Gov. Mike DeWine, who has been cautious about showing his hand in Cleveland’s ongoing negotiations with the Cleveland Browns over where the team will play beyond 2028, met separately this week with both sides.
On Tuesday, DeWine met with Dee and Jimmy Haslam at the offices of prominent local businessman Umberto Fedeli, a longtime friend of the governor and major GOP donor known for hosting fundraisers at his Gates Mills home, which features a basement trattoria.
Dan Tierney, a spokesman for the governor, said the meeting was brief and that DeWine is “monitoring discussions” about the stadium proposals.
On Wednesday, Mayor Justin Bibb and County Executive Chris Ronayne met with DeWine at the governor’s residence in Columbus. The governor had a previously scheduled meeting with several city mayors and then talked to the two Cleveland officials, Tierney said.
The Browns have said they are seeking $500 million to $600 million in public support from state and local governments for a proposed $1.2 billion renovation of the existing Browns Stadium. The team, however, prefers to build a $2.4 billion enclosed stadium in Brook Park. The team has proposed splitting the cost with taxpayers.
DeWine has not publicly committed to supporting a specific amount of public funds for either proposal, though in the past DeWine and lawmakers have earmarked taxpayer money for stadium projects throughout the state, including $30 million for Progressive Field’s recent renovation. The state has also given tens of millions of dollars to Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium and other sports facilities.
The state has already committed $20 million toward Cleveland’s lakefront development.
“Renovating the downtown stadium will build on these investments and help anchor the North Coast development,” Bibb spokeswoman Sarah Johnson said about the mayor’s message to the governor. “The mayor and the county executive are aligned that keeping the Browns in Cleveland is vital for sustaining downtown’s successes, regional health and global image. “