The Browns are on the verge of leaving a huge ‘hole’ in downtown Cleveland.
With plans moving forward for a new $2.4 billion domed stadium in suburban Brook Park, the team’s current football home of Huntington Bank Field faces an uncertain future.
Myles Garrett could be moving to a new NFL stadiumGetty“They’re about on the 2-yard line for making this happen,” longtime Browns insider Tony Grossi exclusively told talkSPORT.
“They are requesting about $600 million from the state in a loan. And the state has devised three different ways that they approve it.
“Is it going to happen by the end of this month that the state is finally going to sign off and say, ‘All right, here’s the $600 million from our contribution?’
“They’ll still have to make up other financing. But the owner has said if they get the state money, they’re going shovels in the ground by first quarter of next year.”
Huntington Bank Field opened in 1999 and was formerly known as FirstEnergy Stadium.
The 67,431-capacity venue is based along Cleveland’s northern waterfront and Lake Erie, and located near the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
While the Browns try to improve on a 3-14 record this season with Joe Flacco and Shedeur Sanders battling for the starting quarterback spot, the franchise is exploring a controversial move that would affect the franchise for decades to come.
The Browns date back to 1946 and initially were one of the NFL‘s most successful teams under Paul Brown.
But the betrayal of former Browns owner Art Modell shipped the team to Baltimore after the 1995 season, in a move that shattered Cleveland and sparked widespread outrage.
The Baltimore Ravens were born in 1996, while the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 — and haven’t won their division since.
Huntington Bank Field was formerly known as FirstEnergy StadiumGetty GettyCleveland’s current stadium opened in 1999 and sometimes has weather issues[/caption] A proposed new stadium would feature a roof and could host a Super BowlCleveland Browns The Browns also have a big decision to make about Shedeur SandersGettyOwners Jimmy and Dee Haslam are now attempting to relocate the team closer to the city’s airport, with the hope that a state-of-the-art stadium will bring a Super Bowl to the sports-obsessed city.
“The Browns ownership wants to build an enclosed stadium,” Grossi said.
“I won’t say ‘dome’ because that gives you — you think of the Houston Astrodome with this big round roof. Think more of a SoFi Stadium (in Los Angeles) – underground.
“They have plans to build a stadium 10 miles west of downtown Cleveland, actually very close to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. And they want to build around it a mixed (facility).
“The Haslams, who own the team, get no parking revenue from being where they’re at on the lakefront. It’s very difficult to get in and out of that stadium … traffic that does not move for 45 minutes. So I understand that they’re wanting to go to another location.”
The Browns previously considered a $1.1bn plan to renovate Huntington Bank Field, and the new push to build a new $2.4bn stadium in the suburbs has been polarizing.
“The City of Cleveland has vehemently fought this because there’s going to be a hole in the ground where that stadium is and there’s no development around it,” Grossi said.
“And the Mayor of Cleveland envisioned the Cleveland Browns being the catalyst to a new waterfront development. But it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”
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The Browns have joined the Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans in balancing big stadium decisions while still trying to respect longtime supporters.
For many fans, creating a real winner on the field in Cleveland is the biggest issue.
Kevin Stefanski has produced two 11-win seasons since 2020 and twice won Coach of the Year.
But he’s 40-44 overall and just 1-2 in the playoffs, while the team has been dragged down by Deshaun Watson‘s historically bad $230 million contract.
The Browns could soon be asking their devoted fans to remain loyal, but drive to the burbs to keep supporting Cleveland’s NFL team.
“I’m actually in favor of the move,” Grossi said. “But it’s a very divisive issue for sure.”
Garrett and Sanders could be on the move to a state-of-the-art facilityGettyStay up to date with the latest from the NFL across all platforms – follow our NFL Facebook page, subscribe to our talkSPORT End Zone YouTube channel for all the offseason news, interviews and more
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