CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A new survey suggests a majority of adults living in Northeast Ohio want the Browns to continue playing downtown in the existing stadium.
The survey, conducted by Marshall Marketing for 19 News, is the first of its kind to be released publicly.
All afternoon, 19 News will have team coverage breaking down the data. You can take a closer look at the results below.
19 News has reached out to the city of Cleveland and Haslam Sports Group with interview requests.
METHODOLOGY
It’s a stadium showdown in Cuyahoga County with the Browns trying to force a move from Cleveland to Brook Park.
What’s brewing is a years-long battle involving the courts, state and county — plus two mayors and city councils.
But what does Northeast Ohio want? Finding the answer to that question is why 19 News commissioned this survey.
Here’s what we asked: Do you think the Cleveland Browns should continue to play at the existing stadium in downtown Cleveland or build a new, domed facility in Brook Park?
What we learned is that 57% of those surveyed want the Browns to play downtown, 29% wish for a new dome and 14% just don’t know.
The results were determined by a 34-day survey by phone and online of 1,000 adults living in Northeast Ohio, according to Tim Marshall, Marshall Marketing Executive Vice President and COO.
Marshall says the demographics of surveyed adults (gender, age, income and ethnicity) proportionately matches the makeup of Northeast Ohio.
That means a more populated county, like Cuyahoga, accounted for 38% of the sample, while a less populated county, like Medina, was 6% of the sample.
Stay scrolling to zoom in on the data county-by-county.
COUNTY-BY-COUNTY
Taking a deeper dive into the numbers, there are notable differences by respondents from certain counties, the least populated of which were grouped together by region (Portage/Geauga and Ashtabula/Lake.)
According to the survey, the strongest desire to stay downtown was in Ashtabula and Lake counties, with 66% of those surveyed selecting that choice.
In Lorain County, which closely borders Brook Park, the rate of people wishing for a new dome climbed to 37%. That’s where we find the highest percentage of those surveyed calling for a dome.
Here is a county-by-county breakdown showing the results of those surveyed.
Here is a county-by-county breakdown showing the results of those surveyed.(Source: WOIO/Marshall Marketing)
Below, we’ll compare responses from people in Brook Park versus all of Cuyahoga County.
INCOME A FACTOR
Also notable is how responses varied — or didn’t — across income levels of those surveyed.
The survey shows strongest similarities when comparing respondents in the $30-50K to the $100K+ range.
At the income levels noted above, the majority remained in favor of the team staying downtown, and the groups measured up equal at 28% for building a new dome.
Support to build a dome grew at the $50-75K range to 36% of those surveyed. In our closer look at income levels, that demographic showed the highest rate of support.
CUYAHOGA VS. BROOK PARK
At the center of this debate is Cuyahoga County, with its borders encompassing both Cleveland and Brook Park.
So what are the desires of people who arguably have the largest stake?
We focused on Cuyahoga County, which accounts for 38% of Northeast Ohio’s population, and a 5-mile radius in and around Brook Park, where residents make up 7%, to gain a clearer picture.
Sixty-one percent of those surveyed in Cuyahoga County opted for the Browns to stay downtown, and 30% embraced building a dome. People who selected they don’t know stood at 9%.
Though in responses from people living within five miles of Brook Park, the vote for downtown decreased to 49%. Of the same group, 41% said yes to building a new dome there, and 10% said they don’t know either way.
Here's how those surveyed in Cuyahoga County responded compared to those living in a 5-mile...
Here's how those surveyed in Cuyahoga County responded compared to those living in a 5-mile radius of Brook Park.(Source: WOIO/Marshall Marketing)
Still at question is where city of Cleveland and Haslam Sports Group go from here.
Again, this is the first survey on this topic to be released publicly.
When we have responses from Cleveland city officials and the Haslam Sports Group, we’ll share them with you.
The “Stadium Showdown” airs weekly on Fridays on 19 News streaming platforms. Watch full episodes here.
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