Report about Browns spending seasons in Columbus refuted

A local news outlet has offered a strong response to a report that suggested the Cleveland Browns could spend multiple NFL seasons in Columbus later this decade. 

WKYC staff has noted that "it is believed that the Browns owners would never consider taking the team out of Cleveland and making fans travel for home games." 

3News was responding to a Monday report shared by Ken Prendergast of NEOtrans Blog that said Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam could soon participate in "one or more big announcements" regarding "a major rebuilding" of Cleveland Browns Stadium. That project supposedly could begin ahead of the 2026 NFL season, last for up to two to three campaigns and leave the Browns needing a temporary home for regular-season contests. 

"3News has determined that there is no merit to that report of the Browns playing any home games outside of Cleveland," WKYC added. "We have checked out all sources, including in Columbus, with Ohio State University, and with the Browns. It is believed that the Browns under the Haslam Ownership Group would never consider taking the football team out of Cleveland and forcing the fan base to travel to watch them play home games for any amount of time, let alone for multiple years." 

Specifically, Prendergast mentioned Lower.com Field, home of Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew, and Ohio State's Ohio Stadium as potential locations for future Browns home games. The Haslams are the majority owners of the Crew. 

Multiple Cleveland sports media personalities such as Aaron Goldhammer of ESPN Cleveland and Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan were quick to scoff at the idea of the Browns having to call Columbus their home base for up to three seasons. Ruiter compared the upcoming Browns' project to how the Cleveland Guardians came to terms with the city in the summer of 2021 on a new lease agreement that includes needed renovations for Progressive Field.