Browns Unveil Official Plan For $3.8 Billion Brook Park Stadium Project

Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam have been weighing multiple options for the team's future home

Conceptual designs for a potential domed stadium for Cleveland Browns in Brook Park / HKS Architects

The ongoing negotiations over a future stadium for the Cleveland Browns seem to be nearing a final decision.

In a letter to season ticket holders and Browns fans everywhere, the Haslam Sports Group unveiled their plans for a $3.8 billion project that would bring a state-of-the-art domed stadium and accompanying mixed-use development to Brook Park.

Rendering of the Browns proposed state-of-the-art dome to be build in Brook Park / HKS Architects

For months team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam have been finalizing a land purchase agreement in the Cleveland suburb for a 176-acre parcel of land that sits adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. This release an accompanying renderings show what the Browns vision is for the space.

For what it's worth, the letter was not an official announcement of a final decision from the ownership group. It does, however, show just how much heavy lifting has already been done on preparing for this specific stadium plan.

While we have considered numerous sites throughout Cleveland and the region, our focus has been on two potential paths for the future of our stadium.

While significant work remains, the more we have explored the Brook Park option, the more attractive it has become, and we are… pic.twitter.com/5wXzpNANxz

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 7, 2024

"We do not take the stadium decision lightly, and have been working diligently with city, county and state officials to consider all opportunities," Browns chief operating officer David Jenkins said in the letter. "We need to be bold, we need to be innovative, and we need to take advantage of this unique moment to create a transformational project not only for our fans, but for Cleveland, the Northeast Ohio region and the State of Ohio."

The unveiling comes on the heels of the City of Cleveland submitting a proposal to contribute $461 million to help renovate the current stadium along the lakefront in downtown. That is the other option that is still on the table for the Haslam's as the city's contribution would be part of a $1.2 billion renovation to the aging facility.

That renovation does not include adding a dome to Cleveland Browns Stadium, something Jenkins noted was not feasible, especially with Burke Lakefront Airport positioned so closely located to the venue. Mayor Bibb's plan also asked for the stadium's lease to be extended for an additional 30 years, something people close to the situation continue to say isn't realistic for the structure.

Inside rendering of the Browns proposed state-of-the-art dome to be build in Brook Park / HKS Architects

"The Brook Park site is the most compelling option for a dome for several reasons: its central location for our regional fan base, its proximity to downtown, the RTA and the airport, and its strong existing infrastructure," the letter continued. "The large footprint is also ripe for major economic development and supports ample parking and optimized ingress/egress for our visitors. Our diligence of the site is ongoing, but our work to date has shown positive results on the FAA, environmental and traffic/infrastructure fronts."

The Haslams have already pledged to fund upwards of half of the $2.4 billion domed stadium. They'd look to fund the other half using public money through bonds that would be paid back using tax revenues generated from the development.

A recent report from the NEO Trans-blog this week stated that the Haslams have already secured a source for capital funding of the project. Additionally, it added that M.A. Mortenson Co. of Minneapolis and Independence Construction of Independence are expected to oversee construction of the facility.

Above rendering of the Browns proposed state-of-the-art dome to be build in Brook Park / HKS Architects

"We know that you are passionate about this decision, and we thank you for your continued support of the Cleveland Browns," Jenkins letter continued. "We are excited about the future and look forward to sharing more information with you as the process continues to evolve and when a final decision is made."

That final decisions doesn't seem so far away now. And the Browns have their sights set on Brook Park.