Cuyahoga County Executive opposes Browns’ stadium plan

Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne has raised significant concerns about the Cleveland Browns' plan to build a new stadium in Brook Park. He criticized the team's request for $600 million in county bonds as part of a larger $2.4 billion project. Ronayne believes the Browns should stay in downtown Cleveland. During a news conference, Ronayne emphasized his worries about the financial risks associated with the proposal. He argued that the team's assumptions about ticket sales and parking utilization are overly optimistic. Ronayne warned that issuing so many bonds could negatively impact the county's bond rating and increase costs for other projects. The Browns are also seeking $600 million from state bonds to fund the stadium. They have offered to put money aside to cover potential shortfalls in tax revenue that would pay off the bonds. However, Ronayne noted that the Browns have not made a similar commitment to Cuyahoga County. The Browns maintain that their financial estimates are conservative and that the new stadium will boost the local economy. Local officials, however, have expressed skepticism about projected tax revenues from the stadium and nearby developments. While Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland opposes the move, Brook Park's Mayor Edward Orcutt supports it but wants to ensure the numbers work out in favor of his city before proceeding. The Ohio House Finance Committee is expected to include the state bond request in the upcoming budget, but final approval will take time.