Honestly, the saga of the Cleveland Browns moving to Brook Park has felt like a long, drawn-out overtime game where nobody is quite sure of the rules. For months, fans and taxpayers have been stuck in this weird limbo between "we're staying downtown" and "we're building a massive dome by the airport." Well, the dust is finally starting to settle. Now that the Browns unveil their stadium financing plan for Brook Park, we actually have some hard numbers to look at, and they are, frankly, staggering.
We are talking about a $2.4 billion domed stadium. That's not even counting the extra billion-plus for the surrounding "entertainment district." It’s a massive bet on the future of Northeast Ohio, but it comes with a price tag that has people checking their wallets.
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The 50/50 Split: Who Is Actually Paying?
The big headline that Haslam Sports Group (HSG) has been pushing is the "50/50 public-private partnership." In plain English, that means the Browns want the public to cover half of that $2.4 billion bill. Jimmy and Dee Haslam have committed to putting up $1.2 billion of their own money, plus they’ve promised to cover any construction cost overruns. That last bit is actually pretty huge, considering how these massive projects almost always end up costing way more than the initial estimate.
But where does the other $1.2 billion come from? That’s where things get complicated.
The plan basically carves that public half into three big chunks. First, you've got the state of Ohio, which has already stepped up in a major way. Governor Mike DeWine signed off on a state budget that earmarks $600 million for the project. Interestingly, the state isn’t just handing over a check from the general fund; they are using "unclaimed funds"—money from forgotten bank accounts and uncashed checks—to create a "Sports and Culture Facilities Fund."
It sounds clever, but it hasn't been without drama. A judge actually had to step in recently to temporarily block the transfer of those funds after some legal pushback.
The Local Breakdown
With the state covering $600 million, that leaves another $600 million to be found locally. Originally, the Browns hoped Cuyahoga County would jump in and issue bonds for the whole remaining amount. County Executive Chris Ronayne basically said "no thanks," calling the move away from downtown a "risky bet."
Because the county isn't playing ball, the Browns unveil their stadium financing plan for Brook Park by leaning heavily on the city of Brook Park itself. Here is the gist of how they plan to bridge that $600 million local gap:
- Brook Park's Contribution: The city is expected to cover roughly $300 million to $422 million through bond financing.
- User Taxes: This is the part the Browns are really emphasizing. They want to pay back these bonds using "new" money—taxes that don't exist yet. Think of an admission tax on tickets (jumping from 3% to 6.5%), parking fees for those 13,000 planned spots, and even income taxes from the players and staff who will be working at the site.
- Visitor Levies: They’ve proposed a $6-per-transaction rental car surcharge and an increase in the hotel "bed tax" to help cover the county's portion, assuming the county eventually finds a way to cooperate.
The $100 Million "Exit Fee" to Cleveland
You can't talk about the Brook Park move without talking about the bridge that had to be burned—and then somewhat rebuilt—with the City of Cleveland. For a while there, Mayor Justin Bibb was ready to fight this in court using the "Modell Law," a bit of Ohio legislation designed to keep teams from skipping town.
However, in October 2025, a massive settlement was reached. The Browns agreed to pay the City of Cleveland $100 million over the next decade.
This money isn't just a "sorry we're leaving" gift. About $30 million of it is specifically to tear down the current Huntington Bank Field and get the lakefront site "pad ready" for whatever Cleveland wants to build next. Another $20 million is earmarked for community benefit projects. It’s a steep price, and Jimmy Haslam noted it actually bumps the total project cost up to about $3.6 billion when you factor in the settlement and the surrounding development.
The Infrastructure "Hidden Costs"
One thing that kinda gets buried in the talk about seats and suites is the infrastructure. You can't just drop a 67,000-seat stadium next to an airport and expect traffic to figure itself out.
Recent estimates show that the public infrastructure costs—things like highway reconfigurations and public safety upgrades—have surged past $122 million. We're talking about a brand-new $40 million RTA Red Line station to get fans from the airport and downtown to the dome. There are also plans for a pedestrian bridge over Engle Road and massive changes to the I-71 interchanges.
While the Haslams are paying for the stadium walls and the roof, taxpayers are largely on the hook for the roads and rails that lead to them.
Why Brook Park and Not Downtown?
A lot of people are still asking: why? Why leave the lakefront?
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The Browns' argument is basically that a renovated downtown stadium would still just be a stadium used 10 or 12 times a year. By going to Brook Park and building a dome, they can host events 365 days a year. We're talking Final Fours, massive concerts in February, and maybe even a Super Bowl.
Plus, they own the land. In Brook Park, the Haslams control the parking, the concessions, and the retail around the stadium. Downtown, they’re just tenants on city land. From a business perspective, it’s a no-brainer for them, even if it hurts the bars and restaurants in the Warehouse District who rely on those eight home Sundays.
What Happens Next?
If you're looking for "actionable" takeaways from this whole mess, here is the reality: the move is happening. The lawsuits have been dismissed, the state money is (mostly) secured, and the settlement with the city is signed.
Construction is slated to start in the first quarter of 2026. If you live in Brook Park, expect a lot of orange barrels and "Road Closed" signs for the next three years. If you're a fan, start bracing for ticket prices to go up—those "user taxes" and the $1.2 billion private investment have to be paid back somehow.
The project is expected to be finished in time for the 2029 NFL season. Between now and then, the focus shifts from "if" they are moving to "how" the region handles the massive shift in economic gravity from the lakefront to the suburbs.
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To stay ahead of how this affects your commute or your season tickets, you should:
- Monitor Brook Park City Council meetings for updates on the specific bond issuances.
- Keep an eye on the GCRTA's plans for the new Red Line station construction schedule.
- Check for updates on the Franklin County court case regarding the $600 million in unclaimed funds, as a permanent block could still throw a wrench in the state's portion of the funding.