The owners of the Cleveland Browns, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, have disclosed key details regarding the ownership, financing, and maintenance of the team’s new stadium, with construction expected to begin in early 2026 in Brook Park.

Who will finance the stadium construction?

The team plans to establish a new community authority — a public non-profit entity that will own and manage the stadium. This body will be created by Brook Park and will be responsible for the maintenance of the facility and managing its leasing. Some members of the authority’s board will be appointed by Brook Park and Cuyahoga County officials, while the rest will be appointed by Haslam Sports Group and their development partner, Lincoln Properties.

The stadium construction, estimated at $2.4 billion, will be financed by the Browns (approximately $1.2 billion), a loan from Cuyahoga County ($600 million), and state funds. The owners emphasize that any cost overruns will be borne by the team, not taxpayers. One of the main sources of stadium maintenance funding is expected to be the tripling of the so-called sin tax on alcohol and tobacco. Currently, this tax supports three major Cleveland sports facilities, but state authorities would need to approve an increase, which requires a change in law and voter approval. It is estimated that this solution could generate around $400 million for stadium maintenance over the next 30 years. However, if the tax is not approved, the responsibility for funding will fall on the new community authority, not residents.

Jimmy Haslam expressed cautious optimism about cooperation among Cleveland’s three major teams to support this tax, stressing that the decision requires many parties’ approval. If this plan fails, the team has not yet disclosed details of an alternative solution. Additionally, the Browns’ owners acknowledged that responsibility for Huntington Bank Field renovations in 20-30 years will fall on subsequent management generations, with current plans focused on maintenance and ongoing operations.

New facility ready in just four years?

The team hopes that the formal establishment of the new authority will happen later this year or early next year, with construction beginning as planned in Q1 2026, and the new stadium set to open for the 2029 season. Brook Park officially supports the project, though Mayor Edward Orcutt has not commented on negotiation details. However, numerous legal issues remain in the background, including disputes about team relocation and management of public funds for sports purposes.

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