3 takeaways as the Browns break ground on $2.6B stadium

With the first selection in the NFL Draft …

Cleveland hosted the annual NFL Draft in 2021 after the in-person draft of 2020 turned into a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The city and the fans did their best under tough circumstances, and Goodell said he has talked with Cleveland owner Jimmy Haslam about making a return visit once the new stadium is complete:

“The draft was here in 2020 under really difficult circumstances. I guess it was ’21, technically. As we were battling through COVID and trying to get out of it, it was not the event that we expected. But this community came together, met those challenges, and we pulled the draft off here. But it wasn’t, I think, the impact that was necessary, so Jimmy and I have talked a lot, I’ve talked about it with other committees. We look forward to coming back here with the draft here soon, for sure. I think it’s important.” Hosting the draft seems more likely than hosting a Super Bowl because, outside of the infrastructure issue, no one wants to come to Northeast Ohio in February, so that should be fun.

The new stadium will have some unique features

The Browns shared some details about what they believe will make their new home something special, including:

• The closest seats in the NFL, including a modern version of the Dawg Pound that will have fans standing on a 60-row, 34-degree grandstand with railings to lean on.
• A transparent roof “inspired by Cleveland’s iconic atriums.”
• Something described as a “Super Theater” concept to host events for up to 75,000 attendees.
• A roofing system that features the first long-span roof without a truss. It all sounds very grand and exciting, and should look good on TV and in person. Whether or not anyone can say the same about the team come 2029 remains to be seen. ***What do you say, Browns fans? Are you excited about the new home of the Browns? Let everyone know in the comments.***