CLEVELAND — The legal battle to prevent the Browns from relocating to a proposed suburban domed stadium has intensified. In a recent development, the city of Cleveland has initiated a lawsuit aimed at stopping the NFL team from departing from its lakeside venue when its stadium lease concludes following the 2028 season. The franchise’s owners, Dee and Jimmy Haslam, plan to erect a $2.4 billion facility accompanied by an entertainment complex in Brook Park, approximately 15 miles away from downtown Cleveland.
Cleveland lodged the lawsuit in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on Tuesday. This move marks the latest chapter in a saga familiar to Browns supporters, many of whom recall the disappointment of 1995 when former owner Art Modell relocated the team to Baltimore after failing to secure a new stadium deal with the city.
The fallout from that controversial decision led to the passage of the “Modell Law,” which stipulates that any professional sports franchise benefiting from public funding for its facilities cannot leave without prior authorization or at least a notice period. Approved in 1996, the law also affords local residents the opportunity to purchase the team or seek new ownership. Cleveland’s lawsuit asserts that the Browns have breached this legislation by not following these stipulations.
As of now, the Browns have refrained from making a public statement regarding the city’s legal action. Last month, the team formally communicated its ambitions to Mayor Justin Bibb, outlining plans for a cutting-edge stadium potentially financed partly through public funds. The team has been based in Huntington Bank Field since 1999, a venue established following the franchise’s return after Modell’s departure.
In response to the situation, the Browns have filed their own lawsuit to gain clarity about the “Modell Law,” with that federal case still pending. Interestingly, the Haslams have previously benefited from this legislation; they acquired the Columbus Crew, a Major League Soccer team, in 2019 to keep it in Ohio when concerns arose about a potential move from the capital. Additionally, the Haslams hold a minority stake in the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA.
Earlier, the city had extended an offer of $461 million to assist with renovations of the Browns’ existing 65,000-seat stadium, showcasing a desire to keep the team in its current location.
