CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Greater Cleveland Partnership is endorsing the Cleveland Browns’ plan for a new stadium in Brook Park, rather than back Cleveland’s and Cuyahoga County’s efforts to keep the team downtown.
Until now the region’s chamber of commerce has sat on the fence. But Tuesday morning the GCP announced its endorsement of the Brook Park proposal. A main reason, according to the letter, is the GCP says a covered stadium would attract two-to-three times more visitors.
“While a downtown dome is ideal, financial and development constraints have been challenging; the Brook Park option is more practical to move forward,” the letter said. “The additional events, and expected growth in live entertainment, are an economic opportunity for the entire region.”
The GCP also endorsed “world-class waterfronts.” And the organization said public officials and the Browns should find a way to send “more than $150 million” to Cleveland to help develop the lakefront.
Cleveland.com has reached out to GCP CEO Baiju Shah for comment.
Both Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne have criticized the GCP in the past for not siding with public officials. They say a strong downtown is vital for a strong region, and the suburban stadium surrounded by a mixed-use development would suck economic activity out of downtown.
The Browns contended that their Brook Park stadium would be additive to the region, and that downtown would benefit from the increase in visitors.
Bibb criticized the GCP directly during budget hearings in February and business leaders at large during his state of the city address in April.
Ronanye, in an interview in late April, said the GCP has a history of supporting investments downtown. Supporting a Brook Park stadium would be a clear deviation, he said.
At the time of the interview the GCP was publicly noncommittal. But he said there was dissention among the GCP’s board members, some of whom have strong ties to downtown’s business district.
“We have to ask the GCP leadership, why have you taken this turn away from the investments you’ve made (downtown?” Ronayne said.
The full board, which includes many more business leaders, did not vote.
Only GCP’s executive committee voted, with key members recusing themselves, according to the GCP. Browns owner Dee Haslam is among the 21 members of the executive committee. The Cavs CEO Nick Barlage is also on the executive committee, and Guardians owner Paul Dolan is the GCP’s chair.
The GCP called this Browns’ stadium debate a pivotal moment.
“GCP has made extensive efforts to bring stakeholders together as in other complex civic initiatives, and we do not take lightly that our positions diverge from some of our key partners,” the letter said.
The GCP is not the only business organization to take a stand, or decide to sit on the fence.
The Cleveland Hotel Association opposed the Haslams’ proposed tax hike to pay for the Brook Park stadium, and sent a letter to the GCP asking for a meeting.
David Gilbert, the long-time leader of both Destination Cleveland and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, said neither organization would take a side. The two organizations are largely responsible for bringing major events and sporting matches to Northeast Ohio.
Meanwhile Downtown Cleveland Inc, an organization of downtown business owners, have sided with the public officials and urged the Browns to stay downtown.
The Browns proposal is to build a $2.4 billion in Brook Park just east of Cleveland Hopkins Internation Airport. That would be surrounded by $1 billion of private investment, building apartments, hotels and retail. The team wants $1.2 billion in public borrowing evenly split between the state and county and to be paid back mainly through taxes generated at the site.
The Ohio House has approved $600 million under the Haslam plan, but the proposal still needs to pass the Senate and receive the governor’s signature.
Meanwhile, Ronayne has stood firm in his opposition to the county borrowing for the stadium. In response, the Browns said they will, if necessary, build without the county’s involvement. Ronayne replied, saying that he was glad the Browns admitted they didn’t need local tax dollars for the project.
Sean McDonnell is a reporter forcleveland.com and the Plain Dealer. You can reach him atsmcdonnell@cleveland.com.