Cleveland OKs $100M Browns deal
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The proposed covered Browns Stadium in Brook Park. Rendering: HKS Architects/Cleveland Browns
Cleveland City Council's support of a reworked $100 million settlement with the Haslam Sports Group ends months of acrimony and clears the way for the Browns' move to Brook Park.
Why it matters: After decades of subsidizing pro sports in Cleveland, Monday's vote flips the script — securing tens of millions from the Browns for lakefront development and neighborhood projects.
- It also averts a costly legal fight Cleveland officials say the city was unlikely to win.
Driving the news: Council voted 13-2 in favor of the deal after last-minute changes were brokered over the weekend between council leadership and team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam.
- Mike Polensek and Brian Kazy opposed, while Joe Jones and Stephanie Howse-Jones were absent.
Between the lines: The amended settlement preserves the deal's framework but redistributes funds and adds obligations for the team.
Zoom in: The Browns will pay Cleveland $25 million upfront, then $45 million over 10 years after the team departs ($20 million for the lakefront and $25 million for neighborhood projects).
- The Browns will also pay for the full demolition of Huntington Bank Field, estimated at $30 million.
In a new twist, the Browns can extend their lease for up to two years at the current annual rate of $250,000, but must pay an extra $1 million in the first year and $2 million in the second for neighborhood projects if they stay.
Inside the room: Council members met for hours Monday, debating the deal's merits. Many admitted reluctant support, forced to make lemonade out of lemons.
- Former Mayor and Congressman Dennis Kucinich urged the body to vote no on the agreement and pursue more favorable terms.
- Bradford Davy, Mayor Justin Bibb's chief of staff, framed the deal as a pragmatic win that could set a new standard for cities with pro sports teams — an expectation of an exit tax.
What they're saying: "From day one, I made it clear that any deal involving our city's assets must protect the city's general revenue fund and deliver real value for Cleveland," Bibb said in a statement.
- "This agreement does exactly that. It resolves longstanding issues, safeguards the city's financial interests, and positions us to move ahead with clarity and purpose."
The other side: "A pig with lipstick is still a pig," Kazy said in voting no.