In early February 2025, as part of the initial state budget presentation, Governor Mike DeWine introduced a creative plan that would solve funding for all future stadium projects across the state with a sport gaming tax increase. HSG was not part of those discussions and awaits to see how that plan moves forward.

“Optionality is good,” Jenkins said. “These are complex projects that take a lot of minds to figure out the best path. And him including it in the budget, we’re appreciative because it signals a recognition of how important these facilities are to our communities in the state. And we’re excited to keep working through it with them.”

To ensure the new enclosed stadium is a long-term, sustainable community asset that lasts beyond an initial 30-year lease, HSG is working to solve for future capital repair needs in the up-front funding model.

If Cuyahoga County participates in the project and wraps the Brook Park revenue sources, the significant excess local tax revenues generated by the project will fund debt service on the bonds, capital repairs – projected to be approximately $400 million in future dollars over the life of the 30-year lease – and other uses.

“This is how we can solve for capital repairs,” Jenkins said. “How we can solve for infrastructure or other city or regional needs. But it takes all parties at the table to identify and prioritize those needs work through the best use of the excess.”

Overall, the economic impact of a project of this magnitude will be seen across the region. A new enclosed stadium in Brook Park, anchoring a major mixed-use development with year-round events and significant job creation – including 5,400 full-time permanent positions and 6,000 construction jobs – will have economic and fiscal impacts that are a transformational opportunity for the region. This economic development project would sit on 176 acres that are currently vacant with great proximity to downtown and the airport.

The national real estate consulting firm RCLCO has projected $1.3 billion in annual economic impact.

Between the state and local levels, the project, together with the Browns’ operations, are also projected to generate a total of $6.3 billion in fiscal impact and tax revenues over the life of the initial 30-year lease. At the local level, the project – and the additional proposed county taxes on visitors – is expected to generate approximately $3.4 billion in fiscal impact and tax revenues.

“We get excited about the thought that we could have a domed stadium, a (modernized) airport, a developed lakefront, and it could be all done,” Managing and Principal Partner Dee Haslam said. “And a lot of the funds for the lakefront and some of the development downtown is spun off by what we’re doing at Brook Park. And so, we get really excited about that this could be a community that can do it all. We just need to work together to get it done.”