Haslam breaks ground on Browns’ $2.6B domed stadium set to open in 2029

Cleveland Browns Break Ground on $2.6 Billion Domed Stadium Amid Funding Challenges

The Cleveland Browns ownership marked a milestone Thursday with the groundbreaking ceremony for their new domed stadium in Brook Park, Ohio, though several financial hurdles remain before the facility opens for the 2029 NFL season.

The 67,500-seat stadium, situated approximately 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland next to Hopkins International Airport, represents one of the NFL’s most ambitious construction projects with its $2.6 billion price tag. The Haslam Sports Group, founded by team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam along with their daughter and son-in-law, is committing $1.76 billion to the project and has agreed to cover any cost overruns.

“It was a bumpy road to get here, but we’re excited we’re here,” Jimmy Haslam said during the ceremony. “I think everybody is finally beginning to sense that this is reality.”

However, significant funding complications loom. A class-action lawsuit has put $600 million in state funding on hold, challenging the legality of diverting $1 billion from Ohio’s Unclaimed Funds Account for sports facilities throughout the state. The lawsuit argues this violates constitutional prohibitions against taking private property for government use.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine acknowledged the legal battle will likely extend beyond his term, which ends in January. “This is clearly going to go on for a while and so I’m not happy about that. There’s nothing we can do about that, but we’re going to go ahead,” DeWine said. He expressed confidence in ultimately winning the case but noted contingency plans exist. “My initial proposal was to tax the sports gaming companies. I think that’s still a possibility that we could do.”

Additionally, the city of Brook Park has yet to approve its planned $245 million contribution to the project.

The stadium’s design features several notable elements, including a folded plate transparent roof that will allow sunlight while protecting fans from Cleveland’s notorious late-season cold weather. Perhaps most distinctive will be the reimagined “Dawg Pound” section, built at a 34-degree pitch extending more than 60 rows high. The standing-section design draws inspiration from European soccer venues, particularly Borussia Dortmund’s famous “Yellow Wall” section in Germany.

The Browns and stadium designer HKS emphasized the facility’s intimate atmosphere, with the first row just 16 feet from the playing field and the last row only 248 feet away – reportedly closer than any other NFL stadium. Nearly 80% of seats will be located in the lower bowl.

The stadium site, encompassing 178 acres formerly occupied by two Ford Motor Company plants, will eventually include residential and mixed-use development. The project required cooperation from multiple jurisdictions, including the resolution of a challenge from the City of Cleveland regarding the team’s right to leave downtown. As part of that settlement, the Browns will fund demolition of their current stadium after the 2028 season to make way for lakefront development.

Construction required special regulatory considerations due to the airport proximity. The stadium will sit 80 feet below ground and extend 221 feet above it, exceeding typical height restrictions. The Ohio Department of Transportation granted a waiver after an independent consultant determined it would not affect flight paths, though the building will require FAA-mandated marking and lighting.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who attended the groundbreaking, indicated the venue could host major events including the NFL Draft and potentially NCAA Final Four basketball tournaments. However, he tempered expectations about a potential Super Bowl, citing infrastructure challenges.

“I think the real challenge is going to be how transformational this is here,” Goodell said. “The airport is important for us, hotels are important for us. All of the facilities are the biggest challenge for hosting a Super Bowl.” He estimated Cleveland currently has only half the minimum hotel rooms required for the league’s signature event.

The Browns’ project is part of a broader stadium construction trend across the NFL. The Buffalo Bills open their new facility this year, with Tennessee’s stadium debuting next year and Jacksonville’s renovated venue scheduled for completion in 2028.

The team’s stadium discussions began in 2018, initially focused on renovating their current home, which opened in 1999. By 2021, the organization had pivoted toward building a completely new facility, which will be the third Browns stadium following the demolition of the historic Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1996.