CLEVELAND — Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne and Council President Pernel Jones Jr. have thrown their support behind a deal to keep the Cleveland Browns downtown.
Ronayne and Jones on Sunday penned a letter to Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam imploring them to scuttle their plans to build a new covered stadium in Brook Park and instead focus on renovating the team's current digs in downtown Cleveland.
In the letter, the officials told the owners that the recently publicized Brook Park proposal "does not make fiscal sense for Cuyahoga County residents and taxpayers."
"Moreover, any proposal that would create an unacceptable risk to the County's general fund cannot be considered," Ronayne and Jones wrote. "We believe it is our responsibility and in the best interests of our community to prioritize investment in existing public assets.
On Monday, Ronayne and Jones held a press conference to discuss the letter they had sent to the Haslams, outlining their position on the future of the Cleveland Browns stadium.
"Today, we want to address our position as county leaders on the Cleveland Browns Stadium and the future because we think the future lives here in downtown Cleveland. Today is about beginning the campaign to keep our Cleveland Browns in downtown. We hope you will join us on the rational we have conveyed to the Haslams sports group in our letter on Sunday,” said Ronyane.
Ronanye also revealed that he believes the renderings of the potential renovations for the current Cleveland Browns Stadium should also be revealed to the public.
The full press conference can be watched below:
Jones echoed Ronayne's sentiments during the press conference, stating that renovating the downtown stadium will build on the major investments that have already been made in Cleveland.
“While we understand the Browns have an obligation to the fans, we as county leaders have an obligation to the Cuyahoga County taxpayers as well. We have existing financial responsibilities as well and we need to keep them in mind,” said Jones.
On Thursday, Aug. 15, Mark Naymik of 3News Media Partner Signal Cleveland reported Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine met with the Haslams as well as Ronayne and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb this week as stadium discussions continue.
Earlier this year, the Haslams made clear they were weighing two options for the Browns' next home: a $1 billion renovation of the current downtown stadium, or a domed stadium outside the city at double the cost.
On Aug. 1, Bibb's administration pitched a financing plan to renovate the existing Cleveland Browns Stadium with a 30-year lease agreement and $461 million of public contributions.
The Haslams countered days later by releasing glimmering renderings of a $2.4 billion "transformational option" in Brook Park that they promised would create "a modern, dynamic, world-class venue that would greatly enhance the fan experience and enable the State of Ohio and our region to compete for some of the biggest events in the world 365 days a year."
"While significant work remains, the more we have explored the Brook Park option, the more attractive it has become," Dave Jenkins of the Haslam Sports Group wrote in the announcement.
The county does not share the team's attraction to the suburban site. Ronayne and Jones made it plain they favor the downtown deal.
"Over the last decade, we have seen billions of dollars of investment into Downtown Cleveland and it is our belief that a strong, vibrant downtown core is critical to our region," they wrote.
Shortly after Cuyahoga County released the letter publicly on Sunday, Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin released a statement saying he agreed with Ronayne and Jones' assessment.
"Maintaining the Browns' stadium at the core of our central business district is absolutely critical — not merely for sports, but for the economic vitality and communal spirit of our city," Griffin said. "A downtown stadium is a powerhouse for local businesses, a catalyst for job creation, and a significant boost to our city's energy and appeal. The Browns are an integral part of Cleveland's identity, drawing both visitors and residents to our downtown, and their presence is indispensable for the growth and vibrancy of our community. I look forward to working with our partners at the County, here at City Hall, and the Browns front office to keep the Browns where they belong — right here in Cleveland.”
You can read Ronayne and Jones' full letter below:
In response to this letter, Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam released the following statement through their X (formerly Twitter) page that can be seen below: