Cleveland Browns fans heading to Huntington Bank Field this weekend will find a stadium experience unlike any home opener before it, with NASA joining the pregame lineup alongside a new house band, fresh lounges and a Naughty by Nature co-founder set to perform after the third quarter. The Browns host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in a Week 3 matchup that also serves as the team's 2026 home slate debut at the venue.
The Cleveland Browns announced new gameday experiences and changes at Huntington Bank Field ahead of the home opener, and the headline addition is a first-ever NASA flyover during the national anthem, according to seed reporting from FOX 8 News. The flyover will feature three Freedom 250 F-5s, per that same report, marking the first time the space agency has taken part in a Browns anthem ceremony.
NASA and the NFL Team Up for Dawg Pound Drive
NASA is partnering with the NFL to introduce a new pregame attraction called Dawg Pound Drive, which will take place at Huntington Bank Field starting at 10 a.m., the outlet reports. The activation will include a moon rock on display along with other activities, and fans will have the opportunity to meet astronaut Doug Wheelock as part of the experience.
Entertainment at the home opener won't stop with the space theme. The Ohio State University Marching Band is set to perform at halftime, while Treach, known for his work with Naughty by Nature, will take the stage after the third quarter, according to the report.
New House Band Takes Over a Stage Near the Dawg Pound
The Browns have confirmed that First to Eleven will serve as the team's house band for the season. The Erie, Pennsylvania-based rock and pop cover band will perform during pregame festivities and throughout key game moments from a new stage located near the Dawg Pound, per the report.
Hospitality upgrades are also part of the home-opener package. The team offers a Brunchin' with the Browns experience that includes brunch, drink tickets and a front-row seat to the pregame action, the outlet notes. Two new lounges have also opened at the stadium: the Stratus Lounge inside the Canada Dry City Club, and the FanDuel Lounge on the event level.
Browns Enter Home Opener Off a Week 2 Win
Cleveland arrives at the home opener having won its game the previous weekend, a 23-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as celebrated by the Cleveland Browns' own recap of the contest. The win sets the stage for Sunday's matchup against Carolina, with kickoff set for Sept. 27 at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.
Between the flyover, the moon rock display, the astronaut appearance and a full slate of live music, the Browns are framing this home opener as a showcase of new gameday experiences and changes at the stadium. Fans filing into Huntington Bank Field this weekend will be walking into a very different pregame atmosphere than in years past.
