The debate surrounding the Cleveland Browns’ future home stadium continues to be waged across northern Ohio.
The Browns’ organization has a looming decision to make as the team can either renovate the existing lakefront facility or build a domed stadium in Brook Park.
Cleveland’s municipal government has already shared its proposal with the team and the public, allowing $461 million in existing and future revenue streams to help the Haslam Sports Group – the Browns’ ownership team – to renovate Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Yet the organization seems to be leaning toward the more expensive option of building a domed facility on a 176-acre parcel of land in nearby Brook Park.
Analyst Daryl Ruiter explained on X – the platform formerly known as Twitter – exactly how expensive that proposed facility and accompanying development would be in a recent post.
“Browns offering to spend $1.2 billion on dome + $1-1.4 billion on adjoining development + $200+ million in Berea,” Ruiter wrote, adding, “That’s up to $2.8 billion+ commitment.”
#Browns offering to spend $1.2 billion on dome + $1-1.4 billion on adjoining development + $200+ million in Berea. That’s up to $2.8 billion+ commitment. You’re acting like Browns are asking for it to be paid for 100% publicly. They’re not. 50-50 dome, 0% public for development. https://t.co/9E0jfSFuQ0
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) August 30, 2024
Ruiter’s response came as a fan questioned why the Haslam Sports Group should be entitled to $1.2 billion in public funding for the proposed domed stadium.
The ownership group has asked for public funds for both options, but the $461 million from the city of Cleveland is less than half the group’s request to build a domed stadium.
Ruiter added that the accompanying development around the domed stadium and the $200 million in spending around Berea are both fully funded by the organization and have zero public funds tied to the projects.
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