Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has approved a two-year budget of $60 billion that allocates $600 million from unclaimed funds for a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns.
The Republican governor finalized the budget late Monday night, just 45 minutes before the midnight deadline.
The Haslam Sports Group, which owns the Browns, asked the state for assistance in constructing a new $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park, located south of Cleveland.
DeWine had suggested raising taxes on sports betting to support the Browns and also help other teams like the Cincinnati
Bengals that may want facility upgrades. However, the Legislature decided to use part of the $4.8 billion in unclaimed funds that the state has collected from small amounts left behind by residents in dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, and forgotten utility deposits. There is currently a 10-year limit before that money goes back to the state.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Browns described the budget approval as a “tremendous milestone for our organization” and praised DeWine and the Legislature for collaborating “to find a responsible way to support such a transformative project.”
“This is a victory for taxpayers, and it will channel important funds into projects that enhance life in Ohio,” said DeWine about the stadium funding.
Last October, the Browns revealed they had notified Cleveland about their plans to construct a modern stadium and entertainment complex in Brook Park, which is located 15 miles south of Cleveland in the same county. This will happen when their lease with the city ends after the 2028 NFL season.
The budget also made adjustments to Ohio’s “Art Modell Law,” which was enacted in 1996 after former Browns owner Art Modell moved the team to Baltimore.
The original law stated that no professional sports team using a tax-supported stadium in Ohio could relocate without an agreement from the city where they play, unless that city received six months’ notice and had a chance to buy the team. The revised budget now applies this law only if a sports team tries to leave Ohio.
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb expressed his frustration on Tuesday with the final state budget.
“We are very disappointed that the final state budget includes both a $600 million public subsidy for a domed stadium in Brook Park and changes to Ohio’s Modell Law—changes we strongly opposed and asked to be removed,” Bibb stated.
“Moving the Browns will take economic activity away from downtown, create competition with our entertainment options, and disrupt our lakefront redevelopment efforts.”
Bibb stated, “We strongly oppose the changes to the Modell Law, which was created to protect communities that have invested heavily in their sports teams.
Weakening this law sets a bad example and leaves cities like Cleveland with fewer ways to protect valuable public assets.”
In January, Cleveland filed a lawsuit against the Browns regarding their proposed move, aiming to use the “Modell Law.”
Lawmakers from Cleveland and nearby areas, mostly Democrats, have criticized the proposal as a gift to the team’s wealthy owners. Democrats outside of the Legislature have warned they will sue if DeWine approves the plan, claiming it would unconstitutionally take unclaimed funds without fair process.
