CLEVELAND — Cleveland released renderings of a Burke Lakefront stadium, which were made to determine the “viability of Burke Lakefront Airport as a development site.”
[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Cleveland did two studies on the airport’s viability as a stadium option in September, according to our news partners at WOIO.
>> PHOTOS: : Renderings released for possible Burke Lakefront Cleveland Browns Stadium
The reports highlighted the potential to bring in new money, but they also listed potential problems, including having to pay back $9.4 million to the FAA and ODOT and buying out a lease for Burke of more than $16 million.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Frisch’s location in Miami Valley permanently closed; Why more Ohio locations could be closing
- Former high school staffer accused of having sexual relationship with student formally charged
- 18 decomposing bodies found at funeral home, owner arrested
Cuyahoga County officials confirmed to WOIO that Haslam Sports Group saw the renderings before the company announced the Browns would be moving to Brook Park.
However, both Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and county officials have come out against the Browns moving out of Cleveland.
Mayor Justin Bibb said the decision could cost the city more than $30 million a year and called it “frustrating and profoundly disheartening.”
The back-and-forth battle over the move has gone to court after the Browns filed a lawsuit against the city of Cleveland over the ‘Modell Law’ designed to prevent their move to the suburbs.
The team has played its games in downtown Cleveland since the 1940s, and in its current 65,000-seat stadium, which is leased to the team by the city, since 1999.
[SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]