Cleveland’s been a hotbed of drama lately. And it’s not about the Browns‘ QB situation, or anything to do with their newly drafted QB, Shedeur Sanders. Or even their $230 million man from 2022, Deshaun Watson. The city’s got a big decision looming, and everyone is on edge, fans, locals, and even the big shots in City Hall. It’s Mayor Justin Bibb who’s got people talking, because his eyes are on priorities that might not sit well with diehard football fans. On the other hand, Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam are cooking up something massive, a huge $2.4 billion project that could change the game for the region. But not everyone’s on board with Haslam’s idea.
So, what’s brewing in the city of Cleveland? Well, it’s no secret that Browns fans have been hoping for a brand-new stadium in their town for years. And Jimmy Haslam finally seems to be taking steps to grant that wish. But Mayor Justin Bibb is asking to put the brakes on those dreams. In a conversation with FOX 8 I-Team, Bibb said, “There are more important priorities than the Cleveland Browns.” The mayor’s focus right now isn’t the football stadium, but improving the city’s airport and working on other downtown projects.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb doesn’t care if the #Browns leave Cleveland.
“There are more important priorities than the Cleveland Browns.” pic.twitter.com/JAbub2afTk
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) May 21, 2025
The Browns’ ownership has plans to build a huge domed stadium in Brook Park. Bibb said if they want to bolt to a fancy new stadium out there, he’s not going to lose sleep over it. The mayor added that the team’s departure won’t derail Cleveland’s plans. “If they go to Brook Park, God bless them, good luck. But, by hell or high water, we are going to develop a lakefront our residents can be proud of.“
And even if the Browns leave, Bibb told FOX 8 that the government has a whole lot of ideas for what to do with the stadium space. They plan to send out requests for proposals this summer to get things moving. But at the same time, Bibb mentioned that Cleveland isn’t backing down quietly. They are still fighting in court to try to block the Browns from moving. A hearing is set for next month. And the mayor says the city isn’t dropping the case. Especially since they’ve invested hundreds of millions into the current stadium downtown.
Jimmy Haslam faces Cleveland’s tough new stance
So, while Jimmy Haslam’s $2.4 billion stadium plans face the cold shoulder from Mayor Justin Bibb and his office, things have gotten even more complicated. Cleveland and Cuyahoga County have pulled the plug on their relationship with the Greater Cleveland Partnership. The move came after the group threw its support behind the Browns’ plan for that fancy new domed stadium in Brook Park. That’s a huge deal because the Partnership is the region’s biggest business group. And now it’s at odds with the two biggest government players in town.
So yeah, things are getting pretty icy now. After the Greater Cleveland Partnership threw its weight behind Jimmy Haslam’s Brook Park stadium plan, Mayor Justin Bibb and County Executive Chris Ronayne decided they’d had enough. They sent a sharply worded letter, pulling out of all major GCP committees. Bibb and Ronayne think the Partnership isn’t sticking up for downtown business owners who could lose big if the Browns pack up and move.
And instead of backing the heart of the city, GCP is siding with a flashy, publicly funded stadium outside Cleveland. Bibb and Ronayne aren’t mincing words either, they made it clear they don’t see GCP as a true ally anymore. What was once a tight collaboration between city hall and the business world now feels like a full-on breakup. And now, with the Haslams pushing a $2.4 billion dome dream in Brook Park, with $1.2 billion of that coming from taxpayers, things are heating up even more. Mayor Bibb and County Exec Chris Ronayne aren’t buying into the hype, calling it a risky gamble with public money.
So, as the stadium saga heats up, the battle lines in Northeast Ohio are drawn. Jimmy Haslam might be dreaming big with his $2.4 billion stadium plan in Brook Park, but he’s running into a wall of resistance. Bibb and Ronayne are going all in to protect the city’s lakefront and wallet. With lawsuits flying, partnerships breaking, and state lawmakers still debating that massive $1.2 billion price tag, this whole thing has turned into way more than just football. It’s city pride, politics, and public money, all colliding in one messy showdown.
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