Let’s be honest about the Dome for the Browns
Last Sunday morning an opinion writer for Cleveland.com Brent Larkin published an opinion article discussing the outrageousness of the Cleveland Browns asking for taxpayer money to build the dome stadium in Brookpark, Ohio. The site is located directly across the street from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The opinion piece was not only inaccurate it was dishonest by omitting facts regarding this situation.
Let’s start with the total cost of the project is $3.6 billion dollars. Two thirds of that are private funds from investors and the Haslam Sports Group. The remaining 1.2 billion is planned to be paid for by a usage tax on the facility itself. But in order to do that a loan or bonds from the state will be needed and they will be paid back in full at the allotted time. Most of this was discussed by the Browns public statement last August. Specifics cannot be disclosed yet because nothing is finalized at this time. The opinion writer made it sound like that it was a 100% taxpayer funded vanity project for a billionaire. Which is not true at all. Please see the open letter from the Browns at paragraph 7.
Larkin also stated that the team has not performed well either in the last 25 years. Why did that happen? He didn’t mention trying to start an expansion franchise in less than year set the organization back two decades. Because the city in the 80’s and 90’s did nothing for the Browns but built new buildings for the Cavs and Indians on taxpayer money that was voted on in 1989. Which is why Art Modell moved the team in 1996. He also didn’t mention the condition of the current stadium that is built on a 93-year-old foundation and needs $1.5 to $2 million dollars a year in taxpayer money just to keep it up to code. That doesn’t include regular maintenance either. And the city will not have the current stadium paid off until 2028. If the current stadium were a house on the real estate market, it would be considered a money pit. And the city knows this.
What you are seeing is public posturing from politicians and half-witted opinion writers carrying their water for them. Economic impact was said to be catastrophic in the article by a professor. What was missing was any facts or data to back up the claim. Because there aren’t any. For 3 years in the late 90’s the Browns were not playing in downtown Cleveland. What was the economic impact then? What is the economic impact of having a poorly built stadium sitting empty 350 days of the year while falling apart? That wasn’t mentioned in the opinion article either.
When I write or provide content to my audience, I owe them to be honest and factual. I provide links and sources to my opinions. It would be nice if the local politicians and some writers would have the same standard.
Share & Comment: