Last Saturday afternoon the Cleveland Browns opened the preseason hosting the Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns Stadium. I was in attendance, and I took the opportunity to ask random Cleveland Browns fans their thoughts on the potential dome stadium project in Brookpark Ohio. The responses that I received were interesting.

Please keep in mind my results are completely anecdotal. This was not a scientific poll or survey by any measure. Nonetheless the results were 50% for and 50% against the new dome stadium project. The main reason people were for it was because they wanted the new fan experience and the potential to host Super Bowls and WrestleMania’s. The people that were against it didn’t want the new stadium for several reasons. The main reason was losing the tradition of the Browns playing in downtown Cleveland. Another reason was losing the lakefront weather advantage especially in the winter months. And last was the cost to the average fan to go to a game would increase too much. When the fans that were against the new stadium were given facts about the current stadium situation.  At least half of them changed their minds on the new dome stadium.

There are three facts that the fans being against the new stadium were not informed. One is that the current stadium was poorly built in 1999 and the construction was rushed. The foundation on the current Cleveland Browns Stadium will not last another 20 years. Second the city of Cleveland doesn’t have the funds or the real estate to build a new stadium in downtown Cleveland. The city’s offer to the Cleveland Browns to renovate the current stadium is insufficient and will not fix the stadium problem. Third is the weather advantage is a myth. In 2022 on Christmas Eve the Cleveland Browns lost to the New Orleans Saints 17-10 in -10-degree weather. That’s right a dome team from the south beat the Browns at home in a sub-zero temperature game. Regardless of the weather, be the better football team and win. As for the cost to go to a game, it is hard to say what anything will cost in five years. I do know that the Browns currently keep their ticket prices competitive compared to the rest of the league.

Recently Cuyahoiga County officials sent a letter to the Cleveland Browns owners urging them to accept the renovation plan to stay in downtown Cleveland. The county opposes the Brookpark dome stadium. It won’t make a difference the Browns owners have made their decision.

I am old enough to remember 1994 when the then Cleveland Indians moved to the new ballpark Jacobs Field. Similar concerns and takes were given when the move happened. Before the move by the Indians their last American League Pennant was in 1954. Since the move they have won 3 pennants, 11 division titles, 2 wildcard berths, and were 2 extra inning game 7 wins away from a World Series Championship. The move did the Cleveland Baseball team good. And the move will do the Cleveland Browns even better.