Latest news with #domedstadium
Washington Post
08-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Lawsuit filed against plan to use unclaimed funds for new Cleveland Browns stadium
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Republicans' strategy for funding a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns using residents' unclaimed funds violates multiple provisions of the state and federal constitutions, according to a class action lawsuit filed in county court. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and former state Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, both Democrats, filed the expected legal action in Franklin County Common Pleas on Monday on behalf of three named Ohio residents, as well as all other individuals whose unclaimed funds were being held by the state as of June 30, 2025. They have asked the court for an injunction stopping the plan. The lawsuit argues that taking money from the state's Unclaimed Funds Account to pay for the stadium that Haslam Sports Group is planning for suburban Brook Park , south of Cleveland, violates constitutional prohibitions against taking people's private property for government use, as well as citizens' due process rights. The city of Cleveland has fought the plan . The litigation challenges specific provisions in the state's two-year, $60 billion operating budget that diverts more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds to create an Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund and designate $600 million for the Browns as its first grant. Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has spoken out against using unclaimed funds for such a purpose, having gone so far as to urge DeWine to veto it. However, the state's top lawyer has said he believes the plan is legally sound.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Lawsuit filed against plan to use unclaimed funds for new Cleveland Browns stadium
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Republicans' strategy for funding a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns using residents' unclaimed funds violates multiple provisions of the state and federal constitutions, according to a class action lawsuit filed in county court. Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and former state Rep. Jeffrey Crossman, both Democrats, filed the expected legal action in Franklin County Common Pleas on Monday on behalf of three named Ohio residents, as well as all other individuals whose unclaimed funds were being held by the state as of June 30, 2025. They have asked the court for an injunction stopping the plan. The lawsuit argues that taking money from the state's Unclaimed Funds Account to pay for the stadium that Haslam Sports Group is planning for suburban Brook Park, south of Cleveland, violates constitutional prohibitions against taking people's private property for government use, as well as citizens' due process rights. The city of Cleveland has fought the plan. The litigation challenges specific provisions in the state's two-year, $60 billion operating budget that diverts more than $1 billion in unclaimed funds to create an Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund and designate $600 million for the Browns as its first grant. Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has spoken out against using unclaimed funds for such a purpose, having gone so far as to urge DeWine to veto it. However, the state's top lawyer has said he believes the plan is legally sound.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs budget giving $600M to Cleveland Browns and tax cut to wealthy
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. (Photo by Morgan Trau, WEWS.) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed the state's massive operating budget, which includes funding for a new Cleveland Browns domed stadium and provides tax cuts for the wealthy. This is a developing story and will be updated. The governor will have a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday on his decisions. At 11:15 p.m. Monday, DeWine announced he approved the about $60-billion Republican spending bill. As of 1:30 a.m., he was only midway through scanning his 67 line-item vetoes, spokesperson Dan Tierney said. So far, we know several items approved in the budget. The Browns will be getting $600 million for their new Brook Park stadium. The budget calls for the state to take legal ownership of $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds, setting a clock on how long people have to file claims and get reunited with their missing money. That's a major change for Ohio, which currently holds unclaimed funds in perpetuity. The budget will give people a decade to claim their money before it becomes the state's property. Lawmakers want to grab $1.7 billion out of Ohio's $4.8 billion pool of unclaimed funds right away — and then continue taking money on a rolling basis, after a decade of holding it. The budget also changes a state law designed to make it harder for pro sports teams to leave publicly subsidized facilities, clearing a significant obstacle from the Browns' road to Brook Park. The new language says the so-called Modell law, designed to prevent major sports teams from pulling up stakes, would only come into play if a team chose to leave the state. The changes to the law are likely to end a court battle that's just getting started and take leverage away from the City of Cleveland, which is fighting to keep the Browns on the lakefront or negotiate a better exit deal if the team leaves. He also approved the GOP's 2.75% flat income tax, meaning the highest earners in the state, those making more than $100,000 a year, will no longer have to pay 3.5% in income tax, making them equal to the lower tax bracket. State data reveals that this could result in a loss of more than $1.1 billion in the general revenue fund. This was made up by cutting social services and some tax exemptions. Tierney confirmed that some aspects of the Medicaid cuts, ones that were set to cut about 800,000 Ohioans off of health care, have been signed into law. Other provisions were vetoed, he said. WESW's Michelle Jarboe contributed to this report. Follow WEWS statehouse reporter Morgan Trau on X and Facebook. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Browns Unveil Historic $2.4 Billion Stadium Plans
Browns Unveil Historic $2.4 Billion Stadium Plans originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cleveland Browns announced this week the official plans of building a new $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park, Ohio that seats up to 70,000 on Sundays. Advertisement The development will be Ohio's first enclosed stadium, opening up the area to host various events like the Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four, large-scale concerts, and more. It is also a historic advantage coming to AFC North. The Browns' new home will be the first domed stadium in the division, giving Cleveland an upper hand over the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers when it comes to weather during home games. The Browns social media team released a detailed blueprint diagram of the state-of-the-art mockups of "New Huntington Bank Field". "As Northeast Ohio continues to evolve, the New Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium will stand as an iconic symbol of the innovation, resiliency, and bold spirit of our region. It will be truly transformational, a first of its kind in the NFL, redefining the architecture of stadiums and fan-centric design. The New Huntington Bank Field enclosed stadium will shape the trajectory of our region for generations to come not just as a stadium, but as a reflection of our community, our economy, and our identity," the Browns wrote on the team website. Advertisement Around the stadium grounds, there will be a full entertainment district that will have programming year-round. "The mixed-used development will create Northeast Ohio's most unique live, work, and play neighborhood and drive a fiscal and economic impact the state and region has never experienced," said the Browns. The site of New Huntington Bank Field in Brook Park is about a 20-minute drive southwest of the current stadium in downtown Cleveland. Mayor Justin Bibb is not exactly thrilled about the team moving out of the city. 'We are deeply disappointed that the final state budget includes both a $600 million public subsidy for a domed stadium in Brook Park and changes to Ohio's [Art] Modell Law — provisions we strongly opposed and requested be removed,' Bibb said Tuesday, via 'Relocating the Browns will divert economic activity from downtown, create a competing entertainment district, and disrupt the momentum of our lakefront redevelopment.' According to NBC, "the change to the Art Modell Law allows Ohio teams to move within Ohio. Given that the Ohio legislature created the initial law after the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996, it seems that there's little room for Cleveland to fight the legislature's decision to change the law." Advertisement The $600 million of public funding may also hinder the development. Despite the Browns already selling season tickets for the new stadium, which is expected to open in 2029 according to Sportico, "there's a chance that Ohio will have to scrap the plan to pay the $600 million via unclaimed funds and come up with an alternative approach," Pro Football Talk added. Browns owner Jimmy Haslem spoke on the Building Brownstone podcast explaining the vision behind this new stadium and the benefits it will provide to the people of Northeast Ohio. For more information, visit Related: Browns' Myles Garrett 'Trending Toward Best Season' in 2025 This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signs budget giving $600M to Cleveland Browns
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed the state's massive operating budget, which includes funding for a new Cleveland Browns domed stadium.
