Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has signed a two-year, $60 billion funds that units apart $600 million in unclaimed funds for a brand new Cleveland Browns stadium.
The Republican governor signed the funds late Monday night time, about 45 minutes earlier than the midnight deadline.
The Haslam Sports activities Group, proprietor of the Browns, had requested that the state assist construct a brand new $2.4 billion domed stadium in suburban Brook Park south of Cleveland. DeWine had proposed doubling taxes on sports activities betting to assist the Browns, in addition to the Cincinnati Bengals and different groups that may search facility upgrades. However the Legislature used a number of the $4.8 billion in unclaimed funds the state is holding on to — in small sums, residents left behind from dormant financial institution accounts, uncashed checks and forgotten utility deposits. At present, there is a 10-year time restrict earlier than that cash reverts to the state.
In a press release issued Tuesday, the Browns referred to as the funds approval a “super milestone for our group” and stated DeWine and the Legislature labored collectively “to discover a accountable method to help such a transformative challenge.”
Thrilled to maneuver ahead on a transformative challenge with generational influence pic.twitter.com/gym7FVv2o2
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 1, 2025
“This can be a win for taxpayers, and it’ll present vital cash to issues that enhance the standard of life in Ohio,” DeWine stated of the stadium cash.
Final October, the Browns introduced they knowledgeable the town of Cleveland of their intentions to construct a state-of-the-art stadium and leisure complicated in Brook Park — which is in the identical county however 15 miles south of Cleveland — when their stadium lease with the town expires on the finish of the 2028 NFL season.
The funds additionally included modifications to the state’s “Artwork Modell Regulation,” which was handed in 1996 after former Browns proprietor Artwork Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore. The regulation had acknowledged that no skilled sports activities crew enjoying in a tax-supported stadium in Ohio may relocate with out an settlement with the town by which it performs except that metropolis is given six months’ advance discover with a possibility to purchase the crew. The brand new language within the signed funds applies the regulation provided that a sports activities crew makes an attempt to maneuver out of Ohio.
Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb expressed his disappointment Tuesday with the ultimate state funds.
“We’re deeply upset that the ultimate state funds contains each a $600 million public subsidy for a domed stadium in Brook Park and modifications to Ohio’s Modell Regulation — provisions we strongly opposed and requested be eliminated,” Bibb stated in a press release. “Relocating the Browns will divert financial exercise from downtown, create a competing leisure district, and disrupt the momentum of our lakefront redevelopment.”
Bibb added, “We additionally stay firmly against the modifications within the Modell Regulation, which was enacted to guard communities which have made substantial public investments of their sports activities groups. Undermining this statute units a troubling precedent and leaves cities like Cleveland with fewer instruments to safeguard long-standing public belongings.”
In January, the town of Cleveland had sued the Browns over the proposed transfer, looking for to invoke the “Modell Regulation.”
Lawmakers who signify Cleveland and surrounding communities, principally Democrats, have blasted the proposal as a present to the crew’s billionaire house owners. Democrats exterior the Legislature have threatened to sue if DeWine signed the plan, arguing it will be unconstitutionally raiding the unclaimed funds with out due course of.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
