Sitework began in early March on Phase I of a $2.6 billion domed stadium in Brook Park for the Cleveland Browns. Combined, Phase I and Phase II, a $1 billion mixed-use development, are expected to create almost 6,000 jobs for members of the building trades.

The Cleveland Browns held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new domed stadium project, which will be the largest megaproject in Northeast Ohio.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, numerous politicians, representatives from Haslam Sports Group (HSG), Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam and team front office personnel, coaches and players were on hand for the April 30 ceremonial start to the $2.6 billion construction project.

The new domed stadium, which will be named Huntington Bank Field, is located in Brook Park, at the 178-acre site of a former Ford Motor Co. plant on Snow Road, near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

There are two phases to the project – the $2.6 billion stadium, plus a roughly $1 billion mixed-use development that will surround the dome.

Work on both phases will be performed under a Project Labor Agreement with the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council. It is expected to create about 6,000 construction jobs for building trades members.

Phase I is expected to create roughly 2,500 jobs. Additionally, 75 percent of the total construction workforce hours will be completed by local residents.

“This is the largest project we have seen in our jurisdiction in decades,” said Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Business Manager/Executive Secretary Dave Wondolowski.

When adding in the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport megaproject on the other side of S.R. 237, there will be nearly $5 billion in work that will create almost 8,000 jobs for members of the building trades. “I never thought it was imaginable to have that much work so close together,” Wondolowski said. While there was some initial pushback against the stadium project – specifically leaving Cleveland – multiple groups fought to make it happen.

Last year, the Cleveland Building Trades, along with Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT) Ohio pushed hard to make this project a reality, including advocating for support from DeWine and other state leaders. On April 30, that work officially paid off.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Wondolowski took a few minutes to think back on all the work that helped make this project a reality. “It was surreal to be there knowing all of the effort it took to get there,” he said. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the facility a great win for the state of Ohio.

“You can look at the construction jobs,” he said. “I met a number of our building trades union folks out here...Thank you guys for doing it. We’re building Ohio and were just going to keep going.”

Jimmy Haslam also praised the work of Cleveland building trades members.

“They will do quality work, and we know they’ll deliver it on time and on budget,” Haslam added. He also believes the domed stadium will be a huge economic benefit to the entire region. “We don’t have anything like this in the state of Ohio,” Haslam said. “We need this in the state and it’s about time we’re moving forward.”

Wondolowski agreed with Haslam regarding the economic benefits. “The region will benefit from the size, scale and attractiveness of the covered stadium,” he said. Besides the construction jobs, Haslam expects the mixed-use development and the stadium to combine to create between 5,000 to 6,000 permanent jobs.

During the ceremony, HSG representatives promoted several aspects of the stadium. “New Huntington Bank Field is going to be second to none in the NFL, and it is truly designed with elements that tie everything into Northeast Ohio,” said JW Johnson, Executive Vice President and Managing Partner for the Cleveland Browns and Haslam Sports Group.

Whittney Haslam Johnson, HSG Managing Partner, talked about the process and how all the elements will work to enhance fan experience. “The grand concourse is going to be one of the widest concourses in all of the NFL with really high ceilings, and it’s actually going to serve both the upper and lower bowls for our fans,” she said. “I think Cleveland’s tailgating tradition is something that we’re all aware of, so we’ve worked hard to preserve that.”

“We’re going to have plenty of parking for our fans to be able to tailgate and then not walk a mile into the stadium,” said JW Johnson. “It’ll be a closer proximity.” The stadium design also works to bring fans closer to the field compared to all other NFL venues. HSG President Dave Jenkins added that the venue will have more restrooms and increased point of sales compared to the current stadium.

The venue will have a transparent roof, which was inspired by Cleveland’s iconic atriums, providing natural light throughout the stadium to create an outdoor ambiance and views. The roof is also the first long-span roof without a truss, enhancing sightlines throughout the building.

Not only will the roof allow for maximized natural lighting to come in, but the folds will direct the sound back down to the field, acting as an amplifier. “Cleveland deserves nice things, and this is going to be incredible,” added JW Johnson.

While the event marked the ceremonial groundbreaking, crews have been onsite since March 2, moving a significant amount of ground, as they will have to dig deep into the earth due to the domed stadium being located next to the airport.

“Driven by the site’s proximity to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the scope requires digging 80 feet deep and moving nearly 2 million cubic yards of dirt, making it one of the most significant earthwork projects ever undertaken in Cuyahoga County,” said Independence Excavating President Rob DiGeronimo, in a prepared statement issued on March 2.

AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company are serving as construction managers for the project. The domed stadium will be designed by sports architecture firm HKS, while the real estate firm Lincoln Property Company will develop the mixed-use entertainment district.

Once complete, the domed stadium will have the capability to host major events such as NCAA Final Fours, international soccer matches and concerts for crowds of up to 75,000.

NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell was on hand for the groundbreaking and hinted the NFL Draft could be returning to Cleveland in the future.

When questioned about the possibility of Cleveland hosting a future Super Bowl, Goodell called the domed stadium Super Bowl quality, but stressed the need for additional infrastructure, such as more hotels. “Those are the things that you’re going to have to develop, along with the opportunities around the stadium,” he said. “You have the stage, now we have to bring the facilities around it.”

The new enclosed Huntington Bank Field and Phase I of the adjacent mixed-use development are on track to open in 2029. The Browns are expected to continue playing at their current stadium near Lake Erie through the end of the 2028 season.

Browns domed stadium work begins

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