Overview

• The Ohio Department of Transportation’s aviation division denied the Browns a permit for their proposed $2.4 billion domed stadium in Brook Park, saying its 221-foot height exceeds local limits by 58 feet and obstructs traffic at Hopkins airport.
• ODOT’s decision conflicts with FAA findings that the stadium posed no airspace hazards; Haslam Sports Group says it is collaborating with ODOT to resolve the permit denial.
• The Browns face choices including lowering the stadium height, appealing ODOT’s ruling, relocating farther from the airport or pursuing litigation.
• The denial delays the planned early-2026 groundbreaking and endangers the team’s goal of opening for the 2029 season.
• The project’s financing and legality remain in question, with Cleveland suing over alleged lease violations and county officials pushing a $350 million downtown renovation alternative.