A Cleveland City Hall economic report last fall said the Haslams’ proposed Browns stadium and entertainment district in Brook Park, shown in this rendering provided by the Haslam Sports Group, lacked adequate demand and would not be compatible with the surrounding area, which is mostly occupied by the airport and industrial sites. Nevertheless, the Ohio legislature just saw fit to provide a $600 million grant to the Haslams for the project by tapping into the state’s unclaimed funds while adding what Brent Larkin in his column today calls a “sleazy payoff to the Browns” via an 11th-hour amendment aimed at sabotaging the city of Cleveland’s longshot lawsuit trying to keep the Browns downtown. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the two-year budget into law last week without vetoing either provision. (Photo courtesy HKS)
The biggest hurdle to the Browns plans for a Brook Park stadium could be ownership of it. The team is looking for an authority like the one that owns the soccer stadium in Columbus, but the county there is a partner. That's unlikely here, and no alternative is obvious. (Photo courtesy HKS)Photo courtesy HKS
By
Today in Ohio | cleveland.com
The Browns’ proposed Brook Park stadium plan might be on the verge of collapse according to the Today in Ohio podcast, where host Chris Quinn laid out a compelling case that the team’s financial strategy is built on shaky ground.
“I’m starting to think, and I want to hear what you think of this, that this Brook Park deal may fall through,” Quinn said during the podcast’s opening discussion. “And the reason isn’t just the county funding. I don’t think the Browns have a viable ownership structure for the stadium.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.