Cleveland

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Cleveland with Sam Allard and Troy Smith.

Axios Cleveland

Standard

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Cleveland.

Axios Cleveland Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Cleveland Alerts

Alert

Axios Cleveland Partners

Cleveland Members

Membership

Failed Tennessee execution puts Ohio death penalty back in focus

More than 100 people remain on Ohio's death row.

Politics

Tennessee&#x27;s failed attempt to execute Christa Pike is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="renewing scrutiny" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/01/christa-pike-lethal-injections-drugs-pentobarbital" data-vars-content-id="fe43fc4f-99e5-496a-a057-6c0314c59e2d" data-vars-headline="Failed Tennessee execution puts Ohio death penalty back in focus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/01/christa-pike-lethal-injections-drugs-pentobarbital" target="_self">renewing scrutiny</a> of lethal injection — an issue with a troubled history in Ohio.Why it matters: Ohio still has the death penalty, but hasn&#x27;t carried out an execution in more than eight years.<ul><li>Gov. Mike DeWine <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="has cited" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/06/16/governor-mike-dewine-ohio-abolish-death-penalty" data-vars-content-id="fe43fc4f-99e5-496a-a057-6c0314c59e2d" data-vars-headline="Failed Tennessee execution puts Ohio death penalty back in focus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/06/16/governor-mike-dewine-ohio-abolish-death-penalty" target="_self">has cited</a> Ohio&#x27;s persistent problems obtaining lethal injection drugs, and now says the death penalty should be abolished.</li></ul>

Cleveland Orchestra and musicians reach new three-year contract

Strike called off after intensive weekend of bargaining that nets musicians increased compensation and role in auditions.

Culture

The Cleveland Orchestra musicians&#x27; strike is over after three days, clearing the way for the ensemble&#x27;s European tour to proceed as scheduled.Why it matters: The new three-year contract ends months of negotiations over compensation, health care, working conditions and the musicians&#x27; role in hiring at one of the world&#x27;s preeminent orchestras.

The 10 busiest routes from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

The list is a mix of vacation hot spots and major connecting hubs.

Travel

When Clevelanders fly, they&#x27;re most likely headed south — or to another airline hub.By the numbers: Atlanta was the most popular domestic destination from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport from July 2025 through June 2026, with 454,000 passengers flying between the cities, according to new U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&amp;Nv42146=PYR&amp;Nv42146_anzr=Pyr8ryn0q&amp;utm_" data-vars-content-id="a20e0e1c-ed74-4f25-a789-280f53b47461" data-vars-headline="The 10 busiest routes from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?20=E&amp;Nv42146=PYR&amp;Nv42146_anzr=Pyr8ryn0q&amp;utm_" target="_blank">data</a>.

Kelce brothers love Taylor Swift's "Cleveland!" No one else does

"Cleveland!" has been ripped apart by critics, but Taylor's husband has her back.

Music

At least a couple of people like Taylor Swift&#x27;s song about Cleveland.State of play: Critics have mostly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="panned" data-vars-click-url="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-encore-edition-review/" data-vars-content-id="44cc29dd-8fe9-491c-8675-9aa428d47e22" data-vars-headline="Kelce brothers love Taylor Swift&#x27;s &quot;Cleveland!&quot; No one else does" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/taylor-swift-the-life-of-a-showgirl-encore-edition-review/" target="_blank">panned</a> the new tracks on Swift&#x27;s expanded album &quot;The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore,&quot; with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Cleveland!&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfVVXYTZykw" data-vars-content-id="44cc29dd-8fe9-491c-8675-9aa428d47e22" data-vars-headline="Kelce brothers love Taylor Swift&#x27;s &quot;Cleveland!&quot; No one else does" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfVVXYTZykw" target="_blank">&quot;Cleveland!&quot;</a> being the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="worst of the bunch" data-vars-click-url="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/taylor-swift-cleveland/" data-vars-content-id="44cc29dd-8fe9-491c-8675-9aa428d47e22" data-vars-headline="Kelce brothers love Taylor Swift&#x27;s &quot;Cleveland!&quot; No one else does" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/taylor-swift-cleveland/" target="_blank">worst of the bunch</a>.

October baseball is back in Cleveland

The Guards take on the White Sox in the ALDS, beginning Saturday.

Sports

Playoff baseball returns to Cleveland on Saturday as the Guardians host the Chicago White Sox in the best-of-five American League Division Series.State of play: Cleveland raced to the regular-season finish line, overtaking Chicago in September to win its third consecutive AL Central title.

Browns-Steelers showdown puts Cleveland's 2-1 start to the test

Cleveland faces its rival in the Browns' only scheduled primetime game this season.

If the Browns are for real, they&#x27;ll have a chance to prove it in primetime tonight against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Browns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/09/25/cleveland-browns-home-opener-panthers-game" data-vars-content-id="a2c87e0c-1882-45cb-a0c5-17bcacc79f87" data-vars-headline="Browns-Steelers showdown puts Cleveland&#x27;s 2-1 start to the test" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/09/25/cleveland-browns-home-opener-panthers-game" target="_self">Browns</a> have given Cleveland something dangerous through the first three weeks of the NFL season — hope.

Browns home opener: An emotional timeline

Predicting your unofficial itinerary for Sunday's home game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Dawg Pound is gearing up once again for the most exhausting four hours of the week.Why it matters: Cleveland plays its home opener at 1pm Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, meaning the emotional roller coaster known as Browns fandom is back in town for another season.

Three sports alternatives to the Browns this weekend 

Live events in Cleveland without the emotional angst

If you prefer to consume Cleveland sports without psychic trauma or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Deshaun Watson storylines" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/24/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-starter-quarterback" data-vars-content-id="2913d8eb-205e-44b9-acc1-be4bffd546ae" data-vars-headline="Three sports alternatives to the Browns this weekend " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/24/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-starter-quarterback" target="_self">Deshaun Watson storylines</a>, this weekend offers a bounty of options. 🥊 Go ringside: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="USA Boxing National Open" data-vars-click-url="https://www.usaboxing.org/2026-usa-boxing-national-open" data-vars-content-id="2913d8eb-205e-44b9-acc1-be4bffd546ae" data-vars-headline="Three sports alternatives to the Browns this weekend " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.usaboxing.org/2026-usa-boxing-national-open" target="_blank">USA Boxing National Open</a> begins at Public Auditorium Saturday, bringing Olympic-style boxers of all ages to Cleveland for a national ranking tournament running through Oct. 3.

Guards-White Sox is September baseball at its finest

Chicago comes to Progressive Field Monday for a pivotal three-game homestand.

The Guardians&#x27; biggest series of the season begins Monday, when the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox arrive at Progressive Field for a three-game homestand. Why it matters: September baseball is electric in Cleveland once again! <ul><li>The Guards have been nipping at the Sox&#x27;s heels for weeks and still hold the American League&#x27;s final wild-card spot, so the series has implications on two playoff fronts.</li></ul>

Build your own Browns season

How will the Browns' 2026 season play out?

The Browns have tried <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="just about everything" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/24/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-starter-quarterback" data-vars-content-id="866332ed-245c-467e-9ec5-365db0171e2a" data-vars-headline="Build your own Browns season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/24/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-starter-quarterback" target="_self">just about everything</a> to build a winner — now it&#x27;s your turn.State of play: Cleveland heads to Jacksonville for Sunday&#x27;s season opener with a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new head coach" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/01/28/browns-hire-todd-monken-head-coach" data-vars-content-id="866332ed-245c-467e-9ec5-365db0171e2a" data-vars-headline="Build your own Browns season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/01/28/browns-hire-todd-monken-head-coach" target="_self">new head coach</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new-look roster" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/06/01/myles-garrett-trade-browns-los-angeles-rams" data-vars-content-id="866332ed-245c-467e-9ec5-365db0171e2a" data-vars-headline="Build your own Browns season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/06/01/myles-garrett-trade-browns-los-angeles-rams" target="_self">new-look roster</a> and a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="quarterback controversy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/05/browns-quarterback-decision-sanders-watson" data-vars-content-id="866332ed-245c-467e-9ec5-365db0171e2a" data-vars-headline="Build your own Browns season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/05/browns-quarterback-decision-sanders-watson" target="_self">quarterback controversy</a>.

Guardians enter September with playoff fate in their hands

Cleveland begins a seven-game homestand Tuesday against two teams chasing them.

The Guardians enter September with their playoff fate increasingly in their own hands.Why it matters: Cleveland opens a seven-game homestand Tuesday against two teams chasing it in the American League playoff race, giving the Guardians a chance to create separation with less than a month left.

What video games say about Cleveland sports

Cleveland's best championship odds might currently involve a controller.

Cleveland sports fans looking for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a reason to feel good" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/24/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-starter-quarterback" data-vars-content-id="abc2e508-a277-4c57-910b-a3f9a3103cd9" data-vars-headline="What video games say about Cleveland sports" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/24/cleveland-browns-deshaun-watson-starter-quarterback" target="_self">a reason to feel good</a> may want to fire up NBA 2K27.Why it matters: Ratings in NBA 2K, Madden and MLB The Show offer a fun — and sometimes brutal — look at how the city&#x27;s major teams stack up nationally.

Are the Browns really this stupid?

The Browns are going with Deshaun Watson starting quarterback for Week 1.

Deshaun Watson has done everything he can to not be a starting quarterback in the NFL, but the Browns will head into Week 1 with him at QB1, per <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ESPN&#x27;s Adam Schefter" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49711613/sources-browns-tab-deshaun-watson-not-shedeur-sanders-qb1" data-vars-content-id="dd0bd2c7-5d14-4169-80e0-20c166031790" data-vars-headline="Are the Browns really this stupid?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49711613/sources-browns-tab-deshaun-watson-not-shedeur-sanders-qb1" target="_blank">ESPN&#x27;s Adam Schefter</a> and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NFL Network" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nfl.com/news/browns-deshaun-watson-starting-qb-week-1-2026-season" data-vars-content-id="dd0bd2c7-5d14-4169-80e0-20c166031790" data-vars-headline="Are the Browns really this stupid?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nfl.com/news/browns-deshaun-watson-starting-qb-week-1-2026-season" target="_blank">NFL Network</a>.State of play: The news follows Watson being <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="booed by fans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49695585/browns-watson-calls-fans-boos-personal-not-based-play" data-vars-content-id="dd0bd2c7-5d14-4169-80e0-20c166031790" data-vars-headline="Are the Browns really this stupid?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49695585/browns-watson-calls-fans-boos-personal-not-based-play" target="_blank">booed by fans</a> at Huntington Bank Field during Saturday&#x27;s preseason game after he completed just 5 of 12 passes and threw an interception against the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo offers Browns fans a glimpse of their stadium future

The two franchises are in different stages of a stadium transformation.

Business

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Browns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/14/browns-quarterback-preseason-bears-shedeur-sanders-deshaun-watson" data-vars-content-id="dcbd95d4-74d0-4693-98a8-4aa65001b470" data-vars-headline="Buffalo offers Browns fans a glimpse of their stadium future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/08/14/browns-quarterback-preseason-bears-shedeur-sanders-deshaun-watson" target="_self">Browns</a> host the Buffalo Bills on Saturday in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="preseason clash" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ticketmaster.com/preseason-game-1-browns-v-bills-cleveland-ohio-08-22-2026/event/0500646D9CED8530?landing=c" data-vars-content-id="dcbd95d4-74d0-4693-98a8-4aa65001b470" data-vars-headline="Buffalo offers Browns fans a glimpse of their stadium future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/preseason-game-1-browns-v-bills-cleveland-ohio-08-22-2026/event/0500646D9CED8530?landing=c" target="_blank">preseason clash</a> featuring two of the NFL&#x27;s most devoted fanbases — and two franchises in different stages of a stadium transformation.Why it matters: Buffalo&#x27;s new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Highmark Stadium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49583212/buffalo-bills-fans-first-look-new-highmark-stadium-practice" data-vars-content-id="dcbd95d4-74d0-4693-98a8-4aa65001b470" data-vars-headline="Buffalo offers Browns fans a glimpse of their stadium future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49583212/buffalo-bills-fans-first-look-new-highmark-stadium-practice" target="_blank">Highmark Stadium</a> offers Browns fans an early look at the opportunities (and trade-offs) that could come when Cleveland <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="leaves the lakefront" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/04/02/browns-brook-park-stadium-200-million-cost" data-vars-content-id="dcbd95d4-74d0-4693-98a8-4aa65001b470" data-vars-headline="Buffalo offers Browns fans a glimpse of their stadium future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/04/02/browns-brook-park-stadium-200-million-cost" target="_self">leaves the lakefront</a> for Brook Park in 2029.

Sports 🏅

October baseball is back in Cleveland

Browns-Steelers showdown puts Cleveland's 2-1 start to the test

Hot Takes: Two transplants debate Ohio vs. Georgia

Browns home opener: An emotional timeline

Three sports alternatives to the Browns this weekend