We are deeply disappointed that the final state budget includes both a $600 million public subsidy for a domed stadium in Brook Park and changes to Ohio’s Modell Law — provisions we strongly opposed and requested be removed.
Relocating the Browns will divert economic activity from downtown, create a competing entertainment district, and disrupt the momentum of our lakefront redevelopment. It will also trigger substantial taxpayer-funded infrastructure upgrades — including highway reconfigurations and public safety enhancements — adding significant public costs on top of the stadium itself.
We also remain firmly opposed to the changes in the Modell Law, which was enacted to protect communities that have made substantial public investments in their sports teams. Undermining this statute sets a troubling precedent and leaves cities like Cleveland with fewer tools to safeguard long-standing public assets.
We are embarking on a transformative journey to revitalize our lakefront into a thriving, accessible destination that inspires and unites our community. For decades, Clevelanders have dreamed about the opportunity at our lakefront, and we want to deliver on that shared vision for the future.
With major public investment, including $150M in state and federal grants, the city will deliver on transformational infrastructure that will unlock redevelopment opportunities and strengthen the waterfront’s role in the region’s future.
We will continue to protect taxpayer resources and pursue this once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine our shoreline. Clevelanders deserve a world class lakefront, and we will deliver on that promise.
