CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns are moving out of their lakefront home.
The team officially announced plans Thursday to leave their 25-year-old stadium on the shores of Lake Erie when the lease expires in 2028 and move to a domed facility in suburban Brook Park despite the city’s efforts to keep it in Cleveland.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb met Wednesday with owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, who told him they were moving forward with their intention to build the $2.4 billion facility and entertainment complex 12 miles south of downtown.
The Haslams explored several possible sites and considered renovating their current home before deciding the move was their best option.
They made the announcement amid a four-game losing streak and 1-5 record heading into Sunday's home game against Cincinnati.
“We understand this is a complex process with more questions still to be answered and we will continue to communicate openly as our process evolves,” the Haslams said in a statement. "We recognize our season on the field has not had the start we all hoped for and are working hard to improve each week to make our fans proud.
"At the same time, it is critical that we remain committed to the best long-term, sustainable solution for our stadium and to providing the world-class dome experience our fans deserve. We are confident that the Brook Park project will significantly benefit the Northeast Ohio region for generations to come.”
Funding for the project remains unclear. The Browns are seeking a public/private partnership and have proposed bonds to cover the public portion.
Last month, the city proposed funding $461 million — splitting the cost with the Browns — to upgrade the current stadium and re-develop its surrounding property along Lake Erie.
“We’ve learned through our exhaustive work that renovating our current stadium will simply not solve many operational issues and would be a short-term approach,” the Haslams said. "With more time to reflect, we have also realized that without a dome, we will not attract the type of large-scale events and year-round activity to justify the magnitude of this public-private partnership.
“The transformational economic opportunities created by a dome far outweigh what a renovated stadium could produce with around ten events per year.”
Bibb expressed his disappointment the sides couldn't work out a deal.
“As mayor, I will always prioritize the needs of residents and businesses,” Bibb said in a statement. “The Haslem Sports Group may want a roof over their heads, but my responsibility is to ensure that Cleveland residents have a roof over theirs."
Bibb added that balancing those priorities “requires care and precision” and that the city must be “practical about our many needs and finite resources.”
The Browns have only been in their stadium since 1999, when they returned as an expansion team after owner Art Modell moved the franchise to Baltimore four years earlier following a squabble with city officials.
AP Sports Writer Mark Long contributed to this report.
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FILE - Cleveland Browns Stadium during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) looks to pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Chelsea, Lyon and Roma all stayed perfect in the Women’s Champions League by cruising to away victories on Thursday.
Roma routed Galatasaray at Istanbul 6-1, Chelsea beat Twente in the Netherlands 3-1 and eight-time champion Lyon won 2-0 at Wolfsburg.
Real Madrid claimed its first victory of the campaign by easing past Celtic 4-0.
Roma and Lyon both have six points in Group A. Two-time champion Wolfsburg and Galatasaray, the first Turkish team to reach the group stage, have no points.
In Group B, Chelsea leads with six points, with Madrid and Twente on three and Celtic last bottom without a point.
Wolfsburg striker Alexandra Popp made her 100th competition appearance — becoming only the second player to reach the mark but it was Lyon defender Wendie Renard, the only one who has played more, who stole the show.
Renard’s header found the back of the net early on in her 118th game in the competition.
U.S. international Lindsey Horan netted from the penalty spot in the second half.
Lyon is the competition’s record eight-time champion but last won the trophy in 2022. It was runner-up last season to Barcelona.
In a matchup between the Italian and Turkish champions, Roma dominated in Istanbul.
Summer signing Hawa Cissoko scored in the seventh minute to mark her debut game in the competition. The France defender who transferred from West Ham headed home off Manuela Giugliano's corner.
Valentina Giacinti made it 2-0 in the 24th minute when she was left unmarked near the spot to head in Verena Hanshaw's cross.
Giugliano failed to convert from the spot in the first-half stoppage time but Emilie Haavi got Roma's third with a right-footed blast past goalkeeper Gamze Yaman early in the second.
Giugliano finally found the back of the net from close range for a 4-0 lead before Andrea Staskova scored the consolation goal for the hosts. Roma substitutes Marta Pandini and Alice Corelli also scored.
Chelsea struck early in another winning performance under new coach Sonia Bompastor, who joined from Lyon.
Agnes Beever-Jones put the Blues ahead with a long-distance deflected strike in the seventh minute and Maika Hamano made it 2-0 a short time later by lifting the ball over goalkeeper Olivia Clark from outside the area.
Substitute Guro Reiten added the third in the second from the spot just past the hour mark.
On Saturday, Chelsea beat city rival Arsenal 2-1 in the Women’s Super League.
Real Madrid scored three second-half goals in 11 minutes against Celtic in Group B.
The Spanish team had lost to Chelsea 3-2 in the first round and drew with Atlético 1-1 in the Madrid derby over the weekend.
Caroline Weir fired a long-range left-footer from outside the box into the far top corner in the seventh minute.
The visitors kept if close until the 72nd minute, when Signe Bruun headed home the second goal followed eight minutes later by Caroline Moller's lob of goalkeeper Kelsey Daugherty for a 3-0 lead. Linda Caicedo then converted from the penalty spot.
It's back-to-back losses for Scottish club Celtic, making its debut in the group stage. It has yet to score.
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Galatasaray's Ebru Topcu, left, tussles for the ball with Roma's Manuela Giugliano during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Roma's Valentina Giacinti, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's second goal during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Galatasaray's Andrea Staskova, center, fights for the ball with Roma's Saki Kumagai, left, and Moeka Minami during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Roma's Valentina Giacinti, left, celebrates with teammate Giada Greggi after scoring their side's second goal during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Roma's players celebrate after teammate Valentina Giacinti scored their side's second goal during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Galatasaray's Kristina Bakarandze, left, vies for the ball with Roma's Evelyne Viens during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Galatasaray's Ebru Topcu, center, fights for the ball with Roma's Saki Kumagai, left, and Verena Hanshaw during the women's Champions League group A soccer match between Galatasaray and Roma at Ataturk Olympic stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (Huseyin Yavuz/Dia Photo via AP)
Lyon's Lindsey Horan scores from the penalty spot during the Women's Champions League group stage soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyon at the AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg, Germany, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Wolfsburg's Merle Frohms shoots the ball during the Women's Champions League group stage soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyon, at AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg, Germany, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Lyon's Lindsey Horan celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the Women's Champions League group stage soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyon at the AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg, Germany, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Lyon's Wendie Renard, top let, heads the ball to score their side's first goal of the game during the Women's Champions League group stage soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyon, at the AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg, Germany, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
Lyon's Lindsey Horan celebrates after scoring a goal during the Women's Champions League group stage soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Olympique Lyon, at the AOK Stadion in Wolfsburg, Germany, Thursday Oct. 17, 2024. (Swen Pförtner/dpa via AP)
