Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb wants the Browns to remain on the lakefront for another 30 years after a $1 billion facelift.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
WHITE SUPHUR SPRINGS, WV
The battle lines are clearly drawn now in the debate about a future home for the Cleveland Browns.
While Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam lean toward a $2.4 billion indoor stadium and surrounding commercial and retail district in Brook Park, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has dug in to keep the Browns on the lakefront.
Bibb unveiled a proposal that would commit $461 million towards a $1 billion renovation of the existing open-air stadium. A press release issued by the city said no city services would be impacted by Bibb’s financing proposal.
In a letter to the Haslam Sports Group, Bibb wrote:
“We are unified in our belief that transforming the current facility is unquestionably in the best interests of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. We do not believe any public financial support should responsibly be made available for development of a stadium outside of the City of Cleveland.”
In the letter, Bibb asked the Haslams to respond by August 12, a source confirmed. It is unclear what happens if they don’t.
Bibb’s proposal is his first public comment on the stadium issue since news broke in March that HSG has a purchase option for 176 acres near the airport in Brook Park. The Haslams confirmed in March that they are exploring building an indoor stadium on the site.
Although the Haslams maintain they still consider a renovation of the existing stadium an option, momentum towards the Brook Park site picked up this week at the team’s temporary training camp at The Greenbrier Resort.
The Haslams said on Saturday that their unscientific polling shows fans favor the indoor stadium. Two days later, in an uncharacteristic move for him, GM Andrew Berry publicly endorsed it, saying it would be best for fans and players.
In a response to Bibb’s proposal, the Browns issued a statement through Dave Jenkins, COO of Haslam Sports Group, that indicated they weren’t scrapping the Brook Park idea.
The statement said:
“We appreciate the latest proposal from Mayor Bibb and his administration and will be following up with the City of Cleveland to better understand the details while we are still reviewing it. As we have said consistently throughout this process, we continue to communicate and collaborate with the cities of Cleveland and Brook Park, Cuyahoga County, and the State of Ohio on a long-term stadium solution that creates a world-class experience for our fans and positively impacts Northeast Ohio. We are working diligently to comprehensively examine all options to identify the best path for not only our fans, but also Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Our region deserves to be thought of as evolving, forward-thinking, and innovative, so we need to think boldly and creatively in this process. It’s important to reiterate that the goal is to come up with the best experience we can for our fans while creating a long-term, sustainable stadium solution that drives an impact that benefits Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio region, and the entire State of Ohio. We will continue to provide updates as we have more information to share.”
Bibb’s proposal includes $367 million of city aid through increases in admission taxes ($227 million), Cuyahoga County sin tax revenues ($120 million) and existing stadium capital reserves ($20 million). The remaining $94 is made of projected parking revenue after the city turned over Willard Garage and the Muni Lot to the Browns for exclusive use on game days and other event days.
The current stadium was built in 1999 and will be 30 years old when the Browns’ lease expires after the 2028 season. Bibb’s proposal calls for another 30-year lease term.
Although the Haslams initially proposed a massive renovation of the lakefront stadium, they say it wouldn’t solve the location’s accessibility problems and lack of parking.
Bibb’s proposal includes developing about 20 acres between the stadium and Lake Erie, which currently is used for game day parking.
In the press release announcing his plan, Bibb said, “Losing the Browns would harm Cleveland and all Clevelanders. 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.
“We also can’t lose sight of how a new venue would cost taxpayers—including Clevelanders—hundreds of millions more while undermining the city and region's other critical needs. A strong urban core drives success for the entire region.”
Jimmy Haslam has previously said he hoped to have a unified plan in place with everyone’s support by the end of the 2024 calendar year. That leaves five months to form a consensus.