CLEVELAND — Amid the ongoing speculation about the future of the Browns playing football within the city of Cleveland, one member of city council wants to ensure that the process is being done legally so history doesn't repeat itself.
This afternoon, Cleveland City Councilman Brian Kazy announced his plans to introduce legislation at tonight's council meeting that will authorize the city's law director to "fully enforce" state law that imposes restrictions on owners of professional sports teams that play in taxpayer-supported facilities and receive financial assistance from the state or the city.
Kazy's proposed legislation comes just one week after Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced that the options for a future stadium are either a $1 billion renovation of the current facility on the lakefront, or a domed stadium outside of the city limits at double the cost. That potential location could be in Brook Park, where the Haslams have an option on 176 acres of land near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The current lease for Cleveland Browns Stadium will expire in 2028.
Kazy noted that the current state law, passed in 1996 and named for former Browns owner Art Modell, who moved the team from Cleveland to Baltimore, states the following:
"No owner of a professional sports team that uses a tax-supported facility for most of its home games and receives financial assistance from the state or a political subdivision thereof shall cease playing most of its home games at the facility and begin playing most of its home games elsewhere unless the owner either:
- (A) Enters into an agreement with the political subdivision permitting the team to play most of its home games elsewhere;
- (B) Gives the political subdivision in which the facility is located not less than six months' advance notice of the owner's intention to cease playing most of its home games at the facility and, during the six months after such notice, gives the political subdivision or any individual or group of individuals who reside in the area the opportunity to purchase the team."
"The Cleveland Browns have to go through the legal process of leaving the city of Cleveland, whether they want to move the team to Timbuktu, or whether they want to move to Brook Park," Kazy added. "They have to go before Cleveland City Council and ask permission to move the team, or give us six months notice and offer to put the team up for sale."
That doesn't mean that Kazy is hoping that the Haslams sell the team.
"I'm not saying the team is for sale, don't get me wrong," Kazy said during his remarks. "I'm not calling for the Haslams to sell the team, don't get me wrong. I'm just calling for the process of the state law to be followed."
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb did not address the stadium issue during his recent "State of the City Address," but did release the following statement last week on discussions with the club:
"My administration is committed to creating a best-in-class lakefront for Cleveland and keeping the Browns downtown is a priority. Over the last two years, my administration has been active and engaged with the Haslam Sports Group (HSG) to understand the needs of the team and collectively work toward an agreement.
"We meet regularly with their team to refine shared terms and come to a joint vision and acceptable deal for both parties that improves the experience for residents, sports fans and visitors. HSG has been a great partner and I look forward to continued collaboration and conversation to find the best solution."
Kazy said that at this point, Cleveland City Council has not been included in stadium discussions. "I think we should have already been involved. We should be part of the process. As of right now, we're not privy to anything."
You can watch Kazy's briefing (Courtesy of TV20) from Monday afternoon in the player below:
Previous Stadium Reporting:
- 'The state of our city is strong': Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb delivers 2024 State of the City address
- JIMMY'S TAKE: Jim Donovan believes the Cleveland Browns want a new domed stadium, likely in Brook Park
- Cleveland Browns continue to eye options for new stadium as politicians and business owners weigh what's ahead
- Cleveland Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam say stadium options are $1B renovation or new $2B dome outside city