Thoughts On The Stadium

[DanInNYC]

I am a little bit too young to remember the details of the lease that the city of Cleveland drafted for Cleveland Browns stadium and I am not familiar in how other teams structure their stadiums with their cities so I am interested in what some more knowledgeable members have to say. Here is what I do know from some recent news articles on the subject. The city financed the stadium and is in the middle of paying off the around $300 million cost with sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The sin tax money also goes towards maintenance and repairs of the stadium; so the city not the Browns pay for that as well at around $850k/year-over half a million more than the Browns pay to lease the place (a paltry $250k/year). Now, Mr. Haslam wants to make around $6 million in repairs and wants the city to be responsible for those costs. Even better, he wants to lend the money to the city, and have Cleveland pay off the loan (plus interest I am assuming). This is coming on the heels of the announcement that the city is about to approve Jimmy Halsam's selling of the naming rights to the stadium to get millions of dollars of revenue a year in exchange (to make the Browns more competitive). It seems to me Mr. Haslam is bending over the city of Cleveland and its residents and the city council is saying no lube please by rubber stamping everything. (I wonder what kind of kickbacks the officials get in all of this?) Anyways, this is how I see it, but I could be wrong.

[jrb12711]

I am a little bit too young to remember the details of the lease that the city of Cleveland drafted for Cleveland Browns stadium and I am not familiar in how other teams structure their stadiums with their cities so I am interested in what some more knowledgeable members have to say. Here is what I do know from some recent news articles on the subject. The city financed the stadium and is in the middle of paying off the around $300 million cost with sin taxes on tobacco and alcohol. The sin tax money also goes towards maintenance and repairs of the stadium; so the city not the Browns pay for that as well at around $850k/year-over half a million more than the Browns pay to lease the place (a paltry $250k/year). Now, Mr. Haslam wants to make around $6 million in repairs and wants the city to be responsible for those costs. Even better, he wants to lend the money to the city, and have Cleveland pay off the loan (plus interest I am assuming). This is coming on the heels of the announcement that the city is about to approve Jimmy Halsam's selling of the naming rights to the stadium to get millions of dollars of revenue a year in exchange (to make the Browns more competitive). It seems to me Mr. Haslam is bending over the city of Cleveland and its residents and the city council is saying no lube please by rubber stamping everything. (I wonder what kind of kickbacks the officials get in all of this?) Anyways, this is how I see it, but I could be wrong.

 

Well, the thing you have to realize is anytime the city pays for something like this they're thinking long term profits. For example, where I live in Charlotte they recently added a drag racing strip next to the NASCAR track. People raised hell and the city said they weren't going to pay. Bruton Smith (guy who owns the tracks) said fine I'll just take my business elsewhere and you'll lose out on the 10's of thousands of people visiting the city paying for things and getting state tax. Amazingly two weeks later not only was the track approved but the street was re-named "Bruton Smith Boulevard"

 

It's a fine line a major city has to walk with this stuff. They have to look at is as a cost benefit analysis of what increased seating at the stadium means for taxes, tourism, even property values etc.

[Mark O]

 

 

It's a fine line a major city has to walk with this stuff. They have to look at is as a cost benefit analysis of what increased seating at the stadium means for taxes, tourism, even property values etc.

 

This last part of your post is exactly the reason why the Chargers will never stay in San Diego. Too many short sighted people who can't see the benefit of a new stadium. The Super Bowl alone (which is practically guarenteed to come to SD with a new stadium brings in hundreds of millions to the city), not to mention everything else that can be done with a new stadium.

 

It was announced that they're not moving in 2013, but of course there was nothing mentioned about the future. This time next year, we will be talking about the LA Chargers unless someone in San Diego can convince the people in San Diego that a new stadium is needed.

[Browns149]

I would like to see a better video screen, wi-fi, and put restrooms in the bar area. If you are in the bar area and you need to piss, you have to leave the bar area for the concourse restrooms. Once the bar area reaches max occupancy, if you leave to use the restroom, you have to wait in line to get back in the bar area.

 

Plus put field turf in. It will help get more concerts and events in the summer. They won't have to worry about killing the real grass with stages and people on the field.

[Mark O]

I agree on the field turf. That stuff is the greatest invention ever for football stadiums. Of course if there is any way of putting a roof on the stadium, they could always do what the Arizona Cardinals do and put the football field on rollers and roll it out so the grass can grow and then roll the whole thing in there for the games. Which also works great for them for conventions and stuff that they can have.

[Browns149]

I agree on the field turf. That stuff is the greatest invention ever for football stadiums. Of course if there is any way of putting a roof on the stadium, they could always do what the Arizona Cardinals do and put the football field on rollers and roll it out so the grass can grow and then roll the whole thing in there for the games. Which also works great for them for conventions and stuff that they can have.

I can't see where they could roll the turf outside. The science center is on the eastside, the port authority is on northside. the shoreway/main ave. bridge is on the southside, if they could get the city/port to let them use the westside, then maybe. But unlike Arizona, we have winter here. The grass isn't going to grow from Nov-March.

 

I think they are, for sure, looking at some kind of roof.

[bermeck08]

These staduim/ballpark/racetrack arrangements are always based around returns of tax revenues. IMHO, its the projections and assumptions of those amounts that get City/Counties in a twist. The sports fan usually dominates these discussions with the non-sports fan... but at the end of the day your region (wherever that may be) is ALWAYS better off with that ballpark, staduim, and racetrack. The more dates, the better. Is there a burden thrown on property owners and taxpayers ???? You bet ya....but its way more beneficial in the long run.

 

The problem or pitfall becomes the politicians and contruction labor groups. Look at Cincinnati. There still bitchin and belly-aching about PBS. I'm fairly confident these shortfalls and debt arguments are copied accross the country---the complaining is all the same---anti-owner/anti business/pro-athlete garbage. Its stirred up from the local political hacks and (allegedly) poor working class. The SAME people who go bazerk when an owner is being courted by another City or part of the country. Peel it all back when the deals were inked and you can see EVERYONE wanted thier pockets lined with those Millions of tax (breaks) payouts. You make your bed with the County and City and you live with it.

 

The lesson ... dont mis-manage or fleece your deal...it must be impossible not to---Its happening all over the place with our teams (venus). Dont know if there is an easy answer for sure....Just wish some of these opportunites (which is what they really are) would be managed correctly. That way the area or region benefits in the long-term.

 

 

Bermeck (maybe wrong forum...screw it...name my staduim after your pet fish...just dont change my uniforms)

[FearTheRoo]

I would like to see a better video screen, wi-fi, and put restrooms in the bar area. If you are in the bar area and you need to piss, you have to leave the bar area for the concourse restrooms. Once the bar area reaches max occupancy, if you leave to use the restroom, you have to wait in line to get back in the bar area.

 

Plus put field turf in. It will help get more concerts and events in the summer. They won't have to worry about killing the real grass with stages and people on the field.

 

I agree about the video screens. Where they are positioned currently are fine, but the actual video board only takes up about 1/2-1/3 of the area above the seats.

The rest of the area is advertising. They can easily extend the screen left and right, similar to what was done at progressive field. I'd like to see Field Turf put in as well, could help cut down on maintenance and looks a lot nicer as the season goes on.

[ballpeen]

I think the video screens will be replaced by the 14 season.

 

Too bad field turf wasn't installed in the first place. A big part of the original cost was the expensive heating system installed under the field to prevent the field from freezing. I don't know, maybe you need those under field turf fields in the colder climates.

 

At any rate, our stadium is a rather bare bones facility compared to other places of similar age. With some effort it can be upgraded to make it more in line with what Haslam wants...and once done the fans will agree.

 

I think the city needs a domed facility. I just don't know if it should be retrofitted to the existing stadium or start a new project, say just south of the baseball stadium.

[BrownsKidd]

What was the deciding factor on not building a dome? Money, tradition or both?

[thenew23]

Pittsburgh does a decent job with their stadiums and city planning and bringing in revenue. They use the Penguin's new arena, PNC field, and the big ketchup bottle to host many events throughout the year. They also have a beautiful Casino (hate to admit, but much nicer than the Horseshoe) close to the Baseball and Football stadiums. Also, they have Peterson Events Center, which is owned by U of Pitt, but brings in events as well adding to an already booming Oakland business area which is basically on the campus.

 

Cleveland lacks hockey, and attractions for the younger population, including College students. Plus, Cleveland State is not a large enough school to help fill these big venues and events. Many people who go to Cleveland Events drive from East/West Cleveland, but the majority have to travel farther to get there and the City is not very commuter-friendly. Not to mention, Tower City has turned into pure garbage which makes it less attractive to the outsider who might want to spend a weekend in Cleveland.

 

I hate to admit it, but I know I have more options for my entertainment money by visiting Pittsburgh. Cleveland needs to step-up the Major attraction venues and create an entertainment district that feels fun and SAFE. Even the Horshoe, I hate walking past multiple homeless people on my way to the door. This city needs cleaned up all around before we can even look at the Browns Stadium adding any revenue.