Will Browns Stay in Downtown Cleveland? Mayor Turns to City for Stadium Help

Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb is turning to his constituents to help keep the Browns from moving to the suburbs. 

The negotiations between Bibb and team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam went public Thursday when Bibb announced a $461 million offer for publicly financed stadium renovations. 

Before Thursday, Bibb had kept negotiations between the city and team private. But the change comes days after Jimmy Haslam said he was still considering moving the team to a domed stadium in Brook Park, a suburb southwest of downtown by the area’s airport. 

“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.” Bibb said in a press release. “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.”

Parts of Bibb’s plan to keep the team downtown include giving the team $367 million ($227 million of which would come from increased taxes) over the 30-year lease term, with a five-year renewal option, and turning over two parking areas for the team to use on game days, potentially generating almost $100 million in revenues. 

Additionally, the city would waive the $250,000 the Browns pay in rent, which is consistent with the lease agreements of the city’s other two professional sports teams, the Guardians and Cavaliers. 

Bibbs also made a letter to the Haslams public. It asks for a response from the owners by Aug. 12.