Renderings have emerged of a proposed stadium for the Cleveland Browns on the site of Burke Lakefront Airport, two weeks after the NFL team announced plans to pursue a move to a new $2.4bn (£1.8bn/€2.2bn) domed stadium in Brook Park.
The renderings, which depict a 70,000-seat stadium, have been designed by Vocon Architects. The renderings were commissioned by Destination Cleveland, a non-profit destination marketing and management organisation for Cuyahoga County.
The images first emerged on local news website Cleveland.com, which received the renderings anonymously. It has now been confirmed that Destination Cleveland recently sent the renderings, and an accompanying study to determine if the airport land could be used to house a new stadium, to the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
Several renderings have been produced, showcasing the stadium as part of a wider complex that also includes hotels, retail and residential space.
In a statement provided to TheStadiumBusiness.com, Emily Lauer, vice-president of PR and communications for Destination Cleveland, said: “In anticipation of requests for support regarding the future home of the Cleveland Browns, Destination Cleveland’s board of directors voted to remain neutral.
“No matter where the team plays, the organisation’s job is to promote the Cleveland football experience. The board also concluded that the only way Destination Cleveland could provide value to the negotiations would be – if needed – to conduct research to inform decision making.
“Given the unanswered questions about the viability of Burke Lakefront Airport as a development site, Destination Cleveland engaged relevant partners to specifically determine if the airport land could accommodate the programme the Browns had proposed in Brook Park.
“The City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County were informed of the project at its onset. Upon completion, the study was released only to the City and County, with the understanding that they would decide whether to provide the information to Haslam Sports Group. The study has not been provided by Destination Cleveland to any entities or individuals other than the City and County.”
The Browns currently play at Huntington Bank Field, which is a short walk from Burke Lakefront Airport. Earlier this month, the team signalled its intention to move to a new domed stadium in Brook Park, which is located around nine miles southwest of Huntington Bank Field.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb slammed the Browns’ decision, stating it was “driven by a desire to maximise profits rather than positive impact”.
The Browns have played at the 67,431-seat Huntington Bank Field since 1999. The team has been exploring the prospect of building a new venue or renovating its current stadium since 2017, as its lease expires in 2028.
When announcing the team’s plans to move to Brook Park, Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said that renovating Huntington Bank Field “would not solve many operational issues and would be a short-term approach”.
The Haslams added that they engaged in discussions with the city and county regarding a potential domed stadium on Burke Lakefront Airport, but ultimately decided that this option would prove “cost prohibitive and not feasible” due to the significant design, construction, geotechnical and environmental challenges.
Mayor Bibb said that Haslam Sports Group was “not interested” in pursuing the city’s vision for Burke Lakefront Airport, which he claimed was “arguably better” than the Brook Park plans. He described the Browns’ decision as “profoundly disheartening”.
Last week, the saga took another turn as the Browns decided to take legal action against the City of Cleveland regarding a law which seeks to impede the relocation of sports teams.
The ‘Modell Law’ was enacted in 1996 and is named after former Browns owner Art Modell, who moved the team to Baltimore that year. The law requires sports teams to give their respective cities six months’ notice before relocating and to grant the city or area residents the opportunity to buy the team first.
The Browns’ lawsuit, filed in federal court in Cleveland, is seeking to have the law ruled unconstitutional. Cleveland City Council has already passed a resolution directing city administration to enforce the law.
