City Of Cleveland Makes Offer To Help Renovate Browns Stadium

The city asked Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam to respond to their proposal by Aug. 12

Dec 28, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns and New York Jets players await at the line of scrimmage pre snap during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports / Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Negotiations over a future stadium for the Cleveland Browns roll on as the city of Cleveland made an offer to help fund part of an estimated $1 billion renovation of the team's current facility on the Lakefront.

In an official announcement shared on Thursday, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb revealed that the city would commit a $461 million contribution to renovating Cleveland Browns Stadium. The majority of that figure would come from an increase in admission taxes within the city proper and the Cuyahoga County sin tax revenues, which have helped fund other projects related to the city's three professional sports teams.

Other portions of the total contribution would come from remaining funds in existing stadium capital reserves and by handing over control of two major parking surfaces – Willard Garage and the fan favorite Muni Lot – to the Browns. Those spaces, according to the city, are estimated to generate around $94 million for capital repairs and improvements.

Here's the full details of the proposal from the city to help fund a renovation of Cleveland #Browns Stadium: pic.twitter.com/iUHpQAAm2q

— 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗 (@Spencito_) August 1, 2024

In a separate letter addressed to team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam the city asked for a response to their offer by Aug. 12.

“Losing the Browns would harm Cleveland and all Clevelanders,” Bibb said via the release “Lower spending downtown would negatively affect tax revenues that provide essential services for a city in need. It would close businesses, cost jobs, empty out storefronts, and make our downtown feel less alive. We also can’t lose sight of how a new venue would cost taxpayers—including Clevelanders—hundreds of millions more while undermining the city and region's other critical needs. A strong urban core drives success for the entire region.”

Bibb believes the offer laid out in the proposal is sufficient enough to encourage the Haslams to keep the Browns fan experience downtown for years to come, while also respecting taxpayers and other city needs. Part of the proposal also includes extending the stadium's lease for another 30 years. Mayor Bibb also notes that the city's proposal comes before any additional pending additional funding from the county or state levels.

Andrew Berry made a pretty introspective point up in sharing his stance on the #Browns stadium situation: "I personally think that we are paying these guys to be athletes as opposed to gladiators"https://t.co/6lIgfeKw7N

— 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗 (@Spencito_) July 29, 2024

As things stand right now, the Haslam's are contemplating a renovation of the current Cleveland Browns Stadium along the lakefront, or an estimated $2.5 billion state-of-the-art, domed stadium option in Brook Park. Just last week the Haslam's spoke on the matter and continued to reiterate that they haven't settled on one plan or the other just yet.

In response to the Mayor Bibb's offer the Haslam's released their own statement:

“We appreciate the latest proposal from Mayor Bibb and his administration and will be following up with the City of Cleveland to better understand the details while we are still reviewing it. As we have said consistently throughout this process, we continue to communicate and collaborate with the cities of Cleveland and Brook Park, Cuyahoga County, and the State of Ohio on a long-term stadium solution that creates a world-class experience for our fans and positively impacts Northeast Ohio. We are working diligently to comprehensively examine all options to identify the best path for not only our fans, but also Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. Our region deserves to be thought of as evolving, forward-thinking, and innovative, so we need to think boldly and creatively in this process. It’s important to reiterate that the goal is to come up with the best experience we can for our fans while creating a long-term, sustainable stadium solution that drives an impact that benefits Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio region, and the entire State of Ohio. We will continue to provide updates as we have more information to share.”

This proposal from the city and the eventual response from the Haslams' could be a key inflection point in negotiations. Should they turn down the city's offer it would be a bold move that may signal their desires to pursue the Brook Park project instead.