Browns Already Getting Major Pushback on $2.4B Dome Plan

The Browns have made it clear they want to move out of their current downtown Cleveland stadium when that lease expires in 2028, and move into a new $2.4 billion dome about 15 miles away in suburban Brook Park. But the effort is already facing significant regional opposition.

Last week, the Browns unveiled renderings (above) and details of their vision for a new stadium. But on Sunday, two Cuyahoga County leaders released a letter pushing back on the NFL team’s plan, claiming it “does not make fiscal sense” for residents and taxpayers. The Browns are asking for a 50-50 partnership, meaning public funding would amount to $1.2 billion. 

“We are writing to affirm our united commitment to keep the Browns in downtown Cleveland for generations to come,” the letter from Cuyahoga County executive Chris Ronayne and council president Pernel Jones Jr. read. The team has been considering a $461 million offer from Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb to help renovate Cleveland Browns Stadium downtown. This came despite the Brook Park City Council passing a resolution encouraging the Browns to strongly consider building a stadium there.

In a response to the Cuyahoga County letter, Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam wrote, “It would be short-sighted for Northeast Ohio to rule out any options at this point for a long-term decision of this magnitude.” 

On Monday night, potential renovations to the Browns’ downtown stadium is on the agenda of a Cleveland City Council meeting. 

Seen This Before?

The stadium developments surrounding the Browns in some ways mirror one of the franchise’s midwest NFL neighbors.

Earlier this year, the Bears and Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson released plans for a $4.7 billion domed lakefront stadium that would replace Soldier Field downtown. However, the office of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker eventually branded the Bears’ effort, as currently constructed, a “nonstarter.” That led to Chicago suburbs Aurora and Arlington Heights both renewing their public pursuit of building a new stadium for the Bears.