A political showdown is unfolding in Ohio as Republican leaders clash over two competing proposals: whether to back a new domed stadium for the Cleveland Browns in the suburbs or push for broader tax hikes to fund long-term upgrades for the Cincinnati Bengals and other professional teams.
Both plans are drawing fire from members of both parties who argue that public funding for NFL stadiums diverts critical resources from priorities like infrastructure and public education.
At the center of the storm is a $2.4 billion proposal from Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Browns, to relocate the team from their current downtown Cleveland lakeshore stadium—home since 1999—to a new state-of-the-art facility in Brook Park, about 15 miles away. The plan, pitched as a public-private partnership, seeks $600 million in state funding.
After the Ohio House approved the funds last week, officials in Hamilton County, where the Bengals play, quickly responded by renewing their own request for $350 million in upgrades to Paycor Stadium. The Bengals’ lease ends on June 30, 2026, and the timing of the ask follows pointed comments from team executive Katie Blackburn, who said at recent NFL meetings in Florida, “We could, I guess, go wherever we wanted after this year,” while also indicating that negotiations are ongoing.
The debate now moves to the Ohio Senate following its spring recess.
Team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam—major donors to Republican campaigns—say they envision a world-class venue with a dome that could host year-round events and stimulate economic development through a nearby entertainment complex. They emphasize that 80% of Browns home game attendees live outside the city, underscoring regional impact.
But Cleveland city leaders are pushing back hard. The current $247 million Huntington Bank Field was largely funded with city and county tax dollars. For many residents, the stadium is a symbol of Cleveland’s enduring support for the Browns, especially after the traumatic departure of the team to Baltimore in 1996 under former owner Art Modell.
That move, tied to a previous stadium conflict, prompted the creation of what’s now known as the “Modell Law,” which requires any professional team whose home stadium receives public funding to reach an agreement with its host city before relocating—or to provide six months’ notice and the chance for the city to purchase the team.
