Featured image credit: Erik Drost/CC BY 2.0
The Cleveland Browns and the Huntington National Bank have entered into a 20-year partnership that includes the naming rights to the National Football League team’s stadium, which will now be called Huntington Bank Field.
Huntington Bank, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, will also become the Browns’ official and exclusive banking partner.
The naming rights deal will be in place for the next two decades wherever the Browns play. The franchise has been exploring the prospect of building a new venue or renovating its existing home since 2017, as its current lease expires in 2028.
“The Cleveland Browns are iconic in American sports and a globally recognised brand,” said Huntington Bank president Steve Steinour.
“Huntington Bank is thrilled to create this partnership and make this investment in the Cleveland Browns and Northeast Ohio. This is also a pivotal moment for us as it gives us a high-profile platform to elevate our brand nationally.
“Whether in the existing stadium or a new one, the Browns’ commitment to Northeast Ohio will continue to spur significant economic growth and development for years to come, and we are excited to be a part of that future.”
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but it is said to be more than the $6m (£4.5m/€5.4m) a year that FirstEnergy paid the Browns for a naming rights agreement that lasted from 2013 to 2023.
The Browns ended that deal six years early in the wake of the company’s bribery scandal.
The agreement with Huntington Bank was worked on by premium experiences company Legends and came together in four months, which it states is the shortest amount of time it had seen such a deal finalised.
Huntington Bank Field is due to host its first game this Sunday (August 8) as the Browns take on the Dallas Cowboys.
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