Brook Park Council Unanimously Approves Browns Stadium Pre-Development Deal

Council clears key legal and financial hurdle for the $2.6 billion domed stadium project

Brook Park City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a pre-development agreement with Haslam Sports Group, clearing a major milestone for the $2.6 billion Cleveland Browns domed stadium project planned for the city.

The vote came on the third and final reading of the emergency ordinance, introduced by Mayor Edward Orcutt. Council members spoke in support of the project before the vote and praised the mayor for his work in negotiating the terms.

Under the agreement, Brook Park will issue sales tax exemption certificates on building and construction materials used in the stadium's construction. If building materials account for 40% to 50% of the total project cost, that tax break could be worth between $83 million and $104 million. The city also agreed to waive its permitting fees on construction.

In exchange, Haslam Sports Group will pay Brook Park $24.8 million over the next several years to cover city start-up costs. Mayor Orcutt has said the funds will go toward public safety needs and infrastructure preparation, including police vehicles, ambulances, sidewalk improvements, additional staff and hundreds of traffic cameras.

Payments are structured to grow over time, starting with an initial $1.8 million upon execution of the agreement, followed by monthly installments of $250,000 through the end of 2026, $500,000 monthly beginning in January 2027, $750,000 monthly starting in 2028, and $1 million per month for six months in 2029.

The city will eventually repay that money using income tax revenues, admissions tax revenues and other public revenues generated from the nearly 180-acre mixed-use stadium district.

The agreement also establishes the framework for a new community authority — a public entity that would ultimately own the stadium and lease it back to the team. City leaders have described that structure as essential for managing operations in and around the stadium, as well as future mixed-use development on the site.

The pre-development agreement is one of several steps in a larger process. A full development agreement is expected to be made public by May and come before council for a vote by June. A ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for April 30.

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