![]() “They’re all talking to them on a regular basis,” Jimmy Haslam said. He said Jenkins and Tywang reach out to them weekly if not “almost daily.” He complimented the team’s Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins and Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Ted Tywang for their frequency of conversations with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted and Governor Mike DeWine. But I can’t predict what’s going to happen because it’s really complex.” I think it’s premature to say that (a new stadium is possible) because we’re really focused on staying downtown on the lakefront. We think the connection bridge has to happen regardless of what happens with our stadium. That’s a really important part of who Cleveland should be. Outside of us, the lakefront in Cleveland has to be developed. We think we’re an integral part of the lakefront, a really important part and we want to be a part of the process. And we look forward to continuing our conversations with the city on how we develop the lakefront. Now, it seems the city wants fewer stadium improvements and/or a lower financial contribution. The team source said the Browns wanted a new stadium on the northeast side of downtown but the cost and lack of city support for it doomed the idea. Adding a fixed roof could cost upwards of $2.5 million and a retractable roof at least $3.5 billion. But given the nature of the comments made in the press conference yesterday, it likely dealt with how much of a financial contribution from the city could be forthcoming versus contributions from the county, region and state.Ĭost of renovating the 24-year-old, 67,431-seat stadium when the Browns’ lease with the city ends after the 2028 season could reach nearly $1 billion, or half the cost of building a new, comparably sized, open-air stadium, according to real estate sources. The team source declined to identify what points in the negotiations with the city were causing the reported disagreement. Highland Hills - 330 acres of the Highland Hills Golf Course owned by the City of Cleveland between Harvard Road, Chagrin Boulevard, Northfield Road and South Green Road īrook Park - 175 acres owned by a three-company joint venture called DROF BP I LLC (“Ford” backwards, “BP” for Brook Park) which was the Ford Motor Co.’s engine and casting plants at Snow and Engle roads. Independence - 157 acres owned by the cities of Independence, Brooklyn Heights and several private owners north of Rockside Road between Lombardo Center and West Creek Road A mostly vacant, 100-plus-acre site with as few different owners as possible, that’s close to an Interstate highway interchange or two and accessible to public transit would be preferred for the National Football League venue, he said. The stadium was apparently built poorly and quickly, requiring numerous repairs despite the fact it is only 24 years old (KJP).Ī real estate source suggested three potential suburban sites might be on the Haslams’ radar if talks with Cleveland break down. In 2021, when it was called FirstEnergy Stadium, the city-owned lakefront venue hosted a preseason workout for the Cleveland Browns. ![]() And did their comments mean that the suburbs are on the table for a football/multiple-purpose stadium if things don’t progress with the city? The source, contacted by NEOtrans after the Haslams held their press conference on Monday, was asked if there was anything to read into the Haslam’s remarks. ![]() The source added that, if the team doesn’t see more progress, it could leave Cleveland for a new stadium in the suburbs. Among other remarks, Jimmy Haslam interjected that “The only thing Dee and I would say for sure is we’re not leaving Northeast Ohio.” According to a team source familiar with its negotiations with the city of Cleveland, that remark was a subtle nudge to the city to resolve an apparent impasse in negotiations. ![]() Browns-city negotiations are ‘stalled’Īt a press conference this week, Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam raised some eyebrows with their comments about the current stadium and where the football team might play in the future. That is what apparently prompted the team’s owners to drop a subtle warning this week to the city that it could the city leave for the suburbs (AoDK). Talks between representatives of the Cleveland Browns and the City of Cleveland about renovations to the existing football stadium and lakefront development, portrayed here, reportedly have hit reportedly stalled. ![]()
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