Chuck D ponders the Browns' move to a new stadium in the suburbs

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Chuck D had the honor of introducing R&B legends Kool & The Gang at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 39th Annual Induction Ceremony on Saturday.

But behind the scenes at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the Public Enemy frontman, part of the Rock Hall's Class of 2013, wanted to put something on the record: He's opposed to the Cleveland Browns moving from downtown to a domed stadium in the suburbs.

“Remember the last time the Browns left? They became the ravens. I don't know What “This Browns team is threatening,” he said, subtly referencing the team’s dismal 1-5 record.

“If you build a stadium outside of the city, you have the Richfield Coliseum, right?” he continued. “Why revisit the Richfield Coliseum nightmare you had? Everything is fine here,” he said.

Earlier this week, Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam announced their intention to move the team to a new $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park when their current lease expires after the 2028 season. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb called the decision “deeply disheartening.” It is unclear how the Haslams plan to finance the project.

“Some years are up years, some are down years,” Chuck D added. “That doesn’t mean you move everything out of town… What the fuck?”

When he finished waxing poetic about the situation at the Browns' stadium, the hip-hop legend, a noted New York Knicks fan, asked the assembled reporters if they wanted to talk about the Cleveland Cavaliers or LeBron James.

Nobody asked him about it.

The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be streamed live on Disney+. ABC will air an edited version featuring the best performances and moments on New Year's Day 2025 at 8 p.m