County Official Rips Browns Ownership In New Stadium Drama

Tensions are reaching a boiling point between the Cleveland Browns and Cuyahoga County as the franchise continues its venture for a new stadium to be built in Brook Park. 

The Browns are seeking out $600 million in state-backed bonds to build a new domed stadium in Brook Park. Ohio state legislature passed that budget to be reviewed by the state Senate and then to Gov. Mike DeWine for final approval. 

Haslam Sports Group sent a letter to the county this week, claiming they were prepared to move forward without the $600 million in funds from the country to which Cuyahoga Country Excecutive Chris Ronayne had a bold response.

"This declaration reveals Haslam Sports Group’s greed and opportunism throughout this process. The $600 million in bonds requested from Cuyahoga County was never needed for this project and we now clearly see that you have spent the last two years attempting to bully the public and fleece County taxpayers for HSG’s private gain."

Ronayne posited that the "greed" of HSG has contributed to this divide and that they wanted to pocket the $600 million for their own gain. 

The county has previously lobbied for a $350 million investment into the current Huntington Bank Field. HSG Chief Operating Officer Dave Jenkins was critical of that strategy, believing it to be short-term fix that will create a long-term problem. 

"The year-round dome stadium activity and the many additional events in Brook Park will generate a much greater economic impact for both the County and downtown than an open-air stadium in Cleveland that is used just 10-12 times a year. The Brook Park project will be additive to, rather than destructive of, downtown."

The politics of stadium relocation tend to get pretty ugly and both the Browns and their in-state rivals are experiencing that now. Ultimately, with the league's backing they may still get the Brook Park property, but there may be plenty more unpleasantries along the way.