Cleveland is taking legal action against the Browns to prevent them from leaving their lakefront stadium and building a new domed stadium in suburban Brook Park. The city filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, citing the “Modell Law,” which requires professional sports teams that use tax-supported facilities to obtain permission from the city before moving or providing six months’ notice.
The lawsuit seeks to block the Browns’ plan to build a $2.4 billion stadium in Brook Park when their current lease expires at the end of 2028. The team’s owners, Dee and Jimmy Haslam, have proposed a 50-50 private/public partnership for the construction of the new stadium.
Cleveland initially offered the Browns a proposal to renovate their existing stadium and redevelop its surrounding property in exchange for $461 million from the city. However, the team has since announced plans to build a new stadium in Brook Park instead.
The “Modell Law,” passed in 1996, has been used previously to prevent teams from leaving tax-supported facilities without permission. The law applies to teams that receive funding from the state or a political subdivision and use tax-supported facilities for home games.
The Browns’ move to Brook Park has raised concerns among Cleveland officials, who feel that the team’s decision would deprive them of revenue generated by stadium tickets and parking fees. The city is seeking to invoke the “Modell Law” to prevent the Browns from leaving without permission or providing adequate notice.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43425506/browns-sued-cleveland-proposed-stadium-move-suburbs