Cuyahoga County officials on Sunday rejected the Browns’ request to build a dome in Brook Park.
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and County Council President Pernel Jones Jr. wrote a public letter to Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam supporting the proposed $1.1 billion renovation of Cleveland Browns Stadium and opposing the team’s move from the lakefront. The county’s position aligns with that of the city of Cleveland.
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“Today we write to reaffirm our shared commitment to keep the Browns in Downtown Cleveland for generations to come,” the letter said. “The proposal to build a new stadium in Brook Park does not make financial sense for the residents and taxpayers of Cuyahoga County. We believe it is our responsibility and in the best interest of our community to prioritize investments in existing public assets.”
The Browns have not yet committed to building the $2.4 billion dome at Brook Park, but they publicly expressed their support last week, including releasing visuals of the stadium and surrounding area.
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The Haslams responded to the county on Sunday.
“A stadium project that could be a transformative opportunity for this region requires careful thought, objectivity, innovation and patience,” their statement said. “The process of renovating or building a new stadium is incredibly complex. We have been reminded many times that the problems with the current stadium are the result of a rushed and incomplete process, and we do not want to see that repeated.”
The lease for the lakefront stadium expires after the 2028 season.
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The Haslams wrote that they are still “carefully evaluating” both stadium options. They responded to Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s renovation proposal, which calls for a 30-year lease on the current site with a total city investment of $461 million that does not include any new commitments from the county or state, and are awaiting the city’s answers to “our detailed questions.”
“It would be shortsighted for Northeast Ohio to eliminate all options for a long-term decision of this magnitude at this time,” the Haslams said in their statement. “Collaboration and openness in thoroughly reviewing this project are critical to achieving the goal of finding and implementing the best long-term and sustainable stadium solution for this region.”
In its public proposal, the city of Cleveland argued that moving home games away from downtown — where they have been played since the franchise was founded in 1946 — would cause major financial harm. The county joined the chorus.
“Billions of dollars have been invested in Downtown Cleveland over the past decade, and we believe that a strong, vibrant urban core is critical to our region,” the letter said. “A renovation of the downtown stadium will build on these investments and anchor future development along the lakefront.”
“The team represents the heart and soul of Northeast Ohio and reinforces the identity and pride of our community. Browns fans have a deep-rooted emotional connection to the team’s rich history in Downtown Cleveland.”
The team argues for the dome, saying it is “the more transformational option … creating a modern, dynamic, world-class venue that would greatly enhance the fan experience and enable Ohio State and our region to compete in some of the world’s biggest events 365 days a year,” David A. Jenkins, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Haslam Sports Group, wrote in a letter to season ticket holders.
