How fans are reacting to potential Browns stadium move

CLEVELAND (WJW) — Browns fans are sounding off about the possibility of moving the Dawg Pound, and Cleveland Browns Stadium from downtown to a site near the airport that would be in Brook Park. The team’s owners floated the idea earlier this week.

Although it is not a scientific poll, Browns fans we ran into Wednesday overwhelmingly said they would prefer to keep the stadium right where it is.

The team’s owners, Jimmy and Dee Haslam say they are considering both options, keeping the stadium here or moving it to the suburbs, and neither option is above the other.

Guardians center fielder Myles Straw sent to minors

“I think they should build a dome, I think it brings a lot of other business to the city, the area,” one Browns fan told us.

“I think they should keep it downtown, I mean, it brings a lot of business in on Sunday, and the Muni Lot especially, you know, everybody goes down there,” said another fan.

Just like anything related to the Browns, fans have mixed feelings about where the team should play in the years to come.

Owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam floated two options when they spoke to reporters, including Tony Grossi from ESPN Cleveland, at the NFL owners meeting in Orlando on Monday.

“In all likelihood, we’re either gonna remodel on the lakefront with an extensive remodel, or build a new stadium, which will be domed,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told reporters.

Option 1: Remodeling the stadium where it is would cost $1 billion dollars, half paid by the Haslams, the other half paid by city, county and state taxpayers.

The Haslams say they continue to be in talks with Mayor Justin Bibb and the city of Cleveland.

“I think the city would work with us if we need another year or two, but I think it’s in everybody’s interest to try to get it clarified that … I hate to be redundant, this is complicated, we’ve gotta work through a lot of different issues,” Haslam added.

Option2: Building a domed stadium, potentially on a 176-acre plot of land in Brook Park near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

NE Ohio man, alleged ‘drug mule’ for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, arrested

“You could paint a vision of what our community could be, I mean, and the jobs it could provide, you know, the surrounding development or just the growth that could happen from it,” said owner Dee Haslam.

The price tag for that is $2 billion, and the source of funding right now is unknown.

“I feel like we would like the dome, but realistically, we don’t know where the money’s coming from, so we’re probably gonna still have to pay for it, either way, so it might still be tax money either way,” said a Browns fan.

“I live in Strongsville, so it’s easier for me and we had season tickets for awhile and it was just such a pain to come down and find parking,” another fan told Fox 8.

“I know people outside of Cleveland support ’em, but there’s nothing like having that place that you play in your own backyard,” said another fan.

“I don’t want to lose the team. Either way, either way, even if I gotta go 20 minutes away, 30 minutes away,” said a Browns fan walking downtown.

The Haslams say it is not feasible to add a dome to the existing stadium. They also say they have no plans of moving the team outside of Northeast Ohio.

Mayor Bibb has said keeping the Browns downtown is a priority, as he continues to negotiate with the team.

The mayor of Brook Park, Edward Orcutt, says nothing is imminent and he doesn’t want to speculate on possible outcomes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.