The ongoing legal tussle between the city of Cleveland and the Cleveland Browns has taken a new turn, with the city filing a lawsuit to keep the NFL team anchored in downtown Cleveland. According to a Spectrum News 1 report, the lawsuit is grounded in the allegations that the Browns are violating Ohio state law and their contract agreements after accepting significant taxpayer investments.
The legal battle centers on enforcing the Modell Law passed after the original Browns' 1995 relocation attempt. The Browns have been accused of attempting to bypass this law, which mandates that an owner must grant the political subdivision in which the team's tax-supported facility is located or any individual or group from the area the opportunity to purchase the team before relocating. "The Modell Law is clear: if you take taxpayer money to fund your stadium, you have obligations to the community that made that investment possible," said Mark Griffin, law director for the City of Cleveland, in a statement obtained by WKYC.
In the city's view, the Haslam Sports Group, owner of the Browns, is seeking a move to Brook Park with a new stadium despite hefty taxpayer investments in the existing downtown stadium. The city also cited how the Modell Law was leveraged by the Haslams previously to secure the Columbus Crew soccer team, illustrating an apparent contradiction to their current stance. "It is ironic that the Haslams, who are currently not complying with Ohio's Modell Law, previously relied on the same law to acquire the Columbus Crew soccer team," Griffin added, according to WKYC news.
Amid this lawsuit, the Browns have responded by challenging the Modell Law's constitutionality in a federal lawsuit, the intention of which appears to be avoiding compliance with the state law. As per the lawsuit filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and the News 5 Cleveland coverage, the Browns argue that the law is unconstitutional, highlighting uncertainty over its applicability given the team's potential move would only be a short distance away, and not until after the expiry of their existing lease.
Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb has expressed a firm resolve, suggesting the city plans to contest strenuously against the Browns’ actions. "Nobody in this city can expect us to go away without a fight," said Cleveland City Council president Blaine Griffin, echoing the mayor's determination, according to WKYC news. The Browns have outlined grand plans for a $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park, potentially leaving Cleveland's lakefront and the current stadium's future uncertain. With legal proceedings underway and public sentiments mixed, the Browns' possible relocation saga remains unresolved.
