maybe the 30 yard line.

If they want to attract international Soccer matches, they will need a way to have a grass pitch, even if it's temporary. Those players hate turf with a passion.

good point

It's most certainly not impossible. The thing is you would either have to cover the grass for every event other than an alternative sporting event, then in turn uncover the field or leave the platform up for all the off season events which would destroy the grass field every off season. There is the other option of replacing the grass field at the beginning of every season. The grass field would have to be open between every event to keep it alive and fresh.

With an artificial field you could take the turf off after the season and leave it that way for most every event between seasons. As I said, I agree it's not impossible but the difficulty factor and cost difference involved certainly make it seem like it isn't a practical solution. I guess we would have to wait and see just how much cost Haslam would be willing to undertake to satisfy the purists.

Or you do like AZ or LV and use a retractable natural grass field

j/c...

From the NEOTrans blog...

County officials urge Haslams to keep Browns downtown
By Ken Prendergast / August 11, 2024

Letter says Brook Park stadium plan is financially ‘risky’

Two Cuyahoga County leaders sent a letter today to Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam urging the football team to keep playing at the stadium on the Downtown Cleveland lakefront rather than build a new domed stadium in suburban Brook Park. County Executive Chris Ronayne and Cuyahoga County Council President Pernel Jones Jr. said the Haslams’ Brook Park plan “does not make fiscal sense.”

A press briefing by Ronayne, Jones and possibly others is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Cleveland, Ronayne told NEOtrans. There, more information will provided to clarify the county’s stance, he said.

The letter throws cold water on the Haslams’ vision released only four days ago. The reason is because it is likely that some county funding, or at least a county-approved funding mechanism, be provided to help finance construction of a proposed $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park. The Haslams have pledged that the new stadium be a 50/50 public/private financial partnership.

“Today we are writing to affirm our united commitment to keep the Browns in Downtown Cleveland for generations to come,” Ronayne and Jones said in the joint letter to the Haslams.

“The proposal to build a new stadium in Brook Park does not make fiscal sense for Cuyahoga County residents and taxpayers,” Ronayne and Jones added. “Moreover, any proposal that would create an unacceptable risk to the county’s general fund cannot be considered. We believe it is our responsibility and in the best interests of our community to prioritize reinvestment in public assets.”

NEOtrans reached out via e-mail to Peter John-Baptiste, chief communications officer of the Browns and the Haslam Sports Group for comment. The e-mail was opened but not responded to as of yet. This article will be updated or followed by another if and when he does.

“Importantly, we are not looking to tap into existing taxpayer-funded streams, which could divert resources from other pressing needs,” said Dave Jenkins, chief operating officer of the Haslam Sports Group and Cleveland Browns, in a letter to the team’s fans that was publicized last week.

“We are instead working on innovative funding mechanisms with local, county, and state officials that would leverage the fiscal impact of the project and the unprecedented private contribution to support the public investment and generate a substantial return for Brook Park, Cuyahoga County, and the state of Ohio,” Jenkins added.

Earlier this month, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb publicly released details of the city’s $461 million share to fund a $1 billion renovation of the 1999-built Cleveland Browns Stadium on the downtown lakefront. That was intended to keep the Browns downtown at the conclusion of their 30-year lease which ends after the 2028 National Football League season.

“Losing the Browns would harm Cleveland and all Clevelanders,” Bibb said in written press statement. “Lower spending downtown would negatively affect tax revenues that provide essential services for a city in need. It would close businesses, cost jobs, empty out storefronts, and make our downtown feel less alive.”

Some insiders have said the stadium is decaying rapidly and may not last through a new 30-year lease to the Browns. The Haslams conducted an assessment of the stadium when it developed optional plans for renovating the stadium. But the assessment has not been publicly released by the Haslams or the city. The assessment said $400 million worth of basic structural repairs were needed just to keep the facility open.

That report was in addition to Osborne Engineering conducting a routine facility audit on the stadium in October 2023. The audit is required every five years by the Browns and the city as part of the team’s current lease. It said the stadium’s building systems will need $117 million in capital repairs over the next 10 years. A $3.5 million emergency repair request is currently pending before City Council two years after $10 million in repairs were made.

“While significant work remains, the more we have explored the Brook Park option, the more attractive it has become, and we are excited to share the current vision with you,” Jenkins said in releasing conceptual plans including a video presentation of the stadium and $1.2 billion in proposed, surrounding development.

But Ronayne and Jones cited the billions of dollars of investment into Downtown Cleveland in recent years and said it is their belief that “a strong, vibrant downtown core is critical to our region.” They said that if county, city and the Haslams work together, they can expand on the many public investments that have already been made.

Ronayne and Jones specified the construction of and renovations to Progressive Field and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, plus the county-funded Hilton Hotel and the Huntington Convention Center, and private investments including the new Sherwin-Williams headquarters, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame expansion and the Flats East Bank.

“A renovation of the downtown stadium will build on those investments and anchor future investments on the lakefront,” today’s letter continued. “We acknowledge this transformational investment is about more than just dollars and cents. The stadium is more than just a venue. The team represents the heart and soul of Northeast Ohio and reinforces our community’s identity and pride. Browns fans have a deep-rooted emotional connection to the team’s rich history in Downtown Cleveland.”

In an interview 10 days ago, Ronayne told NEOtrans that the discussion involving where the Browns play could have impacts on Cleveland’s other top pro teams — the Major League Baseball Guardians and the National Basketball Association Cavs.

“The Browns are part of a broader discussion involving all three major (Cleveland) sports teams — the Guardians, Cavs and the Browns,” Ronayne said. “And our goal is to effectuate a strong public-private partnership that’s fair to the citizens of Cuyahoga County and fosters a long-term relationship of all three teams. Our focus now and into the future will be in assuring that long-term relationship.”

Creating a year-round venue outside of downtown that could host other athletic and entertainment events could also end up competing with the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse arena and Progressive Field ballpark. As noted earlier, the county has invested in both facilities. And at the end of the Cavs’ and Guardians’ leases in 2034 and 2036, respectively (both of which have lease extension options for up to another 10 years), each team may want new facilities if the Browns get a new stadium.

The county is also facing a financial challenges at the MetroHealth System where CEO Airica Steed was fired last week — the second CEO to be fired from the county-owned health care provider since 2022. The health system may need county help to cover construction bonds for more than $1 billion in new hospital facilities. Meanwhile the county has yet to decide where its future $400 million to $700 million Consolidated Courthouse will be located.

https://neo-trans.blog/2024/08/11/county-officials-urge-haslams-to-keep-browns-downtown/

That just sounds like a lot of whining by the county leaders and the mayor in the article.

Problem is lakefront site doesn't have the ability to create the complex the Haslams want.. I think the Brook Park complex would do wonders for the area, whether they know it or not yet (city of cleveland) it will bring alot of revenue to NE ohio year round.

There are a lot of Clevelanders that do not want want their taxes raised, let alone to the the tune of being on the hook for the $1.2B the Haslams want from the tax payer. It's easy to side with Haslam when you do not have any skin the game. Not a shot at you at all, SPF. Just offering a differing angle. The Chiefs and Royal fans just rejected a tax increase to renovate their respective stadiums.

A couple of interesting reads...

https://journalistsresource.org/economics/sports-stadium-public-financing/

https://globalsportmatters.com/business/2022/06/15/so-your-city-wants-sports-stadium/

No worries Milk, that is why I only posted one sentence. I was only taking the article at face value. I am definitely not educated in this realm. Much appreciated for the information. You are absolutely correct, the added taxes won't have any bearing on me. The other parts of it were interesting too.

The quote (from your article I commented on) that got me was this:


II understand, that is a lot of foot traffic/business lost, I was thinking: the businesses still have the Cavs bringing in revenue. That wouldn't closes businesses and etc. Hence, why I thought it was whining. Then I read this from one of your articles:


Interesting, my assumption looks to be wrong too. Thanks, for the other side of the subject about this.

How would reinvesting in CBS add to economic impact? Also, I haven't seen where there is a proposed tax increase to fund the dome. If anything it would have been an extension to taxes already in place. Lets face it it, if the tax is already in place, it isn't going to be repealed.

My thought was they are just trying to make things difficult to try to wring some "campaign contributions" from the Haslams.

j/c...

I-TEAM: Ohio governor involved in talks about Browns stadium
by: Talia Naquin, Ed Gallek, Peggy Gallek
Posted: Aug 15, 2024 / 10:51 AM EDT
Updated: Aug 15, 2024 / 10:51 AM EDT

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Fox 8 I-Team has learned Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne met with Governor Mike DeWine this week to discuss the Browns stadium project.

City officials confirmed the mayor and county executive met with Governor DeWine on Wednesday to discuss funding options to keep the Browns in Downtown Cleveland.

We reached out to county officials and have not yet heard back.

“The state has already committed $20M toward lakefront development and renovating the downtown stadium will build on these investments and help anchor the North Coast development,” the city’s statement reads.

“The City of Cleveland has put forward an economically responsible plan designed to benefit both the Cleveland Browns and the entire community. This proposal supports the Browns’ exciting transformation plans and enhanced fan experience at the lakefront site.”

Both the mayor and the county executive want the Browns to keep the stadium in Cleveland believing it is vital for “sustaining downtown’s successes, regional health, and global image.”

The city recently revealed they sent an offer of $461 million over 30 years to the Browns.

Meantime, the Browns are also considering building a dome in Brook Park.

This week, the I-Team found the Browns do not have a timetable for a decision, and they do not have a financing plan finalized.

https://fox8.com/news/i-team-ohio-governor-involved-in-talks-about-browns-stadium/

Government officials scrambling at the last minute because they balked on this issue for the past few years.

From the outside looking in, this has been handled very poorly by the administrations at the city and county level.

They really have. I don't remember specifics, but they were expected to have their homework done well over a year ago and sat down at the table with basically nothing done. I don't know Jimmy personally, but I know damn well he's not the type of guy that does his part and is okay with the other party being a slacker.

That's where this whole thing started to crumble because he forged ahead at the fork in that road and the city stuck out a thumb to hitchhike back and fill an empty gas can.

Agreed. The city aand county got caught with their pants down when the Browns released that video of the stadium and development in Brook Park. That new dome curried a lot of favor with the fans which I'm sure was part of the intent as well with the timing of its release. Win public favor.

I've for months the city is going to release it's plan/vision for the rehabilitation of the current statement with development around the lakefront and it has been crickets. That or the design is boring and they know the public will give it a thumbs down so they're in a mad dash to re-work the renderings.

This sounds like a re-run of the early 1990's. At least this time there's a local alternative without the team leaving the state or the area in general.

I hate the fact that our city and county government - when they're not corrupt - always seem to be mired in ineptitude and inability to move forward.

I said it before...Cleveland has a Wal-Mart mentality. If it's cheaper, it better.

...also true.

Why the hell would he instigate and say something stupid like this? Local leadership continues to disappoint.

'This dog doesn't hunt.' Cuyahoga County leaders say they won't back a new Browns stadium in Brook Park
County Executive Chris Ronayne and Council President Pernel Jones Jr. are urging the Cleveland Browns to stay Downtown and renovate on the lakefront
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cuyahoga-county-no-brook-park-dome-stadium

We need a QB not a new stadium. Just saying.

Needing both doesn't negate needing one or the other.

It's official Brookpark !

https://fox8.com/news/cleveland-browns-announce-move-to-brook-park-i-team/

This is my shocked face.

I felt quite strongly this would be the ultimate decision all along if they could get it funded. I can't think of a single reason why they would have decided otherwise.