An updated rendering of the proposed new Huntington Bank Field in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park (HKS). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Joint venture to build enclosed Browns stadium
The owners of the Cleveland Browns today announced they’ve assembled another team — the builders of what they’ve touted as Ohio’s first enclosed National Football League stadium. The construction team is due to start construction of the stadium following an early-2026 groundbreaking.
The Haslam Sports Group (HSG) and Cleveland Browns announced the selection of AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Co. as the construction managers for the new Huntington Bank Field in the Cleveland suburb of Brook Park.
The project is moving forward after initially being denied a building permit from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for being too close to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. ODOT reversed its ruling two weeks ago.
The stadium is intended to be the centerpiece of what HSG calls Northeast Ohio’s largest economic development initiative to date. Designed and built with the fan and community in mind, the stadium will feature a year-round sports and entertainment class venue.
Next to it, HSG plans a mixed-use entertainment district led by its development partner and real estate firm Lincoln Property Company. It is hoped that this will spur long-term economic growth and celebrate the region’s spirit and identity.
HSG contends that this $2.4 billion stadium and $1.2 billion supportive development will be a “transformative project will secure the Browns’ future in Northeast Ohio for generations to come,” it said in a written statement issued to media today. The project is supported by $600 million in government subsidies from the State of Ohio.
A rendered view of the planned new stadium’s interior that would feature a unique, long-span roofing system (HKS).
Planned with 67,500 seats, HSG said this will be a “Super Theater” venue designed by Dallas-based sports architecture firm HKS. The facility will be designed to host a wide array of large-scale events year round, well beyond Browns games, including NCAA Final Fours, international soccer matches, and concerts for crowds of up to 75,000.
“The new Huntington Bank Field is inspired by Lake Erie and the City of Cleveland,” HSG said in its press release. The Brook Park stadium will replace a 26-year-old stadium located a few feet away from Lake Erie in the City of Cleveland. Its pending departure has caused legal battles that remain unresolved.
HSG today touted these project highlights:
- Closest seats in the NFL: A revolutionary seating bowl design that brings fans closer to the field than any other NFL stadium, highlighted by a new and modernized Dawg Pound.
- Translucent roof: Inspired by Cleveland’s iconic atriums, natural light throughout the stadium creates a unique outdoor ambiance and a viewing experience for every visitor to remember.
- Flexible capacity: A “Super Theater” concept accommodates events for up to 75,000 attendees.
- First-of-its-kind roofing system: Featuring the first long-span roof without a truss, sightlines and design are enhanced throughout the building.
- Economic catalyst: More than 6,000 construction jobs and thousands of additional full-time positions across the stadium and adjacent development, delivering lasting economic benefits for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.
The Haslam Sports Group, owners of the Cleveland Browns and a 178-acre parcel in suburban Brook Park for their new stadium, said site preparation, called “enabling” work got under way Oct. 1. But a formal groundbreaking isn’t due until early 2026 (HSG).
The project was designed by global architecture firm HKS, which also partnered with Turner and AECOM Hunt on the SoFi stadium project in suburban Los Angeles. Enabling work for the new Huntington Bank Field began on Oct. 1, with a formal groundbreaking scheduled for early 2026.
HSG said this accelerated start underscores the momentum behind the project and the team’s ability to mobilize quickly, keeping Huntington Bank Field on track to open in 2029 along with the first phase of the adjacent mixed-use development. Uses in phase one haven’t been identified yet. Nor has the actual number of on-site parking spaces.
“Partnering with such respected and accomplished construction managers as AECOM Hunt and Turner will help us create a world-class stadium experience and entertainment district for our fans that will benefit the entire Northeast Ohio region,” said Haslam Sports Group President David Jenkins in a written statement.
“Additionally, continuing to work with our established local partners, the DiGeronimo Companies and Independence Excavating, will reinforce our collective priority of spurring economic development and creating thousands of jobs and opportunities throughout our community as we move towards breaking ground on the new enclosed Huntington Bank Field in early 2026,” he added
AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company bring decades of expertise and a commitment to Northeast Ohio. Turner has served the region for over 100 years, including renovation of the Browns’ current stadium. They also noted the builders’ roles with HSG’s soccer stadium for the Crew, Lower.com Field, but is in Columbus.
An updated rendering of an entrance to the proposed new Huntington Bank Field in Brook Park (HKS).
AECOM Hunt’s notable projects in the region include building the Cleveland Guardians’ Progressive Field, as well as the Browns’ current stadium. With more than 55 years of NFL stadium experience, AECOM Hunt and Turner have helped shape the evolution of the modern game-day experience.
Their portfolio includes iconic venues including Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz stadium, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Stadium of the Future, the Intuit Dome, the new homes of the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans, and SoFi stadium, California’s largest indoor-outdoor entertainment space.
Jenkins said the joint venture’s many past successes exemplify the type of transformative design and execution expertise now being brought to Huntington Bank Field, with a proven team ready to deliver an iconic venue for Cleveland and Browns fans.
“The New Huntington Bank Field represents a new era for Northeast Ohio – and for reimagining what a fan experience can be,” said Jason Kopp, chief operation officer, central region, at AECOM Hunt.
“We are honored to be entrusted by Haslam Sports Group to deliver this transformative project to shape the future of sports and entertainment for Browns Nation, elevate Northeast Ohio, and welcome millions of visitors for generations to come,” Kopp said.
Still to be resolved is what stadium-area developments will be included in phase one and thus how many on-site parking spaces will be available to stadium visitors (HKS).
“This project is deeply personal for us, with more than a century of history in Northeast Ohio,” said Jason Jones, senior vice president at Turner Construction Company. As enabling work begins in October and groundbreaking follows early next year, we’re building the momentum to deliver lasting benefits for the community and the region.”
Connections to the local community are a driving force for the project’s success, as well as the construction management team’s commitment to ensuring strategic partnerships to support local firms and provide local opportunities.
This will be a stadium built by people and companies from Northeast Ohio. Cleveland’s DiGeronimo Companies will contribute to the project as a local partner. Independence Excavating will perform enabling and sitework operations to prepare the site for construction, while Independence Construction will join as an active member of the AECOM Hunt, Turner Joint Venture construction management team.
“As a Cleveland-based, family-owned company, we’re proud to contribute to a project that will shape the future of our region,” said Vic DiGeronimo, CEO of DiGeronimo Companies.
“Our longstanding partnership with the Haslam Sports Group and the Cleveland Browns makes this opportunity especially meaningful, and we’re committed to bringing local expertise and trusted relationships to support the team in delivering this transformative new venue,” DiGeronimo said.
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