Dive Brief:
- A joint venture of AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction broke ground April 30 on the Cleveland Browns’ new domed Huntington Bank Field in Brook Park, Ohio, according to a team news release.
- The project includes a roughly 75,000-seat venue and a long-span roof system. Scheduled to open in time for the 2029 NFL season, the stadium will also anchor a new mixed-use entertainment district, according to the release.
- The development moved forward despite a class-action lawsuit alleging misappropriation of $600 million in state funding for the overall $2.4 billion effort, ESPN reported.
Dive Insight:
The groundbreaking reflects the latest example of the growing tension over how public dollars fund major stadium construction projects.
In Cleveland, the lawsuit argues the redirection of money from the state’s unclaimed funds account towards sports facilities violates constitutional protections against taking private property, according to the complaint.
“The Ohio Senate has proposed using $600 million from the Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund to finance construction of a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns,” according to the class-action lawsuit document. “This use was not previously authorized by the Ohio Revised Code and diverts funds held in trust to a private corporate interest.”
The stadium and surrounding entertainment builds rank as Northeast Ohio’s largest economic development project to date, according to the release. The stadium will serve as Ohio’s first domed venue capable of hosting large, destination events year round, such as NCAA Final Fours and international soccer matches.
“As one of the largest construction projects in the history of Northeast Ohio, the new Huntington Bank Field will deliver an unparalleled experience for football fans while featuring the flexibility to host a variety of large-scale, blockbuster events,” said Ken Johnson, chief operating officer of AECOM Hunt’s central region. “As one of the nation’s leaders in venue construction, we are honored to play a role in this important, game-changing project.”
