**New Huntington Bank Field stadium investment**
The stadium project in Brook Park for the new Huntington Bank Field continues to move forward, with the official groundbreaking ceremony set for April 30.
"We're really incredibly excited about it," Dee Haslam said. "We've broken ground. We're going to have the official groundbreaking on April 30. We continue to invest in the plan to make sure we're delivering an unbelievable experience for our fans. And actually, what we're doing, it contributes to the growth and economic development in our state. So, we're really excited about what the stadium will mean for the area for Northeast Ohio, not only for on game day, but for 365 days a year attracting great events to Cleveland. Very excited about it."
The Haslams also recently increased their personal investment in the stadium project, raising their contribution to $1.755 billion. The increased amount allows for future stadium enhancements focused on creating the best stadium fan experience and in sports.
"In doing the plan, we want to make sure that we deliver on our promises to the fans to create the most exciting fan experience we can," Dee Haslam said. "And so, during the process, you're usually going to have to invest more into it to make sure you ensure that. So, we're excited that we're doing it. We didn't want to cut any corners. We wanted it to be perfectly done, and we feel good about where we are."
While the new enclosed stadium will serve as the new home for the Browns, the 67,500-seat "Super Theater" venue, designed by leading sports architecture firm HKS, will be capable of hosting a wide array of premier large-scale events year-round – including NCAA Final Fours, international soccer matches and concerts for crowds of up to 75,000. Jimmy Haslam added they recently had a preliminary conversation about the Women's World Cup.
And those conversations will continue as the project progresses towards the opening in 2029.
"We're working with the Sports Commission on getting some of those great events here," Dee Haslam explained. "Early, but not too early, to kind of work on the list and drive that forward but really excited about the opportunities out there."