Browns name GC for new stadium
In a post on their website, the Cleveland Browns announced a joint venture between AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company to serve as the construction managers for the organization’s domed stadium construction project.
Cleveland-based DiGeronimo Companies will contribute to the project as a local partner. Independence Excavating will perform enabling and sitework operations to prepare the site for construction, while Independence Construction will join as an active member of the AECOM Hunt, Turner Joint Venture construction management team.
AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company both have experience building sports venues. Turner helped renovate the Browns’ current stadium and built Lower.com Field, home of the Columbus Crew.
AECOM Hunt’s notable projects in the region include building Progressive Field and the Browns’ current stadium.
AECOM Hunt and Turner have worked together under similar joint venture agreements in the past to construct other large venues including Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Stadium, Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, the new venue for the Tennessee Titans and SoFi stadium in Los Angeles.
“Partnering with such respected and accomplished construction managers as AECOM Hunt and Turner will help us create a world-class stadium experience and entertainment district for our fans that will benefit the entire Northeast Ohio region,” Haslam Sports Group President David Jenkins said in a prepared statement. “Additionally, continuing to work with our established local partners, the DiGeronimo Companies and Independence Excavating, will reinforce our collective priority of spurring economic development and creating thousands of jobs and opportunities throughout our community as we move towards breaking ground on the new enclosed Huntington Bank Field in early 2026.”
Vic DiGeronimo, CEO of DiGeronimo Companies, called this a meaningful project for the region.
“As a Cleveland-based, family-owned company, we’re proud to contribute to a project that will shape the future of our region,” he said. “Our longstanding partnership with the Haslam Sports Group and the Cleveland Browns makes this opportunity especially meaningful, and we’re committed to bringing local expertise and trusted relationships to support the team in delivering this transformative new venue.”
For AECOM Hunt Central Region COO Jason Kopp, this project is about reimagining the fan experience.
“We are honored to be entrusted by Haslam Sports Group to deliver this transformative project to shape the future of sports and entertainment for Browns Nation, elevate Northeast Ohio, and welcome millions of visitors for generations to come,” he said.
Jason Jones, Senior Vice President, Turner Construction Company, described the upcoming work as deeply personal.
“As enabling work begins in October and groundbreaking follows early next year, we’re building the momentum to deliver lasting benefits for the community and the region,” he said. “We’re proud to involve local people and businesses while drawing on our expertise in complex sports venues.”
The new venue, designed by sports architecture firm HKS, will be called Huntington Bank Field. Once complete, it will become Ohio’s first domed stadium.
The project, though, is more than just a stadium. It will also include a mixed-use entertainment district designed to spur long-term economic growth and celebrate the region’s spirit and identity.
According to the Haslem Sports Group, this project is the largest economic development initiative to date in Northeast Ohio.
All work will be performed under a Project Labor Agreement, ensuring only union construction workers build the new Huntington Bank Field and the surrounding mixed-use development.
According to Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council Executive Secretary/Business Manager Dave Wondolowski, the project will create about 6,000 jobs for CBCTC-affiliated members.
The Haslem Sports Group has dubbed the venue a “Super Theater.” The venue will seat 67,500 for football, but will be capable of hosting other large-scale events, including NCAA Final Fours, international soccer matches and concerts for crowds of up to 75,000.
With a design inspired by Lake Erie and the City of Cleveland, the dome is expected to be an immersive experience for visitors. The Browns are touting the dome as having seats closer to the field than any other stadium in the National Football League.
The translucent roof, inspired by Cleveland’s iconic atriums, will allow natural light throughout the stadium to create a unique outdoor ambiance and a viewing experience. Furthermore, the roof design is the first long-span roof without a truss. This means sightlines and design are enhanced throughout the building.
Sitework for the new Huntington Bank Field began on Oct. 1, and a formal groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2026. Huntington Bank Field is on track to open in 2029, along with Phase 1 of the mixed-use development.