Overview

• State aviation officials said the proposed domed stadium would reach 221 feet above ground, exceeding the allowable height by 58 feet near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
• Public records show Port Control Director Bryant Francis lodged formal objections in March and June, and ODOT noted it typically denies permits when an airport raises safety concerns.
• Haslam Sports Group called the decision perplexing given the FAA’s earlier “no hazard” determination with roof lighting and said it is working with ODOT while weighing an appeal or design changes.
• ODOT described next steps that include revising the stadium’s height, appealing the denial, or the Cleveland Airport System withdrawing its opposition, and it said a meeting with the applicant is being scheduled.
• Local reporting flagged an unsigned denial letter and confusion over whether a building permit was formally sought, as Brook Park advances zoning steps and separate lawsuits over funding and the team’s lease continue, clouding a timeline once targeting early 2026 work for a 2029 opening.