BROOK PARK, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have never played in a Super Bowl, but they’re hoping to host one in the near future.
At the official groundbreaking for the new and enclosed Huntington Bank Field on Thursday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told the crowd that he has “no doubt” that the Browns’ new stadium will be “Super Bowl quality.” But Goodell said Northeast Ohio’s chances of eventually hosting a Super Bowl will depend upon the region having enough hotel rooms and the infrastructure to handle what he estimated could be an influx of more than 200,000 people for the league’s premier event.
“It’s close to being there and potentially our development (tied to the new stadium) will put it over,” Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said. “Hopefully, this will be a transformational movement for the city.”
With Haslam Sports Group providing nearly two-thirds of the funding, the new facility will be Ohio’s first indoor stadium and make the Browns the first AFC North team to play inside. The team’s move to the suburbs comes with the goal of attracting year-round events across multiple sports and entertainment genres, and Goodell said that Cleveland will “soon” be in line to host another NFL Draft.
Cleveland hosted the draft in 2021. But with some COVID-19 limitations still in place, it was not the full-scale event that the league’s recent drafts have become.
The Browns are slated to begin play in the new stadium in 2029. The team is promising ticket buyers a “revolutionary” seating-bowl design that will provide the closest seats in the NFL, a transparent roof and a flexible seating capacity that can go as high as 75,000. The team says the project will create more than 6,000 construction jobs.
The new stadium site is adjacent to Cleveland Hopkins Airport in Brook Park, about 12 miles southwest of the team’s current stadium in downtown Cleveland. Because of its proximity to the airport, the playing field will be dug 80 feet below ground so that the structure will comply with FAA regulations.
Construction began in March, but the team waited until after the draft for the public ceremony. Among those in attendance were Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Browns Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, general manager Andrew Berry, new head coach Todd Monken, cornerback Denzel Ward and linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
DeWine said he believes Ohio will eventually host a Super Bowl but acknowledged that more hotel rooms will have to be added in Northeast Ohio for the NFL to commit to the Browns’ new stadium serving as a host.