{'byline': 'by Daryl Ruiter', 'hosts': '', 'byline_sources': '', 'audience_id': '', 'original_station': [{'station': '923thefan', 'path': '923thefan/sports/cleveland-browns/mike-dewine-would-like-browns-stadium-fight-resolved-locally'}], 'syndicated_items': '', 'original_item': {'_index': 'published-content_v43', '_type': '_doc', '_score': None, '_source': {'date': '2025-03-04T02:24:07.028Z', 'lead': [{'data': {'_version': 2, 'autoPlay': False, 'contentId': 'wLOAsMQhlig', 'videoType': 'Editorial', 'isPlaylist': False, 'origSource': 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLOAsMQhlig', 'videoValid': True, 'videoSource': 'video', 'playerCaption': None, 'videoLocation': 'article', 'videoPlaylist': '', 'playerHeadline': None, 'playerBorderTop': False, 'autoPlayNextVideo': True, 'componentVariation': 'youtube', 'playerBorderBottom': False, 'playerBorderTopCTA': 'Watch', 'previousTypeRelated': False}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/youtube/instances/cm7tv779200433b7p71ne3xoy@published'}], 'slug': 'mike-dewine-would-like-browns-stadium-fight-resolved-locally', 'tags': ['Football', 'NFL', 'Cleveland Browns'], 'feeds': {'msn': True, 'rss': True, 'postup': True, 'facebook': True, 'newsfeed': True, 'sitemaps': True, 'frequency': True, 'smartNews': True, 'apple-news': False, 'smart-news': True, 'most-popular': True, 'reversechron': True, 'google-news-feed': True}, 'hosts': [], 'adTags': {'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/ad-tags/instances/cm7ttgb6k000a01vd1mm3h4k1@published'}, 'byline': [{'names': [{'name': 'Daryl Ruiter', 'text': 'Daryl Ruiter', 'slug': 'daryl-ruiter'}], 'sources': [], 'hosts': [], 'prefix': 'by'}], 'teaser': 'Governor Mike DeWine would like Browns stadium fight to be resolved locally, believes gaming tax increase will benefit all of Ohio', 'authors': ['Daryl Ruiter'], 'content': [{'data': {'text': '<strong>CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) –</strong> The Cleveland Browns and the city of Cleveland have taken each other to court to figure out if the NFL franchise can move forward with a multi-billion dome and development just outside the city limits in Brook Park.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7ttgb6k000e01vdqv5vr7gg@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'In an exclusive interview on the podcast ‘It’s Always Gameday in Cleveland’ published Monday afternoon, DeWine remained neutral on the legal conflict between the two parties, but he hopes for an equitable resolution.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxdw00243b7p189omzix@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“As governor, I always tell local communities, you guys figure out what you want,” DeWine said.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxff00253b7p18l5ypjq@published'}, {'data': {'text': '“And look, one can make arguments on both sides in regard to that, but ultimately we hope that the community figures that out.”', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxgq00263b7pi47k3hwz@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Cleveland wants the Browns to remain in the current lakefront stadium that opened with the team’s return to the NFL in 1999 with a billion-dollar makeover and a new 30-year lease, but the team argues there just isn’t that much life remaining in the current stadium, and a renovation will still require an additional $700 million in capital repairs in the years to come on top of the renovation cost.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxmh00283b7pvamzqzyf@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The Browns filed in U.S. District court while Cleveland sued the Browns in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas over the ‘Modell Law,’ which Cleveland wants to invoke to compel the team to remain in Cleveland and not be able to build in Brook Park.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxnc00293b7pa3yg1hv7@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“I fully understand the concern about keeping the team in Cleveland, physically in Cleveland,” DeWine said. “If they move, they'll be almost in Cleveland, but they won't be in Cleveland. So I get that you get into arguments about if the stadium was not there on the lake, what could be there? So there's also that opportunity. There's also the opportunity to think big, and I always like to think big and certainly the Browns are thinking big.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxom002a3b7pd2q5ir06@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Browns, have proposed a $2.4 billion clear roof covered stadium to be built 80 feet into the ground across from Hopkins International Airport along with another billion-dollar mixed use development on 176 acres of land bordering Snow and Engle roads the team has secured the development rights to.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxpy002b3b7pmn2p8w0t@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'To finance the project, the Browns are seeking $600 million from the state, $178 million from Cuyahoga County and $422 million from the city of Brook Park to fund the public portion of the project while pledging to invest nearly $2.2 billion in private money into the complex.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxrw002c3b7pfhgr7yh6@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'The team believes the state, county and city will see a generous return on their investment from tax revenues generated over 30 years from the proposed complex.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxti002d3b7pggfw9mv4@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“In this particular proposal, they're putting a significant amount of money, or at least they proposed to, if it went through, if it's going to go through,” DeWine said. “But if it occurred, that's a significant amount of money that would be going in from the private sector into something that we hope would be economic development.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxv0002e3b7pt6kcy3k9@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Ohio lawmakers are considering DeWine’s proposal to double the state sports gaming tax from 20% to 40% with the additional 20% landing in a separate fund independent of the state general fund to help fund stadium construction for major and minor league professional teams statewide while also allocating funding for youth sports.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxw8002f3b7pmu05bu0n@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“I think for the average person, they're not going to see any difference at all,” DeWine said of the tax increase. “They're going to game however they want to game, and these companies, while they will, obviously they don't want to pay it. I understand that. I get that. But they're not leaving Ohio. There's two or three of them, as you know, that can totally dominate and they're going to stay in Ohio because this is a lucrative area.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxxh002g3b7psp78dlcc@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'If approved by lawmakers as part of the state’s 2026-27 fiscal budget, stadium projects could receive 40% of the initial cost from the new separate state fund depending on the size and scope of the project. Teams would also be able to apply for the same percentage in assistance for mixed-use developments around stadiums or team training facilities.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxyp002h3b7pl2gqxnwl@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'While DeWine’s proposal appears to heavily favor the Browns’ Brook Park and Berea plans, the gaming tax increase would benefit the entire state according to the governor.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tutxzw002i3b7pndd64o87@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“I understand focusing on maybe the Browns, but this is going to help Akron, this is going to help the minor leagues,” DeWine said. “This is going to help if we get new stadiums in here for new sports or new women's sports, it conceivably can help. It will help those. So this is going to help a lot of different areas. It's going to be virtually every area of the state of Ohio, it will be able to be helped in this as well as some of this money will go for youth sports.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tuty14002j3b7p4k79o1xx@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“We look at the new stadiums being built, but the truth is all of these have needs that every so many years occur. And I'm astounded frankly, what it takes for particularly a big stadium that's been there for 20 years or 15 years and what it costs just to bring it back up to where it should be. These are big facilities, and it takes a lot of money and it's a real challenge.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tuty2n002k3b7pskqvw3o4@published'}, {'data': {'text': 'Ohio lawmakers have already begun the deliberation process as they comb through DeWine’s proposal, and a final draft of the budget is expected to land on the governor’s desk in mid to late June.', '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tv33zt00343b7p2sc9kvgv@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“Members of the general assembly understand, I think are beginning to really understand that this money could be very, very beneficial to their community,” DeWine said. “Whether you live in Dayton, whether you live in Akron, whether you live in Toledo, Youngstown, Mahoney Valley area, we've got teams all over the state of Ohio.", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tv3788003b3b7peit4be3o@published'}, {'data': {'text': "“This is really new money. It's not going to compete [with existing state funding]. They won't have to compete anymore and frankly have people say very understandably, look, I support my team, but that money would be better going to our schools. So I think they like that. I think the legislature always has trouble is when you call something a tax, I guess it is a tax, but I prefer to call it a fee.”", '_version': 2, 'componentVariation': 'paragraph'}, 'original_ref': 'www.audacy.com/_components/paragraph/instances/cm7tv3788003c3b7po7ql9q1t@published'}], 'feedImg': {'data': {'alt': 'Mike DeWine, governor of Ohio, on the sideline ahead of an NFL game between the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals at Huntington Bank Field on October 20, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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Cleveland Browns

Governor Mike DeWine would like Browns stadium fight to be resolved locally, believes gaming tax increase will benefit all of Ohio

By Daryl RuiterMar 04, 2025

Daryl Ruiter

Cleveland Browns beat writer and member of the Pro Football Writers of America | Over the past 25 years, Ruiter has covered major sporting events…

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CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Cleveland Browns and the city of Cleveland have taken each other to court to figure out if the NFL franchise can move forward with a multi-billion dome and development just outside the city limits in Brook Park.

In an exclusive interview on the podcast ‘It’s Always Gameday in Cleveland’ published Monday afternoon, DeWine remained neutral on the legal conflict between the two parties, but he hopes for an equitable resolution.

“As governor, I always tell local communities, you guys figure out what you want,” DeWine said.

“And look, one can make arguments on both sides in regard to that, but ultimately we hope that the community figures that out.”

Cleveland wants the Browns to remain in the current lakefront stadium that opened with the team’s return to the NFL in 1999 with a billion-dollar makeover and a new 30-year lease, but the team argues there just isn’t that much life remaining in the current stadium, and a renovation will still require an additional $700 million in capital repairs in the years to come on top of the renovation cost.

The Browns filed in U.S. District court while Cleveland sued the Browns in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas over the ‘Modell Law,’ which Cleveland wants to invoke to compel the team to remain in Cleveland and not be able to build in Brook Park.

“I fully understand the concern about keeping the team in Cleveland, physically in Cleveland,” DeWine said. “If they move, they'll be almost in Cleveland, but they won't be in Cleveland. So I get that you get into arguments about if the stadium was not there on the lake, what could be there? So there's also that opportunity. There's also the opportunity to think big, and I always like to think big and certainly the Browns are thinking big.”

The Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Browns, have proposed a $2.4 billion clear roof covered stadium to be built 80 feet into the ground across from Hopkins International Airport along with another billion-dollar mixed use development on 176 acres of land bordering Snow and Engle roads the team has secured the development rights to.

To finance the project, the Browns are seeking $600 million from the state, $178 million from Cuyahoga County and $422 million from the city of Brook Park to fund the public portion of the project while pledging to invest nearly $2.2 billion in private money into the complex.

The team believes the state, county and city will see a generous return on their investment from tax revenues generated over 30 years from the proposed complex.

“In this particular proposal, they're putting a significant amount of money, or at least they proposed to, if it went through, if it's going to go through,” DeWine said. “But if it occurred, that's a significant amount of money that would be going in from the private sector into something that we hope would be economic development.”

Ohio lawmakers are considering DeWine’s proposal to double the state sports gaming tax from 20% to 40% with the additional 20% landing in a separate fund independent of the state general fund to help fund stadium construction for major and minor league professional teams statewide while also allocating funding for youth sports.

“I think for the average person, they're not going to see any difference at all,” DeWine said of the tax increase. “They're going to game however they want to game, and these companies, while they will, obviously they don't want to pay it. I understand that. I get that. But they're not leaving Ohio. There's two or three of them, as you know, that can totally dominate and they're going to stay in Ohio because this is a lucrative area.”

If approved by lawmakers as part of the state’s 2026-27 fiscal budget, stadium projects could receive 40% of the initial cost from the new separate state fund depending on the size and scope of the project. Teams would also be able to apply for the same percentage in assistance for mixed-use developments around stadiums or team training facilities.

While DeWine’s proposal appears to heavily favor the Browns’ Brook Park and Berea plans, the gaming tax increase would benefit the entire state according to the governor.

“I understand focusing on maybe the Browns, but this is going to help Akron, this is going to help the minor leagues,” DeWine said. “This is going to help if we get new stadiums in here for new sports or new women's sports, it conceivably can help. It will help those. So this is going to help a lot of different areas. It's going to be virtually every area of the state of Ohio, it will be able to be helped in this as well as some of this money will go for youth sports.

“We look at the new stadiums being built, but the truth is all of these have needs that every so many years occur. And I'm astounded frankly, what it takes for particularly a big stadium that's been there for 20 years or 15 years and what it costs just to bring it back up to where it should be. These are big facilities, and it takes a lot of money and it's a real challenge.”

Ohio lawmakers have already begun the deliberation process as they comb through DeWine’s proposal, and a final draft of the budget is expected to land on the governor’s desk in mid to late June.

“Members of the general assembly understand, I think are beginning to really understand that this money could be very, very beneficial to their community,” DeWine said. “Whether you live in Dayton, whether you live in Akron, whether you live in Toledo, Youngstown, Mahoney Valley area, we've got teams all over the state of Ohio.

“This is really new money. It's not going to compete [with existing state funding]. They won't have to compete anymore and frankly have people say very understandably, look, I support my team, but that money would be better going to our schools. So I think they like that. I think the legislature always has trouble is when you call something a tax, I guess it is a tax, but I prefer to call it a fee.”

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