New developments in Cleveland's fight to keep the Browns downtown
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The Fox 8 I-Team is tracking new developments in the city of Cleveland's fight to keep the Browns playing football downtown.
On Friday, attorneys for the city filed a motion in federal court asking a judge to reconsider allowing the Browns to file an amended complaint.
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'Defendant the City of Cleveland (the City) respectfully asks this Court to reconsider its May 23, 2025 Order granting the Browns' motion to amend because the Court overlooked the threshold question of whether it even had jurisdiction to grant leave to amend,' the motion filed by attorneys for Cleveland states. 'As the City explained, the Browns did not properly invoke this Court's jurisdiction by suing under the Declaratory Judgment Act as a basis for federal-question jurisdiction.'
The Browns are taking steps toward moving to a dome in Brook Park, and last year, they filed suit asking the federal court to throw out the Modell Law, an Ohio law that restricts sports teams from moving. The Browns filed an amended complaint Monday.
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The amended complaint attacks the city while referring to the plan by the Haslam Sports Group, saying, 'The Haslams' proposal is a fiscally sound solution for the City that will keep the Browns in the heart of the greater metropolitan area for at least another fifty years. Instead of recognizing the benefits of the Haslams' proposal, the City seeks to hold the Browns hostage to its own failure of vision. Instead of a new domed facility that can drive significant economic activity year-round, the City insists on sticking with an aging, uncovered stadium that is used only a dozen or so times annually.'
Meanwhile, on Friday Downtown Cleveland, Inc President and CEO Michael Deemer testified before the State Senate Finance Committee in Columbus. Deemer told members of the committee he is in favor of keeping the Browns playing football downtown.
The Browns plan to invest more than $1 billion in a dome and entertainment complex, but they are also asking for $600 million from the state.
A decision on state funding is expected late next month.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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