Cleveland Browns $2.4bn stadium plans cause uproar as rarely used rule could put fans at war with franchise
The City of Cleveland is desperate to keep the Browns downtown. Back in October, the team announced its decision to leave the lakefront area, which has been home since 1946. The Browns owners have shared plans to relocate the team away from downtownGetty Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem shared plans to relocate the franchise to suburban Brook Park – located about about 12 miles south of the city. The team did consider a $1.1billion plan from the city to renovate their 25-year-old downtown stadium, but instead chose to pursue a $2.4bn dome in Brook Park instead. But despite impressive plans to build a state-of-the-art facility, which the owners believe will allow Cleveland host major events including the Super Bowl and Final Four, the city will play hardball to keep its NFL team right where it is. There has been talk of a possible court case that could prevent the Browns from leaving, and now, the City of Cleveland has announced it is officially invoking the little-known ‘Modell Law’ to put the brakes on any potential move. The 1996 legislation was born following former Browns owner Art Modell’s infamous betrayal. He made the controversial decision to move the Browns to Baltimore right after the 1995 season, in a move that shattered Cleveland and sparked widespread outrage and a legislative effort to ensure it would never happen again. The law requires Ohio team owners that use a ‘tax-supported facility’ for most of their home games to seek permission to move. Without permission, they must give a six-month notice and allow both the local government and local investors an opportunity to purchase the team. On December 30, Mayor Justin Bibb invoked the law, and said the Browns have played home games at ‘a tax-supported facility’ now known as Huntington Bank Field that has been the subject of ‘over $350 million in construction, repairs, and maintenance costs covered by the city’. In a strongly worded letter, reported by a number of media outlets, he called for the owners to comply with the legislation and also asked the Browns to provide a date in which the six-month period will begin for the team to be available for purchase. The Browns have played on the same site downtown since 1946Getty The franchise has shared renderings of a new billion-dollar facilityCleveland Browns The new stadium would be built away from Downtown ClevelandCleveland Browns The City of Cleveland has invoked a little-known law to put the brakes on a potential relocationGetty He has requested a response by January 9 on the team’s decision on whether or not it will comply with the Modell Law. The Browns had previously filed a federal lawsuit aimed at getting ‘clarity’ on the application of the law. The case is still pending. Jimmy and Dee Haslem bought the team in 2012, knowing the full history of the Browns and relocation battles. Any effort to defy the Modell Law moving forward risks taking on the entire fanbase, as well as the city. And while they only wish to move the franchise 12 miles away from their current home, the major sticking point is that the team would no longer be in the city of Cleveland. Many fans have taken to social media to share worry over a potential move. “What a complete disaster this organization is,” one wrote on X, responding to the new stadium plans. Some fans have shared concerns over plans from owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam to move the BrownsGetty “Develop downtown… remain committed to Cleveland,” another said. “Don’t move the team out of downtown. You guys have done enough to us,” a third concluded. A spokesperson for Haslam Sports Group on Monday (December 30) issued a statement to FOX 8 I-Team on Mayor Bibb’s intention to invoke the Modell Law. “We received and are reviewing the correspondence from Mayor Bibb. As we stated months ago when we filed our lawsuit seeking clarity on the ‘Modell Law,’ the statute and the City’s actions create uncertainty and do not serve the interest of Greater Cleveland,” the statement read. “As the City knows, after the 2028 season, we will have fulfilled our lease obligations at the current stadium. We are determined to create a project to solve our long-term stadium planning by building a new enclosed Huntington Bank Field and adjacent [mixed-use] development, resulting in a substantial increase in premier large-scale events and economic activity for our region that will generate significant revenue for the City, County, and State. “We intend to respond directly in due course to Mayor Bibb’s letter and have no further comment at this time.” talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated ‘EndZone’ YouTube channel.
The City of Cleveland is desperate to keep the Browns downtown.
Back in October, the team announced its decision to leave the lakefront area, which has been home since 1946.
Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslem shared plans to relocate the franchise to suburban Brook Park – located about about 12 miles south of the city.
The team did consider a $1.1billion plan from the city to renovate their 25-year-old downtown stadium, but instead chose to pursue a $2.4bn dome in Brook Park instead.
But despite impressive plans to build a state-of-the-art facility, which the owners believe will allow Cleveland host major events including the Super Bowl and Final Four, the city will play hardball to keep its NFL team right where it is.
There has been talk of a possible court case that could prevent the Browns from leaving, and now, the City of Cleveland has announced it is officially invoking the little-known ‘Modell Law’ to put the brakes on any potential move.
The 1996 legislation was born following former Browns owner Art Modell’s infamous betrayal.
He made the controversial decision to move the Browns to Baltimore right after the 1995 season, in a move that shattered Cleveland and sparked widespread outrage and a legislative effort to ensure it would never happen again.
The law requires Ohio team owners that use a ‘tax-supported facility’ for most of their home games to seek permission to move.
Without permission, they must give a six-month notice and allow both the local government and local investors an opportunity to purchase the team.
On December 30, Mayor Justin Bibb invoked the law, and said the Browns have played home games at ‘a tax-supported facility’ now known as Huntington Bank Field that has been the subject of ‘over $350 million in construction, repairs, and maintenance costs covered by the city’.
In a strongly worded letter, reported by a number of media outlets, he called for the owners to comply with the legislation and also asked the Browns to provide a date in which the six-month period will begin for the team to be available for purchase.
He has requested a response by January 9 on the team’s decision on whether or not it will comply with the Modell Law.
The Browns had previously filed a federal lawsuit aimed at getting ‘clarity’ on the application of the law. The case is still pending.
Jimmy and Dee Haslem bought the team in 2012, knowing the full history of the Browns and relocation battles.
Any effort to defy the Modell Law moving forward risks taking on the entire fanbase, as well as the city. And while they only wish to move the franchise 12 miles away from their current home, the major sticking point is that the team would no longer be in the city of Cleveland.
Many fans have taken to social media to share worry over a potential move.
“What a complete disaster this organization is,” one wrote on X, responding to the new stadium plans.
“Develop downtown… remain committed to Cleveland,” another said.
“Don’t move the team out of downtown. You guys have done enough to us,” a third concluded.
A spokesperson for Haslam Sports Group on Monday (December 30) issued a statement to FOX 8 I-Team on Mayor Bibb’s intention to invoke the Modell Law.
“We received and are reviewing the correspondence from Mayor Bibb. As we stated months ago when we filed our lawsuit seeking clarity on the ‘Modell Law,’ the statute and the City’s actions create uncertainty and do not serve the interest of Greater Cleveland,” the statement read.
“As the City knows, after the 2028 season, we will have fulfilled our lease obligations at the current stadium. We are determined to create a project to solve our long-term stadium planning by building a new enclosed Huntington Bank Field and adjacent [mixed-use] development, resulting in a substantial increase in premier large-scale events and economic activity for our region that will generate significant revenue for the City, County, and State.
“We intend to respond directly in due course to Mayor Bibb’s letter and have no further comment at this time.”
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio, and you can stay up to date with all the latest from around the league via our dedicated ‘EndZone’ YouTube channel.
