With the NFL stating that team facilities could open on May 19, the Cleveland Browns exercised caution and elected to begin Phase 1 of “employee return” on June 1:
Statement from EVP/COO Dave Jenkins on Phase 1 of our return to facilities beginning June 1: pic.twitter.com/r8wonYWcBy
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 29, 2020
Per the statement by Jenkins, FirstEnergy Stadium will be able to open up and begin preparing for the NFL season.
When does FirstEnergy Stadium Open to the Public?
According to the FirstEnergy Stadium website, the Stadium Tour featuring Def Leppard and Motley Crue with Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts is still on for Friday, July 3, 2020.
The stadium formerly known as Cleveland Browns Stadium has already canceled a couple of concerts this summer.
On Friday, June 19, the Rolling Stones No Filter Tour was supposed to be at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Unfortunately, that concert has been postponed.
Meanwhile, Justin Bieber, with special guests Kehlani and Jaden Smith, has been moved from FirstEnergy Stadium.
The new concert venue will be Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on Friday, August 14.
When will the Browns be Playing at FirstEnergy Stadium?
On May 19, the Browns announced their preseason schedule.
Dates and times for our 2020 Preseason schedule are set
Details » https://t.co/pX2fX7n3pm
Buy tickets now » https://t.co/K6tgOdtcYZ pic.twitter.com/WEAdbehnfw— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 19, 2020
The first game of the home preseason schedule is Sunday, August 30 at 4 pm against Kevin Stefanski’s former team, the Minnesota Vikings.
Fans who do not head to FirstEnergy Stadium for this contest can watch the game on FOX.
Since being the assistant director of football operations at the University of Pennsylvania in 2005, Stefanski has been with the Vikings.
After being the quarterbacks coach for the Vikings in 2017 and 2018, he became the offensive coordinator last season.
Stefanski was an important part of helping the Vikings make three of the last five postseasons.
In 2020, Gary Kubiak will be replacing Stefanski as Minnesota’s offensive coordinator.
When is the Browns’ First Game of the Regular Season at FirstEnergy Stadium?
Early in May, the NFL released the 2020 schedule.
Cleveland’s strength of schedule for the upcoming season will be the second-easiest, according to 2019 team records.
ESPN staff writer Jake Trotter predicted the 2020 Browns record would be 9-7.
Although he thinks the team will lose its first game of the season at Baltimore, Trotter believes the Browns will come back and win the next two games.
Weeks 2 and 3 will be the first games of the regular season at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Week 2’s game will be against 2020 No. 1 overall draft pick Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Baker Mayfield has discussed the importance of starting strongly in 2020.
In regards to the “extremely important first two games,” Mayfield joined Nathan Zegura and Beau Bishop to say the following:
“Playing that first game against Baltimore, it’s going to be a matchup that we’re looking forward to. Then, it’s a quick Thursday night game. We know that’s going to be a different team in Cincinnati than it was last year, that’s for sure. Very important for us to start fast, that’s why we’re hitting it hard right now.”
The Browns then take on the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 27 before hitting the road and playing the Dallas Cowboys.
The 2020 NFL season is sure going to be an exciting one.
With FirstEnergy Stadium beginning Phase 1 on June 1, the Browns are taking a step in the right direction.
NEXT: Browns Announce Additions And Changes To Player Personnel Staff
