Cleveland Browns stadium plan clears key governance step in Brook Park

Brook Park City Council has approved the formation of a New Community Authority (NCA) to manage the Cleveland Browns' planned $2.6 billion domed stadium and the surrounding 178-acre entertainment district. The decision moves the franchise's relocation roughly 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland onto firmer footing.

Under the structure, the stadium will be owned by the newly created public entity and leased back to the team for at least 30 years. The Haslam Sports Group will hand over 42 acres to the authority. The NCA will be run by a nine-member board, with five members selected by city officials and four chosen by the team's ownership group. Brook Park Mayor Edward Orcutt welcomed the partnership but said major decisions will still be reviewed by the council.

How the project is funded

HSG is contributing $1.755 billion, with the remainder coming from public money: $600 million from the State of Ohio and $245 million from Brook Park. Once the additional development is included, the total cost is projected to reach $3.6 billion, and any overruns will fall to the franchise, which is run by the Haslam family. The Browns broke ground on the site in April and hope to open the new Huntington Bank Field, with a capacity of 67,500, for the 2029 season.

• Brook Park City Council approves a New Community Authority for the stadium project
• Stadium to be publicly owned and leased back to the Browns for at least 30 years
• Public share of funding set at $600m from Ohio and $245m from Brook Park
• Ground broken in April, with a target of moving in for the 2029 season
• Nine-member board: five city-appointed members, four chosen by HSG

NCAs are able to issue bonds, collect revenue, enter into leases and make agreements that help facilitate large developments. Fees can also be attached to spending within the mixed-use district, including concert tickets, restaurant tabs and hotel bills. Ted Tywang, chief administrative officer and general counsel for HSG, described the mechanism as both a governance and financing tool and called its approval a significant milestone. An economic impact assessment concluded the project could deliver $30 billion in benefits across three decades.

The agreement follows a long-running debate over the club's departure from its downtown lakefront site, with Brook Park set to gain the tax base and footfall that Cleveland loses. Construction is now the main focus, with the franchise aiming to have the venue ready for the 2029 NFL season. Off the field, the Browns still face a quarterback question, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders expected to compete for the starting job when preseason work begins in July.