Latest news with #RyanJames
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Cleveland Browns clash with city over plan to move stadium to the suburbs
For Ryan James, co-owner of the Flat Iron Cafe, Cleveland's oldest Irish pub, National Football League game days are a lifeline in an increasingly difficult business climate. 'We open up at 9am, and within a few hours, both floors are full of supporters,' he says. The pub bought a bus to shuttle fans the one-mile drive to the Browns' stadium on the Lake Erie waterfront. 'We carry 150 people on that alone.' He estimates that the eight or nine days a year that the Cleveland Browns play at home account for up to 10% of his annual revenue – a critical amount in a business with such tight margins. But now, James and hundreds of other local businesses in downtown Cleveland are faced with the prospect of taking a major financial hit. Except for a brief spell in the 1990s, fans have thronged downtown Cleveland on Sundays in fall and winter to cheer on their NFL team, the Cleveland Browns, for 80 years. The stadium and team have served as an economic linchpin for the downtown area in good times and bad. In parking and hotel taxes alone, the city is thought to earn about $1m per game. But now, the team wants to move to Brook Park, a suburb south-west of Cleveland, and build a new, $2.4bn domed stadium – half of which its owners are asking to be paid by Cuyahoga county and Ohio taxpayers. It's an issue that communities across the country are facing as major sports franchises move to build or update facilities to make them usable for a range of events, all while asking taxpayers to kick in billions of dollars. The Browns' billionaire owners, Jimmy Haslam and his wife, Dee, maintain that the city of Cleveland has dragged its feet on committing to funding updates to the current stadium, and that the new stadium would drive investment to another part of the region. The city, which owns the stadium, had offered to commit $500m to efforts to renovate the stadium at its current location. 'I don't want to see our taxpayers get fleeced in a deal that socializes the risk back to them and puts the profits in the pockets of a few,' says Chris Ronayne, the Cuyahoga county executive. 'We're talking about something bigger than these teams; we're talking about community vibrancy. The move away is counter to our strategy of keeping the downtown robust.' The Browns and the city have filed lawsuits against each other. Currently, the city of Cleveland pays $1.3m in property taxes and insurance for the stadium annually, with the Browns contributing $250,000 in rent. The team is believed to be worth about $5.15bn, and earns about $100m a year in gate receipts alone. The use of public funds to pay for sports facilities used by billionaire owners is a growing source of contention for cities and their residents around the US. In Kansas City, the Royals (Major League Baseball) and Chiefs (NFL) franchises had teamed up to attempt to persuade local authorities to pay up to $1.7bn through a 40-year sales tax that, in part, would pay for new stadium suites and parking facilities. But last year, voters in Jackson county, Missouri, rejected the proposal. In Chicago, the city's storied Bears (NFL) franchise has been vacillating between building a new facility in the city – a move backed by the city's mayor that would see $2.4bn of public spending – and out of town to a location 25 miles from the city center. In places such as Jacksonville, Florida, and Nashville, Tennessee, taxpayers are contributing billions of dollars to finance facility renovations or entire new stadiums. Dozens of NFL teams, whose average value has doubled in recent years, argue that improving their facilities is only possible with the help of public money. In Los Angeles, however, the owner of the Rams, Stan Kroenke, paid all $5bn for the cost of the SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020. In Cleveland, county authorities say they are not explicitly opposed to supporting the Browns' stadium needs at its current location. 'We can make a renovation, and you can have a conversation in the future about a new dome stadium downtown,' says Ronayne. '[But] this is the youngest of the three [professional sports facilities] downtown. This mad rush to Brook Park is just a boondoggle.' The state of Ohio, whose legislature has a Republican supermajority, has said it plans to kick in $600m of taxpayer money through bonds, meaning that residents hundreds of miles from Cleveland with no interest in the team or the sport, could find themselves paying for this new stadium, and any interest accrued on those bonds. The state budget that would include hundreds of millions of dollars of funding must be signed into law by Ohio's governor, Mike DeWine, by 30 June. DeWine, a Republican, has previously expressed his opposition to the funding proposal and can veto bills that have cleared Ohio's legislature, though he regularly follows the party line. An investigation by the Ohio Capital Journal recently found that politicians who have voiced support for the new Browns stadium have received tens of thousands of dollars in donations from the Haslams, who also own the Columbus Crew Major League Soccer team and hold a stake in the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, and are thought to be worth about $8.5bn. This is happening at a time that Ohio politicians are proposing cuts to the state's education budget that would result in a financial hole several hundreds of millions of dollars in size. But some believe that using the Browns' current home, a valuable, visible space in downtown Cleveland just eight or nine times a year for football games, with a few concerts thrown in, is a waste. The Greater Cleveland Partnership, the metro area's chamber of commerce, supports the move, calling it 'more practical' than investing in the Browns' current site. Both Jimmy and Dee Haslam sit on the Partnership's executive committee. In Brook Park, locals say they would welcome the stadium nearby. 'I think it would be good for my business and the people of Brook Park. It's really not even moving out of Cleveland and most of the people who go to the games are in the suburbs anyway,' says Sam Clarke, who runs a graphics design company a short distance from the site of the proposed new stadium. 'But it's not going to matter if the owners are always making the worst moves. They can't really ever seem to get out of their own way. You can play wherever you want but it doesn't change the bigger issue.' For James, a Browns fan who has run the Flat Iron Cafe in downtown Cleveland for 17 years, the stadium drama is about one thing. 'It's just billionaires trying to make more billions, and I can't stomach that,' he says. 'I have no respect for the organization.'
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
The freezer foods that could transform your health – and save ££s from your weekly shopping bill
When you think of freezer foods, ice cream, chips, chicken nuggets and ready-made pizzas probably come to mind. While delicious, these 7 Frozen doesn't mean unhealthy – smart picks from the freezer aisle can save cash and boost your diet Many families are drawn to the frozen aisle for cheaper options, but you don't need to sacrifice your health for your budget. The freezer aisle is home to dozens of healthier options, which tend to be a lot cheaper than fresh. Plus, research has found that That's because freezing stops the products from degrading, which is exactly what they do when they sit unused in the fridge for days on end. READ MORE ON HEALTHY EATING Keeping food ready to go in the freezer means less wastage and more pennies saved. Here, we share the expert-approved freezer foods you need to add to your trolley next time you visit the supermarket. Salmon Fresh Tesco Boneless Salmon Fillets 260g, £4.20 Frozen Tesco Wild Salmon Fillets 500g, £5.50 SAVINGS 51p per 100g 7 Salmon is rich in omega-3s like EPA and DHA, which support your heart, brain and joints Credit: Getty A cheaper alternative to fresh fish, frozen Most read in Fabulous 'As an Salmon is also a good source of protein, selenium and vitamins D, B12 and energy metabolism, immunity and bone health.' I went to the UK's best sandwich shop that's gone viral on TikTok due to amazing family history and huge portions Fry salmon on a medium heat in the pan so it turns pale pink throughout. Then, eat with salad, pasta or rice and veg. To cook in the oven, wrap it in foil with lemon and herbs and bake for 15 minutes. Dumplings Fresh Marks & Spencer Vegetable Gyozas 192g, £4.75 Frozen Itsu Chicken Gyozas 240g, Tesco, £4 SAVINGS 81p per 100g 7 Dumplings can be a source of lean protein and lower in heart-harming saturated fats Credit: Getty Ryan James, health and wellbeing advisor at Vitality, says dumplings are great when you're short on time but want something filling and nutritious. You can opt for vegetable dumplings or meat-filled. 'Dumplings are often full of lean protein, making them lower in saturated fats, which are bad for your heart health,' he says. For the healthy option, go for those that aren't described as fried, but steamed. For a meal, use dumplings in an Asian-inspired soup – Ryan suggests adding them to a pot filled with low-salt broth (such as Itsu Chicken Ramen Brilliant Broth, £2.65), oil and sliced chicken. Edamame Beans Fresh Sainsbury's Edamame Beans 175g, £1.75 Frozen Sainsbury's Edamame Beans 500g, £2.80 SAVINGS 44p per 100g 7 Edamame contains soluble and insoluble fibre too, which supports digestion Credit: Getty If you're veggie or vegan, edamame beans can help bump up protein intake. Unlike other plant-based protein sources, Rob explains that edamame are a complete protein source. That means it contains all nine essential amino acids needed for muscle growth and repair, much like chicken and beef do. 'Edamame contains soluble and insoluble fibre too, which supports digestion and helps you to feel fuller for longer,' says Rob. 'Plus, edamame are rich in micronutrients such as magnesium, iron and folate ( Enjoy them as a snack with a little salt, or add to salads, rice bowls and stir-fries. Just pop them in a bowl of boiled water for a few minutes to defrost. Rob suggests blending them with garlic, lemon juice and olive oil to make a high-protein dip. Berries Fresh Asda Succulent & Juicy Mixed Berries 200g, £2.74 Frozen Asda Summer Fruits 500g, £1.98 SAVINGS 98p per 100g 7 Berries are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, helping fight inflammation and boost your immune system Credit: Getty The difference in cost between fresh and frozen berries is pretty staggering. Berries are a great addition to your diet, because they are rich in anthocyanins and other antioxidants, which reduce inflammation, plus vitamin C, which supports immune function and And if you are trying to slim down, they are a must-have. Berries have fibre, which help fill you up while also being low in calories. 'Frozen berries are pre-washed and typically require no defrosting if you blend them into smoothies or home bakes,' says Rob. 'They can also be defrosted quickly in the microwave or left in the fridge overnight for use in the morning.' Frozen Herbs Fresh Morrisons Coriander 30g, 70p Frozen Morrisons Chopped Coriander 75g, £1.45 SAVINGS 40p per 100g 7 Herbs are rich in polyphenols and other compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties Credit: Getty Have you ever thought about buying frozen herbs, rather than fresh? Not only do fresh herbs often go off before you have a chance to use them up, but frozen herbs are pre-washed and chopped, so they save you time. 'Herbs are rich in polyphenols and other compounds that have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties,' says Rob. 'Plus, herbs like parsley, basil, and coriander contain vitamins A, C and K, which support your "Herbs such as mint can support digestion too, by loosening the valve between your oesophagus and stomach to As a cheaper alternative, simply chop and freeze your own herbs in ice-cube trays. 'With ginger, you can scrape the skin off with a teaspoon and then pop it in the freezer,' says Ryan. 'Next time a recipe calls for it, simply grate it directly into your pan. "This saves on food waste and means you have easy access to an immune-boosting anti-inflammatory ingredient whenever you need it. "If you have a cold, try grating it straight into some hot water with lemon and honey,' he adds. Frozen herbs can be added directly to soups or sauces, or combine them with olive oil and vinegar in a dressing. Rice and Veg Fresh Marks & Spencer Grain & Greens 290g, £2.50 Frozen Sainsbury's Rice, Broccoli, Sweetcorn & Peas 4 x Microwaveable Steam Bags 540g, £2.50 SAVINGS 63p per serving 7 Rice and veg provides a mix of complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, fibre and vitamins A and C Credit: Getty Cooking rice from scratch is always cheaper (a 2kg packet of uncooked brown rice at Tesco costs £2.85). But if you're in a rush, keep a bag of 'It provides a mix of complex carbohydrates for sustained energy, fibre and vitamins A and C,' Rob says. 'Plus, the vegetables contain antioxidants.' Cook the rice according to the pack instructions, then add an egg and season with soy sauce for a quick fried-rice dish. Or, use it as a side dish with protein, such as chicken or salmon. The included veg mean you don't have to faff around with extra pots and pans!
