Cuyahoga County on Browns stadium

Cuyahoga County officials have urged Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam to abandon plans for a new stadium in Brook Park and focus on renovating the existing downtown stadium. In a letter, County Executive Chris Ronayne and Council President Pernel Jones Jr. stated that the Brook Park proposal does not make fiscal sense for residents and poses unacceptable risks to the county's finances. They emphasized the importance of maintaining the stadium downtown for both economic vitality and community identity. The Haslams are considering a $1 billion renovation of the current stadium or a more costly $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park, which would rely significantly on public funding. Local leaders, including Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, have expressed opposition to the Brook Park option, advocating instead for the renovation of the existing venue. The Browns' management asserts that moving to Brook Park could still benefit downtown's economy, but county officials disagree.