An entire era is coming to an end in Cleveland, as the team is moving to the suburbs.
The Cleveland city authorities have put an end to months of speculation about where the "Cleveland Browns" will play in the future, announcing that the franchise has made the decision to leave downtown Cleveland, where the team has played since 1946. Last night, the team owners informed Mayor Justin Bibb of this decision.
Bibb expressed his disappointment regarding the Haslam brothers' decision when announcing this news to the city.
"We see and feel that our city center is thriving. Our vision of revitalizing the Lakefront is becoming a reality. More and more companies are choosing to invest in our wonderful city," - said Bibb. "The Haslam family's decision to remove the team from this progress is deeply disappointing."
While Bibb made this statement, team owner Jimmy Haslam was present at a team training, where he was seen checking his phone.
Bibb said he is ready to return to negotiations if the Haslam deal in Brook Park falls through.
"If the Browns do not see a way to reach an agreement in Brook Park, we are ready with open arms to find a way to make a deal in Cleveland - but on competitive terms and with responsibility to our residents and taxpayers," - said Bibb.
According to Bibb, the city's proposal - a 50/50 split - was financially justified and at the same time aggressive, larger than any other financial package for a sports facility in Cleveland, including the renovation of the existing stadium.
Then Bibb said that when the Haslam brothers rejected the renovation proposal, city officials also offered options for a new domed stadium and adjacent development as part of an agreement, which included transferring part of Burke Lakefront Airport to the team. Bibb stated that the alternative deal failed because the Haslams asked for too much government funding upfront.
"I am deeply disappointed that Sports Group Haslam has decided to move to Brook Park," - said Bibb.
The mayor said that the Browns did not express a desire for a new domed stadium when they began meeting in 2022, and the team's preferred type of dome in Brook Park came as a surprise.
What did the Haslam brothers say?
Di and Jimmy Haslam explained that the stadium development process started in 2017 and was initially focused on renovating the existing stadium. However, over time, it changed to considering building a new stadium at an alternative location.
Officials' reaction to this step
Mayor of Brook Park, Edward Orcutt, spoke about the Browns' plans to leave the lakefront: "They are not moving anywhere. They still remain Cleveland Browns," - said Orcutt. "I would say we should remain impartial. We need to see what impact this will have on the region.
I believe we should be adventurous and see what we can do to expand. Additionally, this gives us an opportunity to develop the waterfront area."
He also added: "We know there is still a lot of work ahead. We understand that we will need to roll up our sleeves and put everything together, but we are excited. You know, this is something new, something fresh. We feel that this will bring more jobs to the region."
Orcutt also spoke about Bibb's disappointment with the team's decision.
"I will continue working with all district leaders, all mayors. I have good relations with the district executive authority. That doesn't mean we will always agree on every issue, but I feel that in the end, everything will be fine when we all sit down at the negotiation table and work together to create something in Brook Park that will help the entire region, especially regarding revenues."
State Senate Minority Leader Nicky Antonio (D-Lakewood), representing the entire Downtown area, said: "I'm not ready for Brook Park Browns, and no one else should be ready."
The Office of Governor Mike DeWine stated that it is "monitoring developments in Cleveland and Brook Park," but did not provide any new comments regarding the move.
Senator Sherrod Brown reacted to this statement by saying: "Cleveland Browns should be in Cleveland."
President and CEO of Downtown Cleveland, Michael Dimer, said: "Although we are disappointed with the Cleveland Browns' decision to move to Brook Park, Downtown Cleveland, Inc. remains committed to the continued growth and development of our city center. This move presents both challenges and opportunities, and we're not the first city to face such a situation. The future is still uncertain. We will continue working closely with Mayor Justin Bibb, Cleveland city authorities, local businesses, and community leaders to transform the city center into a lively district that seamlessly connects and integrates the surrounding neighborhoods."
Fan reactions
Some fans supported the move, while others were dissatisfied.
"Getting to the stadium in the city is a real ordeal," - said fan Tom Schreider. "There's nowhere to park. It's hard to get in and out. I hope there will be fewer traffic jams near the airport."
"It distracts from the fact that when you come to Cleveland, you think about Cleveland Browns, not Brook Park Browns," - said fan Ruth Buba from Warren.
The Browns and Haslam Sports Group do not disclose details of their financial plans. However, they focus on utilizing future tax revenues - income from the new stadium and nearby development in Brook Park - to help fund the construction.
