Browns owners want $1.2B+ for Brook Park stadium, or renovations to current stadium as Plan B

Yesterday, one day after the NEOtrans blog reported that Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam were set to announce a $3.6 billion domed stadium complex in Brook Park requiring upwards of $1.1 billion in public subsidies, Browns management issued a long letter to fans that said, well, let’s let it speak for itself:

With Mayor Bibb releasing the City’s latest proposal for a renovated stadium last week and the increased community dialogue around our stadium future, including the possibility of a dome stadium in Brook Park, we feel it is the appropriate time for us to communicate directly and share an update on our stadium process.

Do tell!

We do not take the stadium decision lightly, and have been working diligently with city, county and state officials to consider all opportunities.

Undoubtedly. So what’s the update?

We need to be bold, we need to be innovative, and we need to take advantage of this unique moment to create a transformational project not only for our fans, but for Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio region and the State of Ohio.

Uh, sure, okay. And that project is?

While we have considered numerous sites throughout Cleveland and the region, our focus has been on two potential paths for the future of our stadium.

And the winner is…

While significant work remains, the more we have explored the Brook Park option, the more attractive it has become, and we are excited to share the current vision with you.

It’s Brook Park! Or at least it’s renderings of Brook Park:

That definitely looks like a domed something, somewhere! And only most of the fans came to the game with their identical clones! So how much would it cost exactly?

As demonstrated in other markets, a project of this magnitude only realistically works through a public-private partnership. We have approached this as a 50-50 partnership on the stadium, excluding cost overruns, which we would cover. … The proposed $1.2 billion+ private investment in the stadium is unprecedented and would be the largest private per capita stadium investment ever in this country.

So a 50-50 partnership with a $1.2 billion+ private investment means $1.2 billion+ in public money too?

Importantly, we are not looking to tap into existing taxpayer-funded streams, which could divert resources from other pressing needs. We are instead working on innovative funding mechanisms with local, county, and state officials that would leverage the fiscal impact of the project and the unprecedented private contribution to support the public investment and generate a substantial return for Brook Park, Cuyahoga County, and the State of Ohio. While still in progress, our funding model also contemplates setting aside future dollars generated by the project for stadium repairs and maintenance to help ensure long-term sustainability of the building well beyond the initial lease term.

“Leverage the fiscal impact of the project” doesn’t really mean anything, but presumably this would be some kind of kickback of “stadium-generated” tax money, which usually means money that may or may not be newly generated but which team owners can claim is attributable to the stadium. This is what NEOtrans reported, though “setting aside future dollars generated by the project” is a new twist, as it suggests a grift-that-keeping-on-giving plan where addition future tax dollars would be set aside for future upgrades, a la the Atlanta Falcons “waterfall fund.”

But hang on, I feel like we skipped over something:

We have invested heavily in exploring this path and remain engaged with the City of Cleveland regarding a potential renovation plan, but it remains a complex and challenging proposition.

So: The Haslams would rather get a $1.2 billion check (or more) to build a new Brook Park stadium, but “remain engaged” with Cleveland on renovating their current stadium as a Plan B. That’s not so much a decision as a strategy, but I guess is an update of sorts. Plus, didja see the renderings?

Why are all the fans signaling for a touchdown when the Browns appear to be on defense at midfield? Actually, both teams appear to be on defense — what kind of screwy rules changes does the NFL have in store before this stadium opens?

Will future Browns fans really be purchasing en masse jackets and sweatshirts with the Browns logo on the back, not the front? Will anybody anywhere be going to sporting events wearing that hat? Does the woman with her hair pulled back know that stadium security is never going to let her in with that enormous purse/bowling ball bag?

These are all good questions, or at least enough to distract us from the one about where $1.2 billion in public money will come from, which is the whole point of releasing vaportecture renderings.

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14 comments on “Browns owners want $1.2B+ for Brook Park stadium, or renovations to current stadium as Plan B

  1. Yeah, the future dollars generated by the project will almost certainly not go into upkeep and maintenance. They will be claiming this thing (which looks like the guy who did the renderings dropped out at spring break sophomore year) is obsolete in 2065 and how do you think we are going to get a Super Bowl if you don’t pony up to keep it generating club seat revenue?

    1. I assumed that bit meant “We want enough tax money to pay off $1.2B in construction costs, then if there’s any tax money left over we want that for upgrades as soon as the paint is dry.” But really hard to tell much from team PR guff.

  2. As I posted in a previous comment, this has less to do with whether the deal makes financial sense and more with showing off to other billionaires. Justin Ishbia, part owner of the Phoenix Suns, controversial demolished 3 historic lakefront mansions in Winnetka, Illinois to make room for a cost is no object compound. These gilded age, French chateau style mansions, $10 million and up Aspen and Park City ski chateaus that are used 2 weeks a year and multi billion dollar sports stadiums are nothing more than billionaire’s toys.

    1. I’m shedding crocodile tears for poor Kristen Ishbia and her children. And her husband and brother in law, whose zipline got thumbs down at his palace/amusement park in Bloomfield Township.

      Kristen Ishbia tearfully addressed village trustees ahead of their unanimous Dec. 6 vote in favor of consolidating three of her family’s four lakefront properties on Sheridan Road.

      “When we first bought property here in Winnetka in the summer of 2020, we thought that we would be able to send our son to kindergarten here. Unfortunately, as time passes by, we are unable to build our home,” Ishbia said. “Our children are missing out on being able to attend school here, play in our yard, and make friends in the neighborhood. They are missing out on being able to live our dream of a quiet authentic suburban life.”

      Buying a $5 million house in Winnetka and living there until your $100 million lakefront chateau is finished would be such torture. C’est dommage.

    2. WOW! No wonder Matt Ishbia wants a renovation, better yet a replacement for the Footprint Center less tha 5 years after a $200 million renovation. After finishing a 20,000 square foot mansion in 2015 with every luxury bell and whistle imaginable

      https://www.seenthemagazine.com/homes/design_decor/inside-the-ishbia-family-s-dream-home-in-bloomfield/article_9ccd2f52-17f6-5123-a25a-57dfafb579df.html

      So boring after 8 years, time for the wrecking ball and a new 60,000 square foot house. His kids are going to have it really tough, the go kart track and zip line were rejected by Bloomfield Township. Where did Matt find Emily? Ripley’s Wax Museum?

  3. Neil…it’s Dogfight Football. Offense and Defense at the same time. Did you not see Top Gun Maverick?

    Happy for friends who live in the Akron area, who get much of the benefits with very little of the burden.

  4. > As demonstrated in other markets, a project of this magnitude only realistically works through a public-private partnership.

    Save for Stank Roenkeland at very least.

    > The proposed $1.2 billion+ private investment in the stadium is unprecedented and would be the largest private per capita stadium investment ever in this country.

    See above.

    In other leisure:

    The upper deck in top rendering appears to be about 3 miles from the field. It also has an impressive number of people performing close-fisted Bellamy salutes.

    That is one huge-buttocked uninterrupted stretch of end-zone seating, approximately 85 giant steps worth. And … it appears that on the sides of that section, there is no way to reach the first row save an arduous descent from the upper deck.

    The left end zone in top rendering features six concrete things behind it, which look like tunnels covering stairs leading up, but with entrances sealed by more concrete. Or maybe they’re a serious of benches facing away from the field? Three of them have grand pianos, the other three mere trapezoids. These cells host an inordinate number of people with closed, raised fists.

    Lastly (I hope) the far sideline has two cutouts featuring big, black somethings with either three granite structures (only visible on left opening) or three spotlights pointing down … or something.

    Sweet Mother of Gravy.

  5. What will it look like 5-10 years from now when they want upgrades or another stadium? Oh geez this just gets more sick all the time. Oh by the way how many Super Bowls have the Browns won?

  6. It’s good to see that they won’t be applying the “Clear Bag” policy at the new stadium. It’s annoying and pisses off a lot of the female fans.

  7. Notice how they had to add “largest private per capita stadium investment” clause. That’s because Mark Davis invested over a billion dollars of his own money (cash+loans) for his Vegas stadium (although he got $600M from the government too) and Stan Kroenke spent something like $5 billion (and LA spent next to nothing) on SOFI stadium. The Warriors spent something like $1.5 billion on Chase Center again without any public funds. Anyone know what Paul Allen ended up spending on Lumen Field in Seattle, I know it was completely privately funded?

  8. Why does every new stadium rendering look like Allegiant?

    It’s a perfectly nice stadium, but the only thing special about it is that it’s located near the Las Vegas Strip.

  9. This will fail by design, leading the Browns to Memphis and creating a rival with the Titans, it’s an easy division switch.

    AFC South

    Tennessee
    Houston
    Memphis
    Jacksonville

    AFC North

    Cincinnati
    Pittsburgh
    Indianapolis
    Baltimore

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