Browns stadium plan advances as Brook Park approves new authority

Brook Park City Council has approved the formation of a New Community Authority, a newly created public entity that will own the Cleveland Browns' planned domed stadium and lease it back to the franchise. The Haslam Sports Group described the vote as a significant milestone for the relocation project.

The authority will oversee the $2.6 billion stadium and the 178-acre mixed-use entertainment district built around it. Under Ohio law, such bodies can issue bonds, collect revenue, enter into leases and sign agreements to support large developments. Funding can also be raised through fees added to concert tickets, restaurant bills, hotel stays and other spending within the district.

The governance structure gives city officials five of nine board seats, with HSG appointing the remaining four. HSG will transfer 42 acres to the authority, and the stadium will be leased back for at least 30 years. Brook Park Mayor Edward Orcutt welcomed the partnership but said major decisions will still go through the council.

How the project is funded

• Haslam Sports Group is putting in $1.755 billion, with $600 million from the State of Ohio and $245 million from Brook Park
• The stadium alone is budgeted at $2.6 billion, rising to roughly $3.6 billion once the wider development is included
• Any cost overruns fall to the franchise, which is run by the Haslam family
• The arrangement could save the team around $100 million in taxes
• An economic impact assessment estimates $30 billion in benefits across three decades

What's next

Ground was broken in April, and the Browns aim to open the new Huntington Bank Field for the 2029 season. The venue is designed to hold 67,500 spectators and sits about 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland. On the field, the franchise still has to settle its quarterback situation, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders expected to compete for the starting job when preseason work begins in July.

The authority's creation clears a key administrative hurdle, but construction and financing details will continue to be reviewed. How the stadium performs commercially on non-gamedays, and how the team resolves its quarterback room, will shape the next phase of the project.