Dawgs By Nature
Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s ‘leading economic development organization,’ supports the team’s plan to move to a domed stadium in Brook Park.
The Cleveland Browns gained another ally on Tuesday in their ongoing quest to build a domed stadium and entertainment complex in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park.
That came in the form of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region’s economic development organization with more than 12,000 members, one that touts itself as the “largest metropolitan chamber of commerce in the nation,” according to its website.
After sitting quietly on the sidelines for months as the Browns went back and forth with city and county leaders, the partnership released a statement on Tuesday putting its support behind the Brook Park project, according to a statement on its website:
“Professional sports are an economic engine, an element of our community’s appeal, and bring consistent spotlight to the region. A new domed stadium development represents a transformative $3.4 Billion investment in our region. The proposed private contribution for the stadium and the mixed-use development are significant and merit support from public partners. We strongly welcome and favor the state funding proposals for sports facilities which combined with local support can enable partnerships comparable to similar projects across the country.
“While a downtown dome is ideal, financial and development constraints have been challenging; the Brook Park option is more practical to move forward. The additional events, and expected growth in live entertainment, are an economic opportunity for the entire region. We also recognize the opportunity to connect this development to the bold “CLEvolution” of the airport and ask all parties to support alignment and infrastructure for these projects.”
Publicly supporting the Browns moving approximately 13.5 miles from Huntington Bank Field in downtown Cleveland to a site adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins Airport brought a quick response from Cleveland City Council, which is not very pleased with the GCP, as Council President Blaine Griffin told Cleveland Business Journal:
“The potential relocation of the Browns from our city’s central business district represents more than just the loss of a football team; it threatens the economic vitality of our downtown, the businesses that rely on game-day traffic, and the very fabric of our community. The move pits city against city.”
This is the latest in what has felt like a done deal from the moment the Browns signaled their intention to purchase 176 acres in Brook Park for a domed stadium estimated to cost $2.4 billion and an adjacent entertainment complex with hotels, apartments, and retail and office space.
Since then, the lines have been drawn in the ongoing debate.
On the side in favor of the project are:
