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Cleveland Browns has issued a first look at the new $2.4bn domed stadium that could be the National Football League (NFL) team’s future home.
The Browns has been exploring the prospect of building a new venue or renovating Cleveland Browns Stadium home since 2017 as its current lease expires in 2028. The team has now given an update on its plans after Cleveland’s Mayor Justin Bibb last week released the authority’s latest proposal for a $1bn stadium renovation project within a wider lakefront development.
Browns officials said that after extensive work they now favour the construction of a new stadium in Brook Park, which is almost 20 miles away from their current downtown location. Advantages of the site include its location for the team’s regional fan base through proximity to major roads and the airport, and its strong existing infrastructure. The Browns said its large footprint is also ripe for major economic development and supports ample parking.
Officials said that the Brook Park dome vision has generated “overwhelmingly positive feedback” from elected officials, fans and business and civic leaders. They have now released renderings drawn up by HKS Architects.
“The more transformational option is to build a $2.4bn new domed stadium in Brook Park, creating a modern, dynamic, world-class venue that would greatly enhance the fan experience and enable the State of Ohio and our region to compete for some of the biggest events in the world 365 days a year,” said David Jenkins, chief operating officer of the Browns and Haslam Sports Group.
“Similar to other markets in the Midwest, this proposed domed stadium would catalyze our region in a major way.”
Browns back public-private partnership
The team said the stadium’s year-round activity would anchor a large-scale lifestyle and entertainment district, including experiential retail, residential space, hotels and other unique products, drawing visitors throughout the year. This would drive substantial fiscal impact for the region.
The Browns envisage a public-private partnership, although team officials ruled out taxpayer-funded streams. Officials said they are working on innovative funding mechanisms with local, county, and state officials that would leverage the fiscal impact of the project and the private contribution to support the public investment and generate a substantial return.
The team described a proposed $1.2bn+ private investment in the stadium as “unprecedented” and suggested it would be the largest private per capita stadium investment ever in the US.
Addressing fans, Jenkins said: “We are excited about the future and look forward to sharing more information with you as the process continues to evolve and when a final decision is made.”
In outlining his plans last week, Mayor Bibb said the redevelopment of the lakefront area would be done with or without the Browns stadium. His plan would include $461m in funding for the new stadium.
He addded: “We are implementing a bold vision for lakefront development, and the Browns have been an essential fixture on our lakefront for decades. But our first priority is always our residents.
“Having the Browns play here is integral to our city’s identity and community spirit. This initiative must go beyond the Browns and be about what’s best for downtown, the neighbourhoods, the suburbs, and the region.”
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