CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns have undertaken a study about the development of Downtown Cleveland, which could include massive renovations to FirstEnergy Stadium or a new stadium altogether at a different site in the city.
According to the ESPN report, the Browns are looking to “start the conversation” about future development projects around the city, but that discussions between “officials and civic leaders” and the team have been informal at this point.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to be part of the conversation about downtown re-development,” owner Dee Haslam said in the report. “We should be part of the conversation in a bigger way, and I think we will be.”
PHOTOS: FirstEnergy Stadium through the years
The Browns’ current lease with FirstEnergy Stadium runs through 2028. By then, FirstEnergy Stadium would be 30 years old.
Originally called “Cleveland Browns Stadium” before a lucrative naming-rights deal was reached in time for the 2014 season, FirstEnergy Stadium underwent significant renovations in the offseasons of 2014 and 2015.
Funded through a partnership between the team and City of Cleveland, the $120 million renovation project was a two-phase endeavor where the video and audio presentation of the game was enhanced by the installation of LED video boards triple the size of the older screens and closer to the field for a more sensory production.
Also during the first phase, the Browns increased the seating capacity of the lower bowl to improve lines of sight, as well as increase the team’s home-field advantage. New escalators were installed in each end zone to improve ease of movement throughout the five levels of FirstEnergy Stadium.
During the second phase, the Browns improved admission and concession areas and upgraded the stadium’s club and suite-level seating.
Should the Browns be successful in their plans for a new or renovated stadium, it could put them in line to host future Super Bowl games, as well as other economically impactful events like WrestleMania, the NCAA Final Four and concerts year-round instead of during summer and early fall months.
The timing of the study comes when the Browns themselves are undergoing a rebuilding process.
With a New Year’s Eve loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, the Browns went winless in a 16-game season for the first time in franchise history, and their 17th consecutive loss dropped them to a league-worst 1-31 since the opening game of 2016.
Over the last four-plus years, the Browns have gone 4-49, and the record has not been much better since the Haslams officially purchased the team in October of 2012.
In five seasons under Haslam’s majority ownership, the Browns have posted an NFL-worst 15-65 record. Factoring in the remaining games of the 2012 season after the sale was approved at an NFL Owners Meeting in Chicago, the Browns have gone 19-70.
Additionally, this season, the Browns set the record for the worst 28-game stretch in NFL history, as they bested the previous mark of 2-26 set by the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 1976-1977 seasons with a 1-27 showing that got four losses worse since Week 13.
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