Report: Browns forego stadium renovation, pursue new domed stadium near airport

The Browns have decided where they want to play their future home games – and it's not on the shores of Lake Erie.

According to Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan, the Browns have decided to forego a renovation to aim for a dome for their current stadium near Cleveland Hopkins Airport in Brook Park.

The franchise announced its plans for the domed stadium in Augustalthough the club noted at the time that a renovation of the current stadium in the city center was possible. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb had made the Browns an offer $461 million in financing for a renovation of the venue now known as Huntington Bank Field. However, Ruiter reports that the financing plan would not be sufficient to cover the stadium's renovation needs over a 30-year lease.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and chief operating officer David Jenkins informed Bibb of the team's decision to pursue a dome on Sept. 9.

Cleveland City Hall is expected to make an official announcement about the team's stadium plans Thursday afternoon.

The Browns have played downtown on the lakefront throughout their history – first at Cleveland Municipal Stadium from 1946 to 1995 and then at Huntington Bank Field since the franchise's return in 1999.

But building a dome would allow Cleveland to host more major events such as concert tours, an NCAA Men's Final Four and the Big Ten Championship Game – if not a Super Bowl.

The Browns' dome proposal calls for $1.2 billion plus cost overruns to be paid by Haslam Sports Group, with the remaining $1.2 billion to be paid by states, counties and municipalities.