Browns moving closer to a domed stadium?

Team owners are reportedly set to put “all their efforts” into building a new facility in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park.

The ongoing discourse about the next home of the Cleveland Browns has died down in recent weeks as everyone has focused on the team’s poor start to the season.

But that may soon change.

According to NEOtrans blog, Haslam Sports Group is poised to announce that it will put its full attention on building a domed stadium in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park, with the announcement potentially coming “by the end of this month.”

If it does happen, the announcement will conclude several months of back-and-forth between team and city officials over renovating Huntington Bank Field in downtown Cleveland or constructing a new facility and adjacent “lifestyle and entertainment district” in the suburbs.

Here is a brief recap of how everyone reached this point:

• The Browns released an official statement and highly produced video in August making it clear that a dome is their preferred choice.
• That came shortly after Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb publicly made a $461 million offer to renovate the current stadium.
• Cuyahoga County officials were also on board with keeping the Browns in downtown Cleveland.
• Part of the plan to keep the Browns downtown involved the potential closing of Burke Lakefront Airport, which lies just east of the current stadium.
• That plan hit a potential snag, however, as the Federal Aviation Administration has some requirements in place about the need for a proper reliever airport for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

Another issue with closing Burke came up in the past month when the city released a study that said it could take up to 12 years and cost millions of dollars to shutter the airport, according to NEO Trans. Having to wait that long is likely not something that team ownership is too keen on.

If team ownership does find the right time to make the announcement, and with the season currently spiraling out of control that might be tricky, the next big question will be how to pay for what is estimated to be a $2.4 billion project, but will likely cost more.

Haslam Sports Group has stated they are willing to foot half the bill, but it remains to be seen how much money the county can kick in. One source of new revenue could come from the recent decision by the NFL to allow private equity funds to buy up to a 10 percent stake in a team.

If the Browns were to go that route, that could bring in up to $600 million as the Browns were valued at an estimated $6.02 billion by CNBC prior to the start of the season.

There is sure to be more on this in the coming days and weeks, but it continues to be clear that team owners have their hearts set on moving to a shiny new facility in the suburbs.