Browns, City Of Cleveland Prioritizing Future Stadium Plans Downtown

The future of the Cleveland Browns stadium remains uncertain, as city officials and the franchise continue to discuss the most viable approach to deliver an improved NFL facility.

According to reports, those negotiations have concentrated on two potential possibilities, one of which would involve an upgrade of the Browns’ present stadium in an effort to modernize it. The second option is to build a whole new arena, which is clearly a large and expensive effort.

While those negotiations are still ongoing and nothing has been made public at this time, one thing is very clear: all parties involved are committed to keeping the stadium downtown.

“I think the future is bright,” city Mayor Justin Bibb told 92.3 The Fan’s Daryl Ruiter at a news conference Thursday announcing that Billy Joel and Rod Stewart would be performing at Cleveland Browns Stadium in September. “We’re excited about our conversations with the Browns and the Haslams about the stadium’s future and what it could mean for the lakefront. However, this is for the city and the entire region. Those discussions are ongoing, but we are dedicated to having a world-class facility right here in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jimmy and Dee Haslam, the Browns’ owners, have publicly stated that they have no intention of transferring the franchise out of Northeast Ohio. That’s good news. Now it’s simply a matter of figuring out where the franchise will play its home games after the present stadium lease expires in 2028. While there is widespread support for keeping the team playing downtown, there appears to be a similar consensus for keeping it on the lakefront.

“The city, the county and the state, hopefully, will be key critical partners for us as we think about the future of Cleveland Browns stadium, because it is a regional asset,” he said. “We want to ensure that the Cleveland Browns remain in Cleveland, Ohio, right on Lake Erie.” “That is my goal as Mayor.”

Earlier this week, David Griffin, President of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, stated similar comments to Bibb during an interview with Jonathan Peterlin on 92.3 The Fan’s Overtime program. Griffin, like the Mayor, wants to preserve the Browns’ home base on Lake Erie.

“It really right now is between the Browns and the city,” he said. “The city and the owners know all of the players and are aware of the situation. There are a lot of negotiations. I sincerely hope they stay on the lakefront. The Browns have already stated officially that they would not leave Northeast Ohio, which is excellent to hear. But there’s about 100 years of history with a stadium down there.”