I-Team: Browns make another legal move to clear path to Brook Park dome
*Attached video: Browns say city 'misguiding' Clevelanders on stadium: Court
(WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has found the Cleveland Browns just filed a motion to throw out a lawsuit filed by the City aimed at stopping the team from moving to a dome in Brook Park.
The City filed suit in Cuyahoga County Court to enforce the so-called Modell Law. That restricts pro sports teams from moving, and it would give the City a chance to find new owners for the Browns.
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But, the Browns now want that lawsuit put on hold or thrown out.
Months ago, the Browns filed their own lawsuit against the City in Federal Court. In that case, the Browns asked a Federal judge to declare the Modell Law unconstitutional.
The legal team for the Browns argues that the Federal Court should decide the matter and the Browns want the City's lawsuit put on hold or thrown out to 'eliminate the risk of inconsistent judgments and avoid the inefficiencies that arise from competing, parallel proceedings.'
The new legal filing by the Browns adds, 'Federal district courts are the 'primary and powerful reliances for vindicating every right given by the Constitution, the laws, and the treaties of the United States.'
All of this comes in a week when the debate over the future home of the Browns has been marked by fiery words.
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The team wants to build a dome in Brook Park and open play there in 2029. The lease for the current stadium ends after the 2028 season.
Wednesday evening, the Browns released a new statement, and the Cuyahoga County Executive spoke out. That followed a bold statement from the Mayor of Cleveland.
Earlier this week the Browns accused the City of Cleveland of 'misguiding Clevelanders' about the team's plans for a dome and development around it.
Then, Mayor Justin Bibb called out the Browns for 'misleading statements.' He called the dome project a 'scheme.'
Late Wednesday, County Executive Chris Ronayne held a news conference speaking out against using public money to help the Browns build a dome.
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Ronayne said, 'The Brook Park stadium proposal is a risky bet with public dollars, a risk we shouldn't take.'
But the Browns fired back in a new statement saying, 'While we respect the Mayor and County Executive, the facts are the facts. We have detailed the work completed in collaboration with our team of experts and have taken a conservative approach in our exploration and projections for both stadium options. The work shows definitively that an enclosed stadium in Brook Park is the most viable long-term solution, and the best choice to ensure a thriving future for the Cleveland Browns, our fans, Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.'
We went back to two season ticket holders watching this.
Chris Becker said, 'Well, I don't know what to believe. The fans are sort of stuck in the middle, here. You know, we want to support the Browns. We want to go to the games.'
Reverend Jimmy Gates told the I-Team, 'Can't we all get along to get past the personal part for what's best for the City? What's best for this region.'
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Some of the strongest words surround the court fight.
The City of Cleveland is using the so-called Modell Law to try to block the Browns from leaving.
The Mayor says the team is 'violating State law' restricting sports teams from moving. The Mayor called it an 'attack' on the City's plan to redevelop the lakefront.
The Browns argue in their latest Federal Court filing, that the Modell Law shouldn't block the team from leaving.
The team plans to move at the end of the lease for the current stadium, and the team plans to stay in the area.
In the meantime, the Mayor said the Browns need to 'raise your taxes' for a dome with 'average ticket prices nearing $700' and 'parking rates north of $100.'
So, what about those claims? The Browns tell us ticket prices for the dome haven't been set. Neither have parking prices.
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In the Browns' new statement, Chief Communications Officer Peter John-Baptiste said, 'We have not finalized any ticket prices and are committed to offering ticket options at a variety of price points. We can say definitively that the average ticket price claimed by the Mayor and County Executive is more than three times what we would expect the average ticket price at the new stadium to be. We remain committed to coming together with both state and local public officials to create a positive and meaningful long-term economic benefit for Cleveland and the surrounding region while giving Browns fans one of the best game day experiences in the world.'
The City of Brook Park expects to count on parking taxes and admissions taxes, but those haven't been set either.
The Browns have asked the State for $600 million dollars, but they say it would, basically, be a loan.
A team official stressed to lawmakers, 'It is not a grant. It is not a handout.'
However, the dome project could lead to a new county hotel tax and rental car fee.
The Browns also hope for $600 million in local public funding, too. The team insists profits from the dome complex would cover the local funding, as well.
The County Executive has repeatedly spoken out against the dome plan saying it would hurt downtown, and the Browns should stay there.
The team, on the other hand, believes a dome would benefit downtown and all of NE Ohio bringing in money and jobs.
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Through it all, those fans say they just want the matter settled.
Chris Becker said, 'I think, quite honestly, an indoor stadium is more useful to the community.'
Reverand Gates added, 'You would hope that, by now, they would be sitting down. A meeting of the minds and trying to devise a plan. Whatever it takes. Whatever they need to do to keep 'em in downtown Cleveland.'
The Browns want a hearing in Federal Court on their lawsuit against the Modell law. In the County Court case, an attorney conference is set for next month.
State lawmakers are expected to take the first big vote on State money for the Browns next month.
The Browns also said, Wednesday, 'Despite our extensive efforts to explore and collaborate on a lakefront option, the City's plan is the risky bet. It is not economically viable. It includes no concrete path for making funds available to start construction. And, more importantly, it will burden its taxpayers for decades to come while kicking the can down the road. In stark contrast, the Brook Park proposal will not draw from existing taxpayer revenue streams, does not require any funding from the City, and will be funded primarily by revenue generated from the project. '
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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