CLEVELAND — Tailgating surrounding Huntington Bank Field starts before the sun rises on Browns game days, but how does law enforcement police the party?
3News Investigates focused on five popular tailgating locations, including the Muni Lot, to see how Cleveland police protect fans during the pre-game action. We obtained every single crime report from those five locations for the 2024 home opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
It wasn't a long list. In fact, there was only one crime reported: A woman dropped her car off just before midnight, and came back a few hours later to a broken window and stolen items.
But with tens of thousands of fans all celebrating football season, there was no violence, no firearm offenses, and no drugs seized.
The city of Cleveland makes tailgating rules very clear: zero tolerance for vandalism, no open fire pits, and no alcohol or marijuana.
"It's really an all-hands-on approach. That's the way it has to be done," Tyler Sinclair, communications strategist for Mayor Justin Bibb's office, explained. "In a city like Cleveland, we're a small but close-knit community. We can't just do this on our own here."
Browns fans might sneak in a beverage or two, but records show crime has been sacked for pregame festivities in years past, as well.
3News Investigates also pulled every report from before the 2023 opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cleveland police submitted three crime reports for that date, but again, all the incidents were minor: There was one rowdy tailgate cited for "general disturbance," one medical emergency, and a person that called 911 because they were frustrated with traffic.
Overall, a relatively small price to pay for one of the best gameday experiences in the NFL.
While Cleveland is proud of its passionate fans, safety will always take precedence over a celebration.
"The public safety component is always paramount," Sinclair admitted when explaining the city's approach. "If you don't have safety, people can't enjoy the experience aspect."
Comparing games outside of the home openers shows similar results. 3News obtained records for a game in the middle of the 2023 season along with Browns' 2023 home finale in December, the game where they clinched a playoff berth against the New York Jets. According to Cleveland police, there were no crime reports available for either date.
The Browns' next home game is set for Sept. 22 against the New York Giants.