The continued push by local leaders to keep the Cleveland Browns in the downtown stadium makes no sense anymore, with the Browns fully committing to a covered stadium in Brook Park, according to the Today in Ohio podcast.
The latest episode of the cleveland.com and Plain Dealer podcast addressed a new joint letter from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne to state officials, requesting $350 million to help fund a renovation of the current lakefront stadium.
This new letter, this time, has both Cuyahoga County Executive Ronayne and the mayor on it,” explained Leila Atassi. An earlier letter contained only Ronayne’s signature, raising questions about the mayor’s absence because Cleveland owns the stadium.
Quinn ichallenged the rationale behind this approach, emphasizing the reality that the Browns, as a privately owned organization, have already made their decision.
“What seems to get forgotten in these discussions is that the Browns are not a community asset like the convention center. It’s a privately owned team… and they’re going to build stadium in Brook Park,” Quinn said.
The podcast hosts expressed befuddlement at local officials’ refusal to accept the Browns’ commitment to the Brook Park location and negotiate accordingly. The Browns have said that if the county helps borrow some of the money for the stadium – to be paid back by revenue it generates – the city and county would stand to collect a lot of extra cash for such projects as lakefront development.
Atassi described the timing of the new letter as “hollow” and more about political appearances than practical strategy: “It feels like political cover more than a serious challenge to the Brook park plan, given where we are.”
Quinn questioned the quixotic political calculus behind appealing to the Republican-controlled state legislature: “Bib band Ronayne have zero juice in Columbus. So, them asking for 350 million would be like me asking for it. It Just doesn’t make sense.”
The discussion highlighted the political complexities at play, with Quinn noting the close relationship between the Haslam family and Republican leadership in Columbus as a factor that further undermines the local officials’ strategy.
Perhaps most bluntly, Quinn asked the question that seemed to drive the entire segment: “This is one where I just am scratching my head because the pragmatism is gone. This is a done deal. When do you as a public official recognize that?”
The Browns have consistently maintained their focus on the Brook Park location, with the team stating they “haven’t seen a serious renovation pitch backed by local dollars,” according to the podcast discussion.
