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Brook Park: New Cleveland Browns Stadium

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in Northeast Ohio Projects & Construction

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The one thing that hasn’t been said is the city probably needs Republican help getting the federal money already awarded for the land bridge, assuming Trump is still illegally holding back funds in 2027. 

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  • Enginerd
    Enginerd

    Looking forward to the new stadium village 

  • TBideon
    TBideon

    THEN PAY FOR THE STADIUM NO ONE WANTS YOUR GODDAMN SELF!!

  • Ethan
    Ethan

    So it looks like they have no interest in developing near a potential infill Red Line station, nor making any kind of pedestrian connection to the airport. Seems like a major missed opportunity to me.

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By PD writer do you mean AI prompt?

 

"Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from Today in Ohio"

 

The article doesn't even have an author listed. It's just a Gemini/Chat GPT/Bing summary.

 

As for the topic itself, what more is there to say? Jimmy can pay for the s**t himself, offer a tremendous profit-sharing agreement to public funders, move to a different state or country, redevelop the current site with subsidies, extend the current lease indefinitely, and/or go f himself. THIS HAS BEEN TALKED TO DEATH.

    • Haha 1
    1 hour ago, simplythis said:

    PD writer says Cleve & CC should negotiate exit deal. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/time-to-pivot-cleveland-and-cuyahoga-county-should-end-the-browns-stadium-standoff/ar-AA1BDv70?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=1466dd61e7084ba2b0b9e476b7455415&ei=62

    This PD writer Leila Atassi is really making the rounds with the same talking points again on behalf of HSG and with the same amateur concern trolling in obvious attempt to influence public pressure on Bibb and Ronayne. At least this story acknowledges it was written with AI (aka likely helped by HSG talking points)

    5 minutes ago, simplythis said:

    Super Projects bill. https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/03/26/ohio-lawmakers-bill-creates-sports-super-projects-while-getting-browns-needed-600m/

    Ugggggg I'm just so tired of this. He paid off who he needed to, and now he'll get what he wants. I'm still interested/worried to see how Jimmy and the state force the county into paying what he wants them to. 

     

     

    And of course the bill was made sports facility specific too so others can't benefit from it. Show them solid figures on how moving the Healthline to light rail for a state contribution of $100-200M would create billions in development, jobs, and future taxes and you'll get ignored and told it's too expensive. But pull numbers out of thin air as a billionaire who wants more parking revenue and they'll create new laws to give you $600M with almost no strings attached. 

    • Like 8
    13 minutes ago, PlanCleveland said:

    I'm still interested/worried to see how Jimmy and the state force the county into paying what he wants them to.

     

    I really don't think the county has the money for it. Jimmy can yell all he wants but there's a $25M deficit and two huge projects that will need to be bonded coming up (jail/justice center) that depend on a good bond rating, among other commitments. 

    Edited by GISguy

    • Like 3
    31 minutes ago, GISguy said:

     

    I really don't think the county has the money for it. Jimmy can yell all he wants but there's a $25M deficit and two huge projects that will need to be bonded coming up (jail/justice center) that depend on a good bond rating, among other commitments. 

     

    The county funds (sin tax) that are being sought are already being used for the existing Browns stadium. But the county would need to get voter approval to extend it beyond 2028. They were willing to request it for the lakefront stadium renovation but not for the Brook Park stadium.

     

    And that AI-assisted article is just too much. Blows my mind.

    "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

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    ^

    "And that AI-assisted article is just too much."

     

    To be clear, the article linked above is an MSN rehash of a transcript of a Cleveland.com podcast in which an earlier opinion piece is discussed. The podcast transcript, not the original piece, was AI assisted.  

     

    Leila Atassi's original March 24 opinion piece is here:

     

    https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025/03/justin-bibb-battled-the-haslams-now-cleveland-needs-a-browns-exit-deal-leila-atassi.html

    Edited by Quilliam

    • Like 1

    I t

    2 hours ago, KJP said:

     

    The county funds (sin tax) that are being sought are already being used for the existing Browns stadium. But the county would need to get voter approval to extend it beyond 2028. They were willing to request it for the lakefront stadium renovation but not for the Brook Park stadium.

     

     

    Doesn't Brook Park want the county to issue bonds on their behalf? Otherwise putting $400M on their credit card is a lot of risk for a small city.

    • Like 2

    The increase in the states tax base better take into consideration what is to be nothing more than a transfer from a downtown site to Brook Park.  I am positive the numbers cancel each other out and amounts to little gains.   These politicians do not care about what momentum they are doing that downtown has been investing for years. Once again this is the same argument owners have had regarding stadiums. They all claim shiny and new will bring in more tax revenue but at the end of the day all we care about it what happens on a field

    19 minutes ago, coneflower said:

    I t

     

    Doesn't Brook Park want the county to issue bonds on their behalf? Otherwise putting $400M on their credit card is a lot of risk for a small city.

     

    They could, or a port authority (or multiple port authorities). Lots of authorities issue bonds backed by city-authorized TIFs of city tax revenues. Cities usually don't issue the bonds or otherwise be on the hook for them.

    "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

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    • Thanks 2
    1 hour ago, Quilliam said:

    ^

    "And that AI-assisted article is just too much."

     

    To be clear, the article linked above is an MSN rehash of a transcript of a Cleveland.com podcast in which an earlier opinion piece is discussed. The podcast transcript, not the original piece, was AI assisted.  

     

    Leila Atassi's original March 24 opinion piece is here:

     

    https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025/03/justin-bibb-battled-the-haslams-now-cleveland-needs-a-browns-exit-deal-leila-atassi.html

    We understand the difference and it is really "just too much." Is basically 2 bites of the apple for the HSG "opinion" writer.  No need to link the story again - we all read the original and can read the HSG dailies for the same information.

    Watched the full Ronayne new conference within the story News5 story which should be sent to the entire Ohio House/Senate:

    https://www.news5cleveland.com/sports/browns/draft-budget-amendment-is-tailor-made-for-the-browns-shuts-out-the-bengals

     

    He makes it certain the County will hold the line and not participate in the risky BP option HSG is pursuing vs. locking arms with the City/County instead and participate in the transformational and synergistic investment in the Lakefront stadium and surrounding area as Dee/Jimmy initially proposed themselves (until their whiplash-inducing 180 following news of NFL's approval of private equity passive investments: https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-owners-vote-to-allow-private-equity-funds-to-buy-stakes-in-teams). 

     

    Importantly, Ronayne notes that a BP dome would hurt downtown and undermine the significant public investments made to date - and planned.

     

    Ronayne graciously asked HSG to partner in city/county discussions or be left with seeking the full $1.2 Billion public contribution from the full Ohio General Assembly.  He pointed out that the rush by certain downstate Rs to add the $600 million risky tax-payer backed bond issue to the budget has bypassed typical General Assembly practices of 1st seeking (1) A Financial Impact Analysis by the Ohio Legislative Services Commission: and (2) an ODOT Traffic Analysis (estimated to take at least 18 months). 

     

    He also pointed out that HSG surprisingly makes no mention of ongoing maintenance costs in their supposed comprehensive projections (see Gateway MX $ history on this issue); HSG has not offered or discussed any upfront cash cushion to the city/County for the $600 Million they want from the County; the peer cities HSG relies upon - Detroit, Indy and Minneapolis - are all downtown not in a distant and gloomy industrial site; and most importantly they do not follow the routine best practice of providing worst case and mid-case scenarios - only the scenario where the 100% of all revenues relied upon will magically continue 24-7 for each of the 30 years. We can only assume they have conducted these other scenario studies but were likely sent to the recycle bin and deleted if they were not helpful to the current scheme.

    • Like 7
    • Thanks 1

    Its not too late for them to backtrack, and put their full weight behind the bandaid + Burke plan. People have short memories when good things happen. Tom Benson tried to move the Saints to San Antonio after Hurricane Katrina, and people view him favorably down there because in his last few years he focused more on Legacy, building a huge cancer research & treatment center, buying the Pelicans to prevent them from moving, buying a local news station, and even paid to renovate the stadium at the Hall of Fame (probably something the Haslams shouldve done), along with tons of other positive community investments.

    • Like 3

    What’s crazy about this is if he switched gears and said they’d renovate the stadium and showed people these renderings that are supposed to be so great, everyone would go nuts and be very excited. I guess it shows how lucrative this new stadium and development must be to them if they will suffer through terrible PR when a giant win is ready to go right now. 

    • Like 5

    Hes not even giving the relocation posturing to force their hands in Columbus, hes actually telling them hes willing to stay on the lakefront. If the decision makers still force through this bond issue after him coming out and stating he is willing to take a much more fiscally responsible deal this then God help us all. 

    • Like 5
    53 minutes ago, snakebite said:

    Hes not even giving the relocation posturing to force their hands in Columbus, hes actually telling them hes willing to stay on the lakefront. If the decision makers still force through this bond issue after him coming out and stating he is willing to take a much more fiscally responsible deal this then God help us all. 

    It's time for Dewine to actually grow a pair and stick his money where his mouth his. Veto that bond issue. It's despicable to even consider funding Jimmy's playground when millions of Ohioans will be losing access to healthcare from Medicaid cuts and our children losing access to a good public education with funds going towards private schools. 

    • Like 5
    1 hour ago, TDi said:

    https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2025/03/jimmy-haslam-expects-to-know-by-june-30th-if-ohio-will-fund-the-enclosed-stadium-if-not-hell-revert-to-renovating.html

     

    Jimmy Haslam opens door to renovating existing stadium if state funding for Brook Park doesn’t come through by June 30

    If DeWine is willing to hold strong and he reverts back to the renovation method then I owe Bibb and Ronayne a beer. It's amazing to see what being strong and unified in your approach can do.

    • Like 8

    I think a communication to a senator or representative from everyone stating our dislike of this funding is in order.

    • Like 1
    • Love 1
    4 hours ago, TDi said:

    https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2025/03/jimmy-haslam-expects-to-know-by-june-30th-if-ohio-will-fund-the-enclosed-stadium-if-not-hell-revert-to-renovating.html

     

    Jimmy Haslam opens door to renovating existing stadium if state funding for Brook Park doesn’t come through by June 30

    Plan B has always been the only viable option if the Tennesseans want optimal public contributions, but we are wondering about the incongruent timing (in regards to their non-stop BP PR campaign) of this seemingly throw-away comment out of nowhere.  We have assumed they have had veto-proof votes to pass it all along, so is this possibly just a clumsy head-fake to triage their shattered reputation with a pretend option they have said up until now would never happen?  Unless...Ronayne and Bibb have worked the phones successfully after previously unknown State Rep. Melanie Miller (R) Ashland took an early victory lap on the risky unsound bond funding sponsorship without any opposing input from Cle/Cuyahoga County... we cautiously hope that is the case! Now let's see those reportedly amazing renderings of the reboot of the stadium and adjoining lakefront.

    12 minutes ago, Willo said:

    Plan B has always been the only viable option if the Tennesseans want optimal public contributions, but we are wondering about the incongruent timing (in regards to their non-stop BP PR campaign) of this seemingly throw-away comment out of nowhere.  We have assumed they have had veto-proof votes to pass it all along, so is this possibly just a clumsy head-fake to triage their shattered reputation with a pretend option they have said up until now would never happen?  Unless...Ronayne and Bibb have worked the phones successfully after previously unknown State Rep. Melanie Miller (R) Ashland took an early victory lap on the risky unsound bond funding sponsorship without any opposing input from Cle/Cuyahoga County... we cautiously hope that is the case! Now let's see those reportedly amazing renderings of the reboot of the stadium and adjoining lakefront.

     

    There is a proper group of Republicans in the House that are not fans of this.  I don't know if there are 60 to override a veto, though maybe some Dems could be bought to make it happen.

    • Like 1

    Should Jimmy abandon the Brookpark fantasy, I hope Cleveland/Cuyahoga look at the economic realities of today and make adjustments from last year's overly generous proposal.

     

    No waiving rent (it should be 7 or 8 figures), no subsidizing property taxes, no gifting Willard and Muni to the criminals on game/event days, no profit-sharing restrictions, just for starters. 

     

    If Jimmy doesn't like it, he's free to go f himself.

     

    Edited by TBideon

    • Like 2
    • Dislike 1

    As l understand it the BP stadium will cost 2.4 billion. Haslam wants 600 mil from the state and 600 mil from local taxpayers leaving his share 1.2 bil. If the city and county hold and don't contribute their 600 mil does BP have the ability to make it up? If not will Haslam pick up that amount and add it to his half? I'm betting he won't. So even if the state comes through it may not be enough without local funding. 

     

    Those of us hoping for a downtown stadium may yet win out. It's not often my wishes in the development world come true. Fingers crossed.

     

     

     

    52 minutes ago, TBideon said:

    Should Jimmy abandon the Brookpark fantasy, I hope Cleveland/Cuyahoga look at the economic realities of today and make adjustments from last year's overly generous proposal.

     

    No waiving rent (it should be 7 or 8 figures), no subsidizing property taxes, no gifting Willard and Muni to the criminals on game/event days, no profit-sharing restrictions, just for starters. 

     

    If Jimmy doesn't like it, he's free to go f himself.

     

    I like the idea of playing hardball. If the State really does say no, it's worth reevaluating the deal given HSGs decreased leverage. The other way to play hardball is to lock in the Browns for a much longer period of time. I'm sick of sports teams threatening to leave every few decades so they can fleece the taxpayers. I'd love to remove that leverage for the next renegotiation. Not sure what the City and County's legal options are in that direction, but I'd be interested to see it explored. 

    • Like 1
    4 minutes ago, cadmen said:

    As l understand it the BP stadium will cost 2.4 billion. Haslam wants 600 mil from the state and 600 mil from local taxpayers leaving his share 1.2 bil. If the city and county hold and don't contribute their 600 mil does BP have the ability to make it up? If not will Haslam pick up that amount and add it to his half? I'm betting he won't. So even if the state comes through it may not be enough without local funding. 

     

    Those of us hoping for a downtown stadium may yet win out. It's not often my wishes in the development world come true. Fingers crossed.

     

     

     

    I hope cooler heads prevail, the stadium stays downtown and we get a bunch of new development around it. 

     

    I would force his hand to the fire and move ALL the Browns facilities into the city of Cleveland.   Practice, offices, gyms.  You want public money, it's going to be centralized.   Everything! 

    • Like 1

    Just heard from a friend at HSG who sent a text: "They still want Brook Park, but their spine is substantially less stiff than it was in January."

    • Like 10
    • Love 2

    Maybe they are hearing some negative behind the scenes grumbling from Columbus.  I am sure reps from places like Wilmington and Lima could give a flying f and are more concerned about the general fund.

    I wonder if downtown comes back into play, is it ONLY a renovation of the current stadium that's on the table? I still think a dome on the west end of a closed Burke is a win-win-win, even given the longer timeline.

    • Like 7
    1 minute ago, Htsguy said:

     flying f 

    Flying J*

    • Like 1
    • Haha 7
    1 hour ago, Paul in Cleveland said:

    I wonder if downtown comes back into play, is it ONLY a renovation of the current stadium that's on the table? I still think a dome on the west end of a closed Burke is a win-win-win, even given the longer timeline.

     

    Team Band-Aid + Burke!

     

    Fix up the current stadium to last another 5-7 years. I think they said it would be around $250mil for that? 2-3 years to close & prep Burke, and then 3 years to build the new stadium and Phase 1 amenities. During this time, riverfront development should be concluded most places (Maybe some Phase 2 Bedrock could be going?) opening up developers to move to the new empty lakefront spot where the old stadium was, which will already have the improved land bridge and ground level shoreway.

     

    All the puzzle pieces fit for this to work out really well for the city. Every piece but the Haslams.

     

    (And I agree with Jason Kelce - if it must have a roof for large events, make it retractable for the football games. Also, regarding another point Jason made, the Burke spot would let them build the outdoor movable grass field like Vegas and others have)

    Edited by daybreaker

    • Like 4
    24 minutes ago, daybreaker said:

    And I agree with Jason Kelce - if it must have a roof for large events, make it retractable for the football games. Also, regarding another point Jason made, the Burke spot would let them build the outdoor movable grass field like Vegas and others have

    I also think football should be played out in the elements, but if you thought a static domed stadium was expensive, wait till we see the estimate for a retractable roof... 

    • Haha 1
    2 hours ago, YABO713 said:

    Just heard from a friend at HSG who sent a text: "They still want Brook Park, but their spine is substantially less stiff than it was in January."

    My question since they announced their decision to go to Brook Park was if they were willing to back up that decision with their own money if various government entities told them pound sand, it appears the answer to that question is no...

    Cleveland-Browns-Brook-Park-02.webp

     

    Browns may not score enough votes for stadium win
    By Ken Prendergast / April 1, 2025

     

    Two extra years on the stadium’s current lease could have offered at least a cushion. The lack of that plus a potential gubernatorial veto and a lack of legislative override votes may be the biggest threats to realizing a $3.6 billion sports-entertainment district planned in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park.

     

    MORE:

    https://neo-trans.blog/2025/04/01/browns-may-not-score-enough-votes-for-stadium-win/

    "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck

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    • Like 6
    • Love 4
    5 hours ago, simplythis said:

    https://www.wkyc.com/article/sports/nfl/browns/jason-travis-kelce-cleveland-browns-brook-park-stadium-proposal-concerns-new-heights-podcast/95-3c1c292b-524a-47b9-87a1-b990bba846be

    Who knew the Kelce Bros speak public policy!

    Jason: “Something really stupid out in Brook Park that they're trying to get everybody excited about—the stadium no longer being in downtown Cleveland,” he said... "Yeah, I'm not a fan. I don't know what you want me to say. I don't like it. I'll tell you what, though, it doesn't matter how cool it is, I'm not going to like this. This thing looks sweet. I like the old stadium because it's downtown. I'd rather play in a dilapidated stadium than this.".."I don't like the indoor stadiums and I don't like that it's going to be in Brook Park. There's 0% that I like about what's happening in Cleveland right now."

     

    and who knew Travis was a fan of Transit Oriented Development (TOD):  "There's just something about taking the Rapids all the way downtown, and I'm sure they'll have some sort of way that you could take the Rapids out to Brook Park from everywhere in Cleveland, but it's just such a unique feeling going downtown, feeling the excitement of everyone going down to the busiest part of the city and that atmosphere that it creates in Cleveland."

     

     

    • Like 9
    • Love 2

    This week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, HSG owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters that they are keeping a $1.2 billion renovation of the 1999-built lakefront stadium active as a “Plan B” option.

    “They still want Brook Park, but their spine is substantially less stiff than it was in January,” said an HSG insider today who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

     

    Tell me why in the world would the state contribute 600m if they now know that there is an active plan B and with Plan B they would contribute less. 

    • Like 2
    10 minutes ago, simplythis said:

    This week at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, HSG owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters that they are keeping a $1.2 billion renovation of the 1999-built lakefront stadium active as a “Plan B” option.

    “They still want Brook Park, but their spine is substantially less stiff than it was in January,” said an HSG insider today who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

     

    Tell me why in the world would the state contribute 600m if they now know that there is an active plan B and with Plan B they would contribute less. 

     

    Not giving the state the benefit of the doubt here, but there's a chance HSG literally did not tell them or show them there was a viable Plan B option they would pursue without $600mil until now (like the rest of us, going: "where are the renderings?!"). Before, it was just "we are not planning on renovating, we've done the research and it makes no financial sense" P.R. bs. Will this new info change lawmaker's minds? Who knows at this point

    Edited by Geowizical

    I want this hillbilly to ask for the money from the city for the renovation. I want concessions. 

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