Browns Sue Cleveland Over ‘Modell Law’ Threatening Suburban Dreams

The Browns filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Cleveland, seeking to have a law trying to keep them from moving stadiums unconstitutional.

The legal action comes one week after team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced plans to move the team to a $2.4 billion domed stadium in suburban Brook Park, about 15 miles south of the city. They did so despite the city of Cleveland saying it would give nearly $500 million to renovate the current football stadium.

But Ohio, scarred from losing the Browns to Baltimore in the 1990s, put safeguards in place to keep its teams. The restriction—known as the “Modell Law” after owner Art Modell who shipped the team to Maryland—says any pro team in the state playing in a tax-supported venue that receives funding from a state or political subdivision needs to get permission or give at least six months’ notice to play somewhere new (with an option to let someone in the city buy the team). The Browns lease their current Huntington Bank Field from the city, where they’ve been since 1999 and have a deal to stay until after the 2028 season.

The team filed the suit Tuesday in the Northern District of Ohio before the city had the chance to strike first (the filing cites City Law Director Mark Griffin’s recent comments about doing “everything we can” to keep the Browns downtown).

The suit says the Browns “do not desire conflict” with Cleveland, but want to clarify the Modell Law. “The Browns dispute that the Modell Law is constitutional or enforceable, and in any event, deny any violation of the Modell Law,” the filing says.

“The city was just made aware of this lawsuit and are in the process of gathering information,” a city of Cleveland spokesperson said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “Our city ordinances specifically require the city to enforce the Modell Law.  Beyond that, we must protect our taxpayers’ investment in the team and are committed to doing everything we possibly can to keep them in downtown Cleveland. We are compiling information, researching case law, and evaluating next steps before moving forward with formal litigation action – which will likely occur in the coming weeks.”

An attorney for the team did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Despite its suit against the city, the team is looking for up to $1.2 billion in public funding for the Brook Park stadium. Mayor Justin Bibb has said the team’s decision to move is “frustrating and profoundly disheartening,” but said the city’s “door is not closed” in regard to renewing talks of keeping the team downtown.

All of this is happening as the Browns are struggling on the field with a 1–6 record and an injured Deshaun Watson. The quarterback’s season is over thanks to an Achilles tear, and while “some portion” of his remaining salary for this year is insured, the team will still owe him $92 million for the two years remaining on his contract.