I-Team: What's next for Browns dome plans?

Yahoo

05-04-2025

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The FOX 8 I-Team has found more new developments are expected in the coming days surrounding the Cleveland Browns' plan for a dome in Brook Park.
While Browns officials are waiting to find out if state lawmakers will approve their request for $600 million in bonds, they continue to show off the proposal to the public and push forward with plans for an domed stadium complex.
The I-Team found a crew recently doing a traffic study just steps away from where the Browns want to build a dome. On Thursday, team officials went to a town hall meeting in Hudson to showcase the proposal and explain funding.
The Browns have asked state lawmakers to borrow $600 million for the new stadium by issuing bonds that the team promises to pay back the state.
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A proposed amendment has been added to the House budget that is expected to be voted on next week.
If passed, the budget would then go to the Senate. Senators can then make changes.
The general assembly is expected to vote on the final budget in June and then send it to the governor.
However, some state representatives have expressed concerned over the proposed amendment.
On Friday, state Representative Sean Patrick Brennan submitted an amendment to the proposed operating budget that 'would strip language authorizing the Ohio Treasurer of State's office to issue and sell bonds in the amount of up to $600 million to assist in funding a new Cleveland Browns Stadium in the City of Brook Park.'
'I am gravely concerned that the proposed state budget is seemingly prioritizing billionaire sports owners over the needs of Ohio's senior citizens, families, children, and disabled, among many other residents, who are struggling in our current economy. We have a responsibility to ensure that our state government is being responsive to our constituents by fully funding education, Medicaid, foodbanks, libraries, and other essential services that Ohioans depend on and deserve. We should also be prioritizing the state providing real property tax relief to homeowners. The Ohio Statehouse is not the personal bank account of Ohio's billionaires. It is a repository of the treasure of hard working Ohioans meant to be used to meet their urgent and diverse needs,' Brennan stated. 'During my tenure in the legislature, my constituents often have expressed how they are struggling due to climbing property taxes, increasing healthcare costs, lack of responsiveness and transparency from the government, and the need for policies that protect our consumers. I have had hundreds of residents call on me to focus on the pervasive and growing needs of our community. I have not had any constituents call on me to support taxpayer subsidies to finance the building of a new sports stadium.'
Meanwhile, city and county officials are continuing to push for the Browns to keep playing their games in downtown Cleveland. The city has filed a lawsuit against the team, and the city wants a judge to enforce the Modell Law, a state law that restricts teams from moving.'We are all aligned to keep the Browns playing good, or bad, football downtown on the lakefront,' Mayor Justin Bibb told the I-Team.
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An attorney conference is set for next week on the city's lawsuit.
The mayor and council president Blaine Griffin said the door is open if the owners of the Browns change their mind and decide to renovate the current stadium.'All I can say is, you come on back home,' Griffin said. 'You know, we're still here.'
Lt. Governor Jim Tressel told the I-Team he supports a funding plan that could help the Browns that does not involve lawmakers approving bonds for a new stadium complex. Governor Mike DeWine has proposed helping to fund stadiums with higher taxes on sports gambling.'I think the governor's proposal is a very good one,' Tressel said. 'The person I work the closest with is the governor, so that's where my heart lies.'
Browns officials have said they have focused all of their energy on the Brook Park project, and they believe it will be beneficial for all of Northeast Ohio.We also took questions to Fred Nance. Back in the 90s, he led the legal fight to keep pro football in Cleveland after the Browns moved to Baltimore. We asked what has to happen behind closed doors now to settle the dispute over plans for the Browns to move to a dome.'The idea is to look for the win-win outcome,' Nance said. 'And, when people are communicating, sharing resources, information, we'll get there.'
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