Featured image credit: Cleveland Browns
NFL franchise the Cleveland Browns has stepped up efforts to relocate to a new domed stadium in Brook Park, Ohio by advancing a land purchase agreement.
The Browns announced yesterday (Thursday) that they had officially executed a clause, referred to as a “significant payment” that was due by December 31 to secure a 176-acre package of land that is intended to not only house the new Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium, but also the adjacent mixed-use development.
Dave Jenkins, chief operating officer of the Browns’ ownership body, Haslam Sports Group (HSG), said: “We have executed the clause and taken the necessary steps in our land purchase agreement with the current owners to solidify our future purchase of the 176-acre site in Brook Park for a new Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium, along with an adjacent mixed-use development.
“While work remains with our public partners on the project, this is a key step in our efforts to create a responsible long-term stadium solution that delivers a world-class experience for our fans, attracts more large-scale events for our region and positively impacts our local economy.”
Located within Cuyahoga County and adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the 176-acre site is situated 15 miles from Downtown Cleveland, where the Browns’ current home, Huntington Bank Field, is based.
The Browns signalled their intention to pursue a move to a new domed stadium in Brook Park back in October, a decision Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb slammed as “driven by a desire to maximise profits rather than positive impact”.
Both parties issued lengthy statements on the subject of the franchise’s long-term stadium future. The Browns have been exploring the prospect of building a new venue or renovating Huntington Bank Field since 2017 as their lease at their current home expires in 2028.
In August, the Browns issued a first look at a potential future home in Brook Park. This came just days after the City of Cleveland made its first official move over the Browns’ stadium future by outlining a $461m (£371.5m/€447.6m) funding contribution towards a redevelopment of Huntington Bank Field.
The saga took another turn at the end of October 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. Bibb subsequently quoted the Modell Law while threatening to sue in a letter to Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam on December 30.
Lincoln Property Company was last month announced as the development partner for the Browns’ mixed-use entertainment district in Brook Park. The development is set to be designed by the architecture firm HKS and will be anchored by the new domed stadium.
The mixed-use entertainment district surrounding the stadium will be developed across multiple phases and will ultimately include 300,000 square feet of retail, two upscale hotels, 1,100 apartments, and 500,000 square feet of office.
Phase One, which is planned to deliver along with the stadium in 2029, will include 450 hotel rooms; 575 apartments; 96,000 square feet of traditional retail; and 137,000 square feet of experiential retail, which will include a team store, and other experience-based retail concepts that intend to drive year-round activation and community involvement.
News 5 Cleveland said the Browns have until December 31, 2025, to buy the 176-acre property. The current owner is a joint venture between three developers: Weston Inc., Scannell Properties and the DiGeronimo Cos. They acquired the property, a former factory for automotive manufacturer Ford, for $31.5m in 2021 with initial plans to redevelop it into an industrial park.
HSG affiliate, Primacy Development LLC, signed the initial agreement to buy the property on March 20 last year, a time when the Browns were still weighing up their stadium options. “We will continue to provide updates throughout the process as we work towards bringing this exciting and transformative project to Northeast Ohio,” Jenkins added.
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