Via the Cleveland City Council Facebook page, here’s Councilman Mike Polensek speaking truth about the Cleveland Browns, First Energy Stadium and sensible use of the city’s tax dollars:
I had the pleasure to attend the Cleveland Planning Commission hearing today and testify. Even though I am impressed with many of the fan enhancements proposed to First Energy Stadium by the Cleveland Browns; I sincerely question the loss of 3,000 of the least expensive seats to the fans in the facility, and the loss of revenue associated with these seats to the City of Cleveland and downtown businesses.
I clearly understand the Browns plan to enhance advertising revenue opportunities on their new proposed state-of-the-art scoreboards and to improve fan access to the facility — a major flaw from the original rushed design and construction.
However, it is more clear now that the overwhelming dollar amount for the facility upgrades is ultimately to improve the Cleveland Browns’ bottom line through additional advertising and promotional space on their new state-of-the-art scoreboards both static advertising and electronic as we heard today.
We heard the NFL could contribute half of the improvement costs through a loan to the Browns. I assume the NFL views the Browns as a worthy investment. As I’ve stated publicly, I and my colleagues am sure would be willing to consider a likewise loan to the Browns, versus taking away capital funds from much needed city projects for our residents and neighborhoods.
I am once again looking to the Browns’ civic soul in these negotiations and hope they will not disappoint our citizens who have supported this organization with their heart and soul. I call upon Mayor Jackson and the administration to bargain vigorously on our behalf.
This article appears in Nov 13-19, 2013.
What happened to the First Energy Money that the browns got for the stadium naming rights?
Why not a “user’s” fee attached to tickets and merchandise? Better yet, instead of slapping upgrades on a rusty Yugo, devise a long-term plan to construct a real state-of-the-art stadium, with a retractable dome.
Taxpayers do NOT give the Browns another dime!!!!! All they do is ask for us to pay their bills and take all of the profit. They DO NOT care about the fans all they (the players and the owners) care about is themselves and screw the fans. It is time to say NO MORE MONEY, PAY YOUR OWN BILLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The councilman is 100% correct. Another waste of taxpayers money, not everyone goes to the stadium why should they pay.
Oh hey…THe gestapo type atmosphere upon entering the stadium is enough to keep me and COUNTLESS other fans from attending a live event…
Not to mention the outragious $5 for foot traffic to tailgate…
Now they’re cutting out 3000 cheep seats?
Wow….Just wow….
The brown players should pay to upgrade stadium They are the ones stealing all the big money
They think because they won afew games they can trick the tax payers what a joke this is
Let the NFL, owners and organizations take care of their own stadium. I really love the Browns, and will always support my Cleveland teams, but, seems to me that if these changes take place in a stadium that is only a few years old, and millions of taxpayer dollars are spent, what is to stop them from saying the very same thing in a few years, when they need another “upgrade”. I don’t ask for their money when I need to do work on my home. Besides, you just about have to take out a second mortgage just to take your family to one game. The people who would have to pay for this, are the people who can least afford it, and will probably never set foot in this stadium. Spend that money on the schools, instead.
If fans wanted to watch the game on TV then they would just stay at home. Build a new stadium with a dome or retractable room. Don’t waste any more Cleveland money on this one.
Haslem! You want the profits, you make the upgrades. You bought this as a business, run it like one. NO TAXPAYER MONEY.
How about they put the 20 million they made selling the naming rights to the stadium we paid for to use on this project?
The Browns suck. Pay for it yourself, Haslam.
Interesting: I’d heard that there was some ‘major’ football team in town – with all the hubbub, you’d think that they were an ‘addition’ to the city’s profile and not a joke. Instead, they covet the money that could be used for real citizens keeping the city; civic works, education and maintenance up to par instead of remaining as an additional joke in the city that others may still refer to as the ‘mistake by the lake’….WTG Browns…we might have been better off to not have had you replace the last “team”…
What an absolute mess. Absolutely NO taxpayer money should be involved in this bull shit. We need some money in the private sector. Government can’t and won’t provide us all of our needs. I’m tired of Cleveland taking our hard-earned money by FORCE and building shit that profits, not the taxpayers, but big business. This is called fascism.
The Browns have been nothing but a leech on the city of Cleveland since they “came back” in 1999. We funnel a ton of money over to them (thanks to the horrible contract that was signed) and really get a whole bunch of nothing in return. Actually, I lied about that last part, we do get something. In fact, we get the wonderful honor of dropping $100 for an afternoon at the Factory of Sadness! Good thing they’re playing better lately, though, they were running out of ways to suck and fail week in and week out.
The Mayor has agreed to the deal. It seems like a bad deal to me. $2 million dollars per year for how long? Loss of 3,000 “low price” seats( stadium to become elitist?). Focus of improvements-increasing Browns income(to what end for the city?). The city’s income is not significantly improved so, let the Browns pay for the improvements from the advertising income they will be receiving from advertisers. Or increase the “rent” to an amount sufficient to pay for the improvements. The General Fund should not be used for this purpose. Yes, Mr. Mayor, we need that extra policeman and that extra street sweeper and the extra housing inspector and …., and …, and.
At least Councilman Polensek sees the bigger picture. How many other decision makers have a clue & the guts to do the right thing? Let’s keep track of these characters and make sure they’re thrown out if they squander taxpayer funds & opportunity’s. The city didn’t get in the shape it’s in through smart effective governing.