$5 Million Sought To Build Cleveland Browns Practice Facility In Columbus
There’s long been speculation the Cleveland Browns could move training camp to Columbus, and the idea is closer to becoming a reality as the franchise, and the Columbus Partnership have asked the state of Ohio for $5 million to aid in the move.
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has been meeting with central Ohio leaders, as well as the Frankling County commissioners regarding the move of the team’s summer training camp to Columbus, according to a report from the Columbus Dispatch.
The Browns played an intra-squad scrimmage at Ohio Stadium last August, and the event was met with positive results. Ohio Stadium, which holds more than 100,000 fans for Buckeye games, filled up with an estimated 50,000 Browns fans for what was basically a glorified practice.
The decision to hold the event was obviously meant to test the waters of possibly moving training camp from the Browns’ current headquarters in Berea, Ohio. Now it appears the Browns and city of Columbus are moving forward to make this idea a reality.
The Columbus Dispatch reported that it had obtained documents showing the Columbus Partnership “made the request of the state to be funded in the biennial state capital improvements bill that will be proposed in a few months.”
More from Factory of Sadness
- Bet $1 on ANYTHING to Unlock $200 Guaranteed with Crazy Bet365 Ohio Promo!
- 3 reasons why the Cleveland Cavaliers have a good shot to win the East next year
- It might be too soon to say it but it looks like the Cleveland Guardians are back
- Are the Cleveland Browns a Top 10 roster heading into the 2023 season?
- Eastern Conference Solidarity: Back the Heat with $5 Bet, Win $200 Bonus INSTANTLY with DraftKings Promo
When not being used by the Browns, the new practice facility would be used by student athletes presumably attending Ohio State, in addition to community youth programs. The Browns would use the facility for three weeks out of the year during the summer.
State Rep. Mike Dovilla, R-Berea, has taken issue with the request and decried moving training camp as “absurd.”
Dovilla is currently running for the state senate, and he represents the area that would lose the most if the Browns moved camp–Berea. Legions of fans flock to Berea for training camp, and many local hotels, bars restaurants, etc benefit from the practices.
It’s worth noting the request for the cash doesn’t mean the state will approve the Columbus Partnership’s request, especially with a an apparent fight in the Legislature on the horizon.
“The notion that the Legislature would support this capital request, which does nothing more than pit regions of our great State against one another–and audaciously proposes to use our hard-earned money to do so-is utterly preposterous,” Dovilla said in a written statement published by The Dispatch.
Even if the request isn’t granted, it’s hard to imagine the Browns continuing to hold camp in Berea. Making the Browns a profitable entity is something clearly important to Haslam–that should’ve been clear when he sold the naming rights to the stadium, and later raised ticket prices 30 percent.
Columbus does have a big Browns’ fan base, evidenced by the turnout for the scrimmage. The team also appears regularly in the Columbus TV market, despite playing many of its game at the same as the Cincinnati Bengals.
Next: Browns Top 10 QBs Of All-Time
Haslam wants to expand the Browns reach even more, and it’s just a matter of time before Columbus is hosting camp.