CBCTC, ACT Ohio support domed stadium
An artist rendering of the Browns' proposed domed stadium and mix-use development in Brook Park.
The Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council and Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT) Ohio publicly supported the Cleveland Browns’ proposal to build dome stadium in Brook Park and urged state-level political leaders to support it as well.
A letter signed by CBCTC Executive Secretary/Business Manager Dave Wondolowski and ACT Ohio Executive Director Matt Szollosi, the letter called the proposed $3 billion stadium and mixed-use development project transformational. Current projections indicate the work could create about 6,000 jobs for members of the building trades and roughly 5,400 permanent, full-time jobs.
The Browns announced late last year they intend to build a roughly $2.4 billion dome stadium in Brook Park on land that was purchased by the Haslam Sports Group near Hopkins International Airport. Since then, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Royane and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb have openly opposed the proposal and instead, have urged the Browns owners to keep the team on the lakefront.
While HSG is seeking public funds to make the project a reality, last month, as reported by multiple media outlets, they sent an email to Royane stating they are moving forward without funding from Cuyahoga County.
The Browns have requested $600 million in bonds from the state. The request is included in the proposed biennial budget. HSG claims this money will be paid back with profits from the project. The Browns will contribute around $1.2 billion towards the stadium and another $1 billion to the mixed-use development.
On June 11, the Ohio Senate passed its version of the biennial state budget, which contained major differences, including how to fund the stadium bonds, compared to the the House budget that passed on April 10.
Based on multiple media reports, it appears members of both chambers support giving HSG the funds; the only question is the mechanism.
However, all parties interested in moving the project forward must convince Gov. Mike DeWine to support the funding. In mid-April, when the House passed its version of the budget, which included the funding, The Plain Dealer reported that DeWine thought it was a bad idea.
Should DeWine use his line-item veto power to remove the $600 million in bonds, both chambers would need a three-fifths vote to override it (60 votes in the House and 20 in the Senate).
Copies of the letter from Wondolowski and Szollosi were sent to DeWine, Speaker of the House Matt Huffman (R-Lima), Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon), Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville), Chairman of the House Finance Committee and Cirino (R-Kirtland), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
The letter states that in addition to supporting the Browns mixed-use project, both the CBCTC and ACT Ohio realize that this could lead to the development of Cleveland’s lakefront, which in turn could be a financial boon for the City and County.
The legislature has until June 30 to pass a budget.