BEREA, Ohio — A long-standing tradition that comes hand-in-hand with Cleveland Browns training camp isn't coming back this year.
For 2021, fans will enter on the northeast side of the field at the team's headquarters in Berea, leaving the commonly known Beech Street empty.
Beech Street is a quiet corner of what some would describe as an all-American Northeast Ohio neighborhood, a place where Cleveland pride shines. The only thing separating Berea neighbors and the start of a Browns season is a fence.
"The sound of the stadium was really out here," resident Rincy Isaacs said. "The whistles and probably the crowd."
A brown, white and orange line stretches across the entire street, painting Browns pride throughout. For pre-pandemic training camps, thousands of fans rushed down the street from Baldwin-Wallace University, headed for the end zone of the training field.
Due to the pandemic, no fans could attend training camp in 2020, which means the street was quiet. Despite fans being back this year, the street is going to stay that way.
For some neighbors, another quiet year isn't so bad.
"We had trouble getting in and out of our driveway sometimes," Jim Yutzy admitted. "We would take a vacation during this time of year to avoid it a little bit."
But others revel in the moment, using the opportunity to earn a little cash. Ken Filiberto, for instance, transformed his driveway into a parking lot.
"I could fit five in the driveway and two in the turnaround," he said, adding he would charge $20 per car.
Now, the lucky 2,000 fans who get their hands on tickets for select open practices will do so on Lou Groza Boulevard, named for the legendary Browns tackle and kicker.
"I'm a little sad that it's not going to be, we won't get that excitement," Isaacs said.
But happy about the change or not, these neighbors agree on one thing.
“Anything Cleveland Browns we'll miss," Yutzy lamented.