As Managing and Principal Partners Dee and Jimmy Haslam stood alongside Mayor Justin M. Bibb, they celebrated a new chapter between the Cleveland Browns and the city of Cleveland.
On Monday, Bibb and the Haslam Sports Group (HSG) announced a historic agreement that reflects the continued partnership of the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland Browns. The agreement includes a $100M commitment from HSG to the city of Cleveland that will accelerate the lakefront transformation and prepare the current lakefront stadium site for redevelopment and the Cleveland's commitment to support the continuing progress and timely completion of the Browns' future home in Brook Park.
"This partnership with HSG will strengthen our efforts to unlock the full potential of our lakefront, and it brings critical investment to the city and moves the region forward," Mayor Bibb said. "This deal also catalyzes transformational projects on the lakefront, as well as the world-class dome Brook Park Stadium."
The agreement includes the following: a $25 million sum from HSG paid to the city of Cleveland by Dec. 1, 2025; cost to raze the current Huntington Bank Field in downtown Cleveland to a pad ready state, approximately $30 million; a $5 million payment from 2029-33 to total $25 million over five years; an investment of $2 million per year over 10 years to a mutually agreed Community Benefit Projects totaling $20 million; parties to mutually support infrastructure plans related to road and air travel with respect to both the Brook Park stadium mixed-use project, the modernization of Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, the development of the Cleveland lakefront, including the redevelopment of the Burke Lakefront Airport property; support from the city of Cleveland on the continuing progress and timely completion of Brook Park stadium and mixed-use development; and dismissal of all lawsuits related to the Browns Huntington Bank Field move to Brook Park, OH.
When the Haslams embarked on the journey of either building a new stadium or enhancing the current stadium, Jimmy Haslam said they kept two goals in mind throughout the entire process – to take care of Browns fans and to do what is best for Northeast Ohio. Through their plans for the new enclosed stadium at Brook Park and the investment in the lakefront, Jimmy Haslam said he believes they have met those two goals.
"I can't tell you, after a bumpy time period we'll just describe it as this, how excited we are to make this investment in the city of Cleveland with Mayor Bibb," Jimmy Haslam said. "I think these dollars will be put to good use and will make Cleveland an even better place to live work and raise a family. So, Dee and I and our entire sports group of the Cleveland Browns could not be more excited about this partnership with the city of Cleveland and Mayor Bibb."
Following a meeting the Browns had with the United States Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy about the project at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport as well as the work for the domed stadium, Jimmy Haslam said he reached out to Mayor Bibb. The deal came to fruition on Oct. 10 as Mayor Bibb and the Haslams met to continue discussions and find a path forward.
"We were always confident we work it out one way another," Jimmy Haslam said. "It's a significant hurdle to get by and we're very excited and when we shook hands with the Mayor on Friday afternoon, we're excited to move forward. So, I think it's a big step."
