A New Home: Browns Reveal Future Stadium Plans in Brook Park
Last Wednesday, the Cleveland Browns wrote a heartfelt letter to season ticket holders and fans as they announced their plans to move the team's home stadium to Brook Park. The unveiling of the long rumored Brook Park relocation finally came to life after the team's social media accounts posted videos, images, and more details about the plan. While the team has yet to confirm that the team will officially move to Brook Park, the options are between the current Cleveland Browns stadium downtown and the new proposed plan. While fans do not know what the possibly new location will entail, it appears to be a complete redesign of the Brook Park area that will include more than just a new stadium for the Browns.
Renderings and video of a $2.4 billion Brook Park stadium were included in the letter and in a Browns social media post. However, there was no comprehensive financing plan explaining how Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam could bring their vision to life, since they are asking the public to pay for half of the project. The Haslams have stated that they are trying to choose between the Cleveland and Brook Park possibilities at the same time and surely the taxpayer contribution will have a large part in the official decision. According to reports, the city of Cleveland refused to reveal what their $1B proposed project offered in comparison to Brook Park.
This decision not only impacts the franchise but also the city of Cleveland as a whole. Next, let’s take a look at what this means for the fans, city, and our Cleveland Browns
What it Means for The Fans:
There have been mixed reactions to the news of the team potentially moving the stadium from its downtown location. Some see it as a huge win for the franchise and its dedicated fans who are looking forward to the amenities a new stadium can bring. Others have a similar feeling of betrayal that occurred when the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996. While that feeling may arise, there is no question that the Browns intend to remain in the Cleveland area and provide the best experience for their fans.
The amenities Browns think they are receiving at the current Cleveland Browns Stadium will be a tremendous upgrade in almost every category. A parking upgrade for fans seems to be one of the main objectives in this potential transition. The location will provide a closer walking distance to the stadium, a very close drive to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, and will be very close to highways for quick exits. The other main objective that is seen to be accomplished in this transition is a dome feature. Not only will this bring larger venues to the city, but also provide a comfortable and warm environment all year long for the Browns and their fans.
One of the last features that many fans were worried would disappear is the upgraded Dawg Pound section. This new end of the end zone seems to provide more seating with a better view, as well as an intimidating vertical advantage that will be very exciting to see in real time. Without knowing the specific details of the Dawg Pound and other seating in the stadium, there are many reasons to trust the Haslam’s to bring upgraded viewing from every seat.
What it Means for The City:
The Representatives for the city of Cleveland in these discussions have not shown their upgraded stadium proposal to the public. There is a fear that the city's impact on the Cleveland Browns will slowly disappear if they continue with this move to Brook Park. This fear mainly resides with downtown fans who do not want to see their team leave the lakefront yet again. While in fact this will be very beneficial for both parties as the city can focus their money elsewhere.
In the Brook Park proposal, the city of Cleveland will be able to focus on amenities around Cleveland that will still be beneficial for the residents and the Browns franchise. There are rumors of an immediate upgrade to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport if this deal were to be complete with a move to Brook Park. The city might also focus on revamping the public transit system that could take fans from the downtown area to the newly built Cleveland Browns stadium. Lastly, the new stadium would immediately become the largest and highest quality indoor venue in the state of Ohio.
Cleveland residents can get excited about the potential opportunities for some of the largest events in the United States. That includes NCAA championships, concerts from the world's most popular artists, and a potential Super Bowl in Cleveland. The stadium has the potential to provide more entertainment opportunities for residents as well as funding for the city of Cleveland. Some fans may be currently upset, but it is best to save your reaction for when you take your first seat in the potentially new Cleveland Browns Stadium.
The county has since written a letter to affirm their commitment to keep the Browns in downtown Cleveland. Through a response, the team ownership, Dee and Jimmy Haslam, have made a counter-announcement that they have yet to finalize any plans. It seems like a rock fight with the city/county is in store.
What it Means for The Browns:
The decision that is presented will be a huge win for the franchise no matter which option they select. For the Cleveland Browns, an agreement on a new home in Brook Park will keep the team in the city of Cleveland for the foreseeable future. An agreement with the current stadium downtown will complete the same exciting objective. This facility brings an improvement to the Cleveland Browns franchise in every aspect. The facilities overall improvement will be very noticeable as well as the factor of playing indoors.The idea of playing indoors all year round has become a recent trend in the NFL, especially in the franchises who reside in colder temperatures. Another benefit to players is the immediate access to an international airport, especially if the players decide to live in the Brook Park area.
In the more distant past, the Cleveland Browns have openly struggled to recruit some of the NFL’s largest free agents and trade targets. That reputation has now changed thanks to former GM John Dorsey and current Browns GM Andrew Berry. Having one of the NFL’s nicest facilities and stadiums will only improve the possibility of acquiring highly talented players from across the league. Especially for those that are not from the Northeast Ohio region and prefer close access to an international airport with little to no traffic. This move will no doubt be beneficial for the Cleveland Browns and the fans.