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22 September 2025
Front Office Sportsstadium
Sep 22, 2025Front Office Sports
Major League Baseball owners on Monday unanimously approved the $1.7 billion sale of the Rays to a group led by Patrick Zalupski. A much more difficult road lies ahead, though, as the Florida developer and his partners will need to solidify the team’s uncertain future in the Tampa Bay area.
Three months after the Zalupski deal first came to light, he will take over the franchise from Stu Sternberg, who held the team for just shy of 20 years. During those two decades, the Rays went to the playoffs nine times and reached two World Series, typically with payrolls at or near the bottom of the league. The team, however, is now starting from scratch on a new venue after Sternberg earlier this year walked away from a deal to build a $1.3 billion ballpark in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Zalupski’s ownership group will also include Union Home Mortgage CEO Bill Cosgrove, Heartland Dental founder Rick Workman, DEX Imaging CEO Dan Doyle, Augusta National Golf Club chair Fred Ridley, and Ken Babby, founder and CEO of Fast Forward Group, which operates two minor-league teams. Babby is expected to be the team’s CEO.
Sternberg and his partners will initially retain a minority stake of about 10%, but a full divestment is expected later. Closing on the Zalupski deal is expected later this week.
That group is expected to look on both sides of Tampa Bay for a long-term stadium site, though the Hillsborough County side closer to the NFL’s Buccaneers and NHL’s Lightning is likely more preferable. In St. Petersburg, where the Rays have been based since their inception, the club continually struggled as one of the least attended in MLB.
A news conference is expected in the coming days in which the new owners will outline their vision in more detail.
In the meantime, repairs continue on the hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field, and the 2026 MLB schedule contemplates the Rays getting back there after playing this season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the Yankees.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, for his part, has been steadfast in his support for the No. 11 media market, but also confirmed last week at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit that the team will be operating with a “blank slate” on a new stadium. He lauded the incoming owners, though, and the opportunity in front of them.
“The situation in Tampa has a lot of promising developments,” he said. “The sale to a group that has huge, deep roots in Tampa would be a definite positive. … Things are looking up in Tampa and are headed in the right direction.”
The core of the Rays baseball operations staff, including president Erik Neander, is expected to stay in place. The two leaders on the club’s business side, co-presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld, will conversely shift to advisory roles.
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Rays $1.7B Sale Approved, Stadium Plans Now Loom LargeMajor League Baseball owners on Monday unanimously approved the $1.7 billion sale of the Rays to a group led by Patrick Zalupski. A much more difficult road lies ahead, though, as the Florida developer and his partners will need to solidify the team’s uncertain future in the Tampa Bay area.
Three months after the Zalupski deal first came to light, he will take over the franchise from Stu Sternberg, who held the team for just shy of 20 years. During those two decades, the Rays went to the playoffs nine times and reached two World Series, typically with payrolls at or near the bottom of the league. The team, however, is now starting from scratch on a new venue after Sternberg earlier this year walked away from a deal to build a $1.3 billion ballpark in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Zalupski’s ownership group will also include Union Home Mortgage CEO Bill Cosgrove, Heartland Dental founder Rick Workman, DEX Imaging CEO Dan Doyle, Augusta National Golf Club chair Fred Ridley, and Ken Babby, founder and CEO of Fast Forward Group, which operates two minor-league teams. Babby is expected to be the team’s CEO.
Sternberg and his partners will initially retain a minority stake of about 10%, but a full divestment is expected later. Closing on the Zalupski deal is expected later this week.
That group is expected to look on both sides of Tampa Bay for a long-term stadium site, though the Hillsborough County side closer to the NFL’s Buccaneers and NHL’s Lightning is likely more preferable. In St. Petersburg, where the Rays have been based since their inception, the club continually struggled as one of the least attended in MLB.
A news conference is expected in the coming days in which the new owners will outline their vision in more detail.
In the meantime, repairs continue on the hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field, and the 2026 MLB schedule contemplates the Rays getting back there after playing this season at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, the spring training home of the Yankees.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, for his part, has been steadfast in his support for the No. 11 media market, but also confirmed last week at the Front Office Sports Tuned In summit that the team will be operating with a “blank slate” on a new stadium. He lauded the incoming owners, though, and the opportunity in front of them.
“The situation in Tampa has a lot of promising developments,” he said. “The sale to a group that has huge, deep roots in Tampa would be a definite positive. … Things are looking up in Tampa and are headed in the right direction.”
The core of the Rays baseball operations staff, including president Erik Neander, is expected to stay in place. The two leaders on the club’s business side, co-presidents Matt Silverman and Brian Auld, will conversely shift to advisory roles.
Front Office Sports
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22 September 20253 min readRays $1.7B Sale Approved, Stadium Plans Now Loom Large
Front Office Sports
22 September 2025
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Daily Digs: Unc Breaks Ground On Stadium Expansion, Hilliard'S $110M Athletic Complex, And More!RMF Engineering, alongside University of North Carolina Charlotte, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, and SLAM, celebrated the groundbreaking of phase one of the Jerry Richardson Stadium Expansion. The expansion project, set to add 20,000 square feet, will increase the stadium’s capacity by approximately 20% to around 20,000 seats.
The $70 million expansion includes a new tower above the existing press box that will feature a training room for athletes, a new press box for broadcasters, as well as new premium seating, including seven luxury suites, loge boxes, ledge seating, an indoor private club, and a terrace. On game days, the space will offer fans state-of-the-art amenities, while on non-game days, fan areas will convert into team meeting and dining space to ensure students have resources needed for recovery and optimal performance. The new tower provides student athletes with year-round dining access and allows Charlotte Athletics to host additional community events.
RMF Engineering is leading MEP engineering for the stadium expansion. Barton Malow is the construction manager. McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture was the lead designer in collaboration with SLAM.
The additional seating is projected to generate nearly $2 million annually, more than doubling UNC Charlotte’s ticket revenue. Completion is expected in spring 2027.
After years of planning and construction, Hilliard is planning to open its new community recreation center to the public for normal operating hours Sept. 19.
The Well is a $110 million undertaking mostly funded by the city raising income taxes from 2% to 2.5% in November 2021, said Anastasia Maynard, the facility manager at a media preview event Sept. 15. The total price tag also includes the Hilliard Athletic Complex, which includes more than 20 sports fields.
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The Waukesha Common Council is set to review the city’s proposed 2026–2030 Community Investment Program (CIP) tonight, which outlines key infrastructure and facility projects planned over the next five years.
A huge project includes a new building at the Mindiola Sports Complex that would provide permanent restrooms, concessions and indoor rental space — a big step up from the portable toilets currently on site.
“The CIP is a long-term plan that outlines major capital needs for the city such as infrastructure, facilities, equipment, and vehicles. Along with street reconstructions and vehicle replacements, one key project being considered is a new building at the Mindiola Sports Complex to provide restrooms, concessions, and a rentable indoor space. Currently, the complex only has portable restrooms,” the city posted on Facebook.
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18 September 20253 min readDaily Digs: Unc Breaks Ground On Stadium Expansion, Hilliard'S $110M Athletic Complex, And More!
Athletic Business
18 September 2025
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$3.8 Billion Commanders Stadium Deal Approved Despite Late DramaThe Commanders are officially returning to the District of Columbia after local legislators made a second and final vote to approve public funding for a $3.8 billion venue at the grounds of RFK Stadium. The initial glide path to secure the deal, however, hit significant turbulence on Wednesday.
Following an initial approval on Aug. 1 and the run-up to the second vote required in D.C. rules, the council again certified the stadium plan Wednesday evening by an 11–2 margin. The vote now paves the way for the construction of a domed venue and mixed-use development at the site of the team’s former home, with the new stadium targeted for a 2030 opening. Public money will represent about $1.1 billion in the project in a bid to reinvigorate a long-neglected area.
“An NFL stadium by itself is not a good investment. … But we’re talking about a bigger vision for the city and where we’re going to be in 50 years,” said council member Charles Allen. He was an initial skeptic on the deal who cheered the subsequent improvements to the framework to build “the most transit-friendly stadium in the NFL.”
That vote, however, only happened after frenetic last-minute negotiations early Wednesday between council leaders and the Commanders. Several council members sought to have a series of amendments passed that would have more substantively changed the deal agreed to last month.
In particular, the Commanders could have been on the hook for significant financial penalties for missing development milestones, in some cases reaching $10 million per year, with few, if any, carveouts for outside circumstances. Another potential amendment that failed would have seen land under team control clawed back by D.C. if undeveloped by 2050.
The team wrote a letter to the council on Wednesday morning that it was “presented with a list of unworkable and impractical new last-minute demands … which we simply cannot agree to as it jeopardizes the deal.”
The discord was largely resolved during a lengthy, closed-door meeting that delayed the start of the council hearing by two hours, and the financial penalty element in particular was later formally rejected by the council. The amendments approved late Wednesday were more technical in nature, relating to matters such as covenants around environmental standards and the routing of some stadium fees to community reinvestment.
“Today is a historic day for D.C., the Commanders organization, and our fans,” team owner Josh Harris said in a statement. “With the council’s approval, we can now move forward on the transformative RFK project that will bring lasting economic growth for our city.”
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a big advocate of the stadium deal, also cheered the eventual passage.
“This is the final step in securing our future at the new RFK Stadium,” Bowser said. “Our businesses, our people, our project. Now, let’s get to work.”
The Commanders are now firmly part of a fast-growing stadium development wave across the NFL. In addition to projects for the Bills and Titans that are well into active construction, teams such as the Bears, Broncos, and Browns are all actively pursuing new venues, and others, such as the Eagles, are considering ones as well.
Front Office Sports
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17 September 20253 min read$3.8 Billion Commanders Stadium Deal Approved Despite Late Drama
Front Office Sports
17 September 2025
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Commanders’ $3.8B D.C. Stadium Nears Key Council VoteThe Commanders’ planned return to the District of Columbia is up for another vote Wednesday, and this time, the proposed $3.8 billion project is expected to face far less drama.
The Council of the District of Columbia initially approved about $1.1 billion in public funding on Aug. 1 for a domed facility and mixed-use development on the grounds of RFK Stadium, the NFL team’s former home. Now, that measure is back for a second and final vote as a result of local rules requiring the multistage process to approve legislation.
D.C. council chair Phil Mendelson reiterated Tuesday that he believes he still has the necessary votes to complete the Commanders’ stadium funding. The first reading of the bill passed by a 9–3 vote, but only after considerable debate and significant modifications to the original proposal, and a similar sentiment is expected this time. In this second reading of the bill, a straight majority of “yes” votes among the 13-member council, amounting to seven votes, is required for passage.
Expected changes to the bill include establishing further clarity around specific milestone dates within the broader redevelopment of the RFK Stadium campus.
“We can focus on the negative, that the Commanders are supposedly ne’er-do-wells, or we can focus on the positive, the reality, which is that this is a very attractive development opportunity,” Mendelson said.
In addition to the forthcoming amendments, the second vote will include the return of Ward 8 council member Trayon White, who was previously expelled from the council following an indictment on bribery charges. White then won a special election to reclaim his seat and was sworn back into the legislative body.
The Commanders are set to contribute at least $2.7 billion toward the stadium and are responsible for all cost overruns. The team and District leaders are aiming for a 2030 opening for the new venue.
The team is also part of a fast-growing stadium development wave across the NFL. In addition to projects for the Bills and Titans that are well into active construction, teams such as the Bears, Broncos, and Browns are all actively pursuing new venues, and others, such as the Eagles, are considering ones as well.
Front Office Sports
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16 September 20252 min readCommanders’ $3.8B D.C. Stadium Nears Key Council Vote
Front Office Sports
16 September 2025
stadium
Construction Begins On $130 Million Utas Stadium RedevelopmentWork is officially underway on the main construction phase of the $130 million redevelopment of UTAS Stadium in Launceston, marking a major milestone in Tasmania’s journey towards entering the AFL.
Jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, who are each contributing $65 million, the project aims to transform the historic York Park venue into a modern, elite-level stadium while continuing to serve the local community.
Tasmanian firm Fairbrother has been awarded the contract to deliver the extensive works, which will include the construction of a new Centre West Stand, a revamped Eastern Stand, and significant upgrades to amenities for players and fans.
Stadiums Tasmania CEO James Avery said the commencement of this stage signals the most significant progress yet in the redevelopment timeline, ensuring the project remains on track and within budget. He emphasised the importance of creating a venue that meets the needs of both professional sport and community use.
During the 2026 AFL season, the stadium’s capacity will temporarily drop to around 9,000 while work progresses. Once new seating areas are completed in 2027, that number is expected to increase to approximately 17,000.
Demolition of the existing Centre West Stand begins the week commencing 15th September 2025.
Despite the ongoing construction, the venue will continue hosting major events including Hawthorn’s AFL games, AFLW fixtures, and Tasmania Football Club VFL matches.
Fairbrother Chairman Craig Edmunds said his company was proud to play a leading role in such a landmark Tasmanian project. He highlighted the economic benefits for the region, saying the redevelopment would support local jobs and showcase Northern Tasmania’s construction capabilities.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our people, subcontractors, and suppliers to be part of something that is both professionally rewarding and significant for the state,” Edmunds said.
The project is scheduled for completion in October 2027, positioning UTAS Stadium as a key piece of infrastructure for the future of elite sport in Tasmania.
The Main Works package includes:
Austadiums
stadium
15 September 20252 min readConstruction Begins On $130 Million Utas Stadium Redevelopment
Austadiums
15 September 2025
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University Of Kansas Unveils $400M Stadium RedevelopmentThe University of Kansas has officially unveiled the extensively redeveloped David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, following a $400 million renovation project delivered by Turner Construction.
Serving as the centrepiece of the university’s wider Gateway District development in Lawrence, the stadium has been transformed through a combination of partial demolition and structural rebuilding. The revitalised venue now features upgraded press boxes, new club and premium suites, modern concessions, retail areas, and a purpose-built fan experience zone.
A striking new entrance at 11th and Mississippi Street now provides a gateway to the campus and the wider community.
Kansas Director of Athletics Travis Goff praised the contractor’s commitment in meeting the project’s challenging schedule. “We are so grateful to Turner Construction for their incredible efforts on the transformed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium,” Goff said.
“It was inspiring to watch the countless Turner employees work tirelessly regardless if it was snowing or a blistering 100-degree heat. They completed the job on time, on budget and in a first-class fashion.”
Designed as more than just a football venue, the stadium will operate year-round as a hub for conferences, entertainment, dining and retail. This includes a new 55,000-square-foot conference centre — an amenity the university highlights as long overdue in the region.
The redevelopment also extended to the Anderson Family Football Complex, with Turner carrying out renovations and expansions to the team’s offices and training facilities, originally built by the contractor in 2008.
This latest project further strengthens Turner’s long-standing partnership with the University of Kansas, which spans more than two dozen initiatives.
Jason Brown, Project Executive at Turner, reflected on the magnitude of the construction effort. “Together, they worked around the clock, safely logging more than 1.6 million work hours,” he said.
“Their tireless commitment and craftsmanship have helped create a destination that will serve KU fans, students, and the community for generations to come.”
Stadia Magazine
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04 September 20252 min readUniversity Of Kansas Unveils $400M Stadium Redevelopment
Stadia Magazine
04 September 2025
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Daily Digs: Unc Charlotte'S $70M Stadium Expansion, Wisconsin'S $285M Indoor Practice Facility, And More!Charlotte Athletics broke ground on the Jerry Richardson Stadium Expansion on Wednesday, Aug. 27, marking the start of a highly anticipated transformation to the stadium.Director of Athletics Mike Hill, University Chancellor Dr. Sharon L. Gaber, and Congressman and UNC Charlotte alumnus Richard Hudson spoke to the gathered dignitaries and Niner Nation before the trio was joined by former State Representative Jason Saine, and two members of the University's Board of Trustees, Dr. Sasha Weintraub, and Larry Shaheen for the ceremonial groundbreaking, which fittingly took place with pickaxes instead of shovels."What an incredible day for Charlotte Athletics, for our University, and our community," Hill said. "The response to our expansion plan has been nothing short of tremendous. Today, those plans begin to take shape. Over the next two seasons, with as little interruption to the game-day experience as possible, our team will be hard at work delivering something truly special."
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Wisconsin Athletics announced the naming of its indoor practice facility – the Kellner Family Athletic Center, in honor of Ted ('69) and Mary ('68) Kellner and their family on Thursday. The new facility, currently under construction, represents the largest capital project in Wisconsin Athletics' history at a cost to build of $285M. "The University of Wisconsin-Madison has been such a major part of my family's life, teaching us lessons and allowing us to be part of something bigger than just sports," said Ted Kellner. "To now be able to make a life-changing impact on current and future student-athletes, who will be tomorrow's leaders in society – we couldn't be more proud to support and humbled by the honor."All 23 varsity sports will utilize the Kellner Family Athletic Center, which will include a 120 yard indoor turf field, strength and conditioning center, 305 meter training track, student-athlete dining hall, sports medicine center, locker rooms, coaching offices and student-athlete well-being spaces. The facility will be adjacent to the Stephen M. Bennett Student-Athlete Performance Center, where student-athletes receive academic advising, tutoring, career support, mental health services and post-graduate preparation
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The Savannah Chatham County Public School System hosted a ribbon cutting earlier Thursday for a new athletic facility and police annex.
The school district says this is part of their commitment to creating a safe supportive space where students can thrive.
The new police annex includes administrative offices conference and training space as well as command operations support.
Deputy Police Chief Rodriguez told WTOC that being right across the street from groves high school is a good feeling incase there ever was an emergency at the school.
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29 August 20253 min readDaily Digs: Unc Charlotte'S $70M Stadium Expansion, Wisconsin'S $285M Indoor Practice Facility, And More!
Athletic Business
29 August 2025
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Daily Digs: Penn State Opens Indoor Sports Complex, Houston'S $130M Football Operations Center, And More!With the return of all 800-plus varsity student-athletes for the fall semester, Penn State Athletics officially opened the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex Monday. The facility, designed by DLR Group, provides varsity student-athletes across all 31 varsity sports with a centralized location for performance dining, wellness and recovery and academics. In addition to the Morgan Academic Center, the Greenberg Indoor Sports Complex is now home to the newly completed Performance Dining Center and Wellness and Recovery Center.
Greenberg’s Performance Dining Center, located on the upper level, features a state-of-the-art dining center with a full-service commercial kitchen producing meals tailored to the fueling needed for varsity athletes to perform at the highest level. The dining spaces include quiet study areas, small team meeting rooms, a large communal gathering area and a sports lounge.
The lower level of the Greenberg Indoor Sport Complex houses a comprehensive athletics medicine and recovery suite. The space features prehabilitation, rehabilitation and recovery areas. Among the equipment available for student-athletes to utilize are a hydrotherapy pool, red light beds, dry float beds, hyberbaric chamber, massage chairs and therapy, saunas and zero gravity chair.
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The University of Houston kicks off the 2025 football season with the unveiling of its new Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center. DLR Group and architectural partner Page designed the 158,000-square-foot transformation. The $130 million project is multifaceted, comprising of an all-encompassing football development facility, new in-stadium premium hospitality offerings, a rooftop terrace, and a new videoboard. The three-story facility strategically frames the west end of TDECU Stadium, which creates an elite in-stadium gameday experience for all.
UH gave Eyewitness Sports a detailed look at the beautiful new Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center.
T.J. Meagher, Senior Athletics Director for Facilities, oversaw the construction of the $130 million facility, designed by DLR Group, which was finished ahead of schedule and on budget with two things in mind: the student athlete and efficiency.
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Pickleball continues to dominate the sports’ world. Following the opening of two hit Houston pickleball destinations, Drop Shots HTX and Solarium, a new pickleball facility has made its debut. As the city’s first dedicated indoor pickleball venue, Pickle Mania at Lyric Market offers seven climate-controlled courts, tournaments, professional-led clinics, and more.
Founded by Houston husband-and-wife team, TK and LaTonia Kent, Pickle Mania is the city’s newest pickleball destination. Located inside Downtown’s Lyric Market, the venue provides access to the market’s full bar and restaurant offerings.
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26 August 20253 min readDaily Digs: Penn State Opens Indoor Sports Complex, Houston'S $130M Football Operations Center, And More!
Athletic Business
26 August 2025
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$2B A’S Vegas Stadium Hits Milestones, On Track For 2028The A’s are not just moving dirt around in Las Vegas, as some have suggested, and they say there will be visible progress on their planned ballpark in the coming weeks.
Two months after a high-profile stadium groundbreaking along the famed Las Vegas Strip, club officials told the Las Vegas Stadium Authority that several key development milestones are planned for between now and November, including the beginning of vertical construction. Already, foundation pilings have been installed as part of extensive preparatory work. Hundreds of construction workers are now active on the site each day, the club said.
“I would hope that we start seeing [vertical work] by the end of September, or early October,” A’s president Marc Badain told the authority. “Some of that prep work has already been done, but there’s obviously so many things you can do until the permitting is in place. But as soon as we get that, we’ll see the concrete get poured, and some of the decks will get poured. There’s rebar in place, so you’ll get to see the foundation of the building start to take shape.”
The stadium remains targeted to open in early 2028. In the meantime, the A’s are playing in Sacramento, where there have been numerous operational challenges, and the club has sunk to last place in the American League West division despite heightened spending on players relative to prior years. Oakland ranks 26th in MLB with a luxury-tax payroll of $111.6 million.
The forthcoming stadium, meanwhile, is certain to approach $2 billion in final cost, if not surpass it, something generally anticipated after the A’s unveiled the rather unconventional “spherical armadillo” design last year. Prior cost projections had started at $1.5 billion, and then moved to $1.75 billion.
The A’s and owner John Fisher are responsible for all costs beyond the $380 million in previously approved public support. There has been a lengthy consideration of selling stakes in the club, but regardless of the final outcome there, Badain said the costs will be covered.
The team has already signed Aramark Sports + Entertainment as a club investor, and that company will also be the ballpark’s concessionaire.
“What John committed to was that there would be a public contribution, and he would make sure that the rest was available,” said stadium authority chair Steve Hill. “Nothing has changed along those lines.”
Front Office Sports
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22 August 20252 min read$2B A’S Vegas Stadium Hits Milestones, On Track For 2028
Front Office Sports
22 August 2025
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Browns $2.4B Stadium Plan Runs Into Airspace TurbulenceLong before ground is broken on the Browns’ planned $2.4 billion domed stadium in suburban Brook Park, Ohio, the club has faced a series of legal and financial obstacles to the project. Now, yet another hurdle is coming through the air, so to speak.
The NFL team has received formal notice from the Ohio Department of Transportation that it is not issuing a permit for the planned Brook Park stadium because it would interfere with air traffic at nearby Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The Browns, owned by Haslam Sports Group, plan to recess the stadium about 80 feet into the ground, but still top out at 221 feet above ground. That plan, however, is 58 feet higher than the maximum allowable height for that location, according to ODOT’s aviation office.
“Please contact our office to request a permit at these reduced heights,” ODOT wrote in a letter to HSG representatives. “This structure may also be permitted at your proposed height at another location further away from the airport.”
The Browns and HSG say they are “confused” by ODOT’s notice, and the basis for it, particularly given that they already received Federal Aviation Administration clearance for the project—provided there are red lights on the roof to help guide passing pilots. The FAA, however, has no jurisdiction over local zoning.
The team has a series of options in addition to altering the stadium plan, including requesting a formal appeal of the ruling.
“We’ve already begun working collaboratively with ODOT to explain the stadium’s heights and the detailed work we’ve done more fully, which shows no safety or efficiency issues to the airport,” said HSG spokesman Peter John-Baptiste in a statement. “We look forward to resolving this matter expeditiously and continuing our work to bring this transformative project to Northeast Ohio.”
Late last month, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said there is “a 99.9% chance” of the Brook Park stadium happening while also acknowledging inherent difficulties around the effort.
“This is a complicated project,” Haslam said. “There’s stuff going on. It’s three and a half years until the stadium opens, and we will have to work hard every day to get everything to come together.”
Other issues surrounding the stadium include a lawsuit challenging the use of unclaimed state funds to support public construction bonds. The city of Cleveland is also fighting the team’s planned departure from the downtown Huntington Bank Field, and some local media are suggesting that Cleveland mayor Justin Bibb is behind the new, aviation-related issue.
“Who runs the airport? The city of Cleveland, Mayor Justin Bibb,” said Cleveland.com editor Chris Quinn. “I think Mayor Justin Bibb has come up with the winning strategy to block this thing because he’s dead set against it.”
Bibb has not acknowledged that, but Cuyahoga County executive Chris Ronayne, another opponent of the Brook Park stadium, also was critical of the potential impact on the airport.
“We cannot emphasize enough that downtown Cleveland is the best location for the stadium, both for the team and the residents of Cuyahoga County,” he said.
The Browns, meanwhile, said Monday that veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, 40, will be the team’s Week 1 starter, ending what had been building intrigue around the decision.
The team has a particularly crowded quarterback room that includes fifth-round draft pick Shedeur Sanders.
Front Office Sports
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18 August 20253 min readBrowns $2.4B Stadium Plan Runs Into Airspace Turbulence
Front Office Sports
18 August 2025
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Daily Digs: City'S Plans For $2.5B Sports And Entertainment District, Northwestern'S Temporary Stadium Gets Upgrades, And More!The City of Mansfield released new information on a sweeping $2.5 billion development project for entertainment, sports, and family recreation.
Plans for the Staybolt Street Entertainment District were first announced in 2024, but the city recently revealed the complex will feature a professional multi-sport stadium, hotels, a conference center, a family-friendly amusement complex, retail, dining and housing.
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The second season of Northwestern football on the lakefront is almost here, and improvements to the most unique setting in college football are coming this fall.The Wildcats will play five home games on Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, beginning with the home opener against Western Illinois on Friday, Sept. 5. With upgraded fan amenities, new seating options, and a picturesque lakeside setting, the 2025 football season promises to deliver a one-of-a-kind and memorable experience for all attendees.Premium seating options will be enhanced in 2025, starting with the South Endzone Loge Tables now including all-inclusive food and beverages. New this year, East Prime seating under the video board will be available for all five games, complementing the existing West Prime Sideline seating on the west side. Prime East tickets will also include all-inclusive food and beverages.
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Chandler’s much-anticipated pickleball facility will open at Tumbleweed Park on Sept. 6, exactly one year from the groundbreaking.
Located on the southeast corner of Germann Road and Pioneer Parkway, the new facility offers 18 outdoor pickleball courts with LED lighting, restrooms, practice areas, drinking fountains and a parking lot.
“We appreciate the community’s support and guidance through the design and construction of this new facility,” said John Sefton, community services director. “As pickleball’s popularity has continued to grow, it was clear that Chandler had an opportunity to expand its footprint to accommodate the demand. We’re proud to complete this unique amenity, offering an affordable, accessible and welcoming environment to players of all ages.”
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07 August 20252 min readDaily Digs: City'S Plans For $2.5B Sports And Entertainment District, Northwestern'S Temporary Stadium Gets Upgrades, And More!
Athletic Business
07 August 2025
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Browns Push Forward On $2.4B Stadium Despite Political ObstaclesThe Browns’ relationship status with Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is certainly complicated, adding to the drama surrounding the NFL team.
Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam said they are fully moving ahead with their planned $2.4 billion domed stadium and mixed-use development in suburban Brook Park, Ohio, despite a series of funding and legal obstacles. How the county will be involved in the effort, if at all, remains quite uncertain.
On one hand, the Haslams said they are prepared to move forward without any financial involvement from the county, despite prior aims of garnering $300 million toward the project from that jurisdiction. Along similar lines, county executive Chris Ronayne said he has no intention of contributing to a project he has frequently called “a boondoggle.”
On the other hand, though, the team still wants to build a relationship with county leaders.
“Now is the time to work together,” Jimmy Haslam said. “Maybe it doesn’t work out with the county, but now’s the time to sit down and see if we can’t work together. This is an important project. I don’t think many other entities are spending $2 billion–plus in this community.”
As the county situation plays out, the Browns’ stadium project is also battling complications on multiple other fronts. There is an active lawsuit related to the team’s plan to draw $600 million from an account of unclaimed state funds. Separately, the city of Cleveland is challenging various components of the team’s current lease for the downtown Huntington Bank Field, even after a separate challenge related to Ohio’s Modell Law was mooted.
The state money is half of what the team had targeted to gain from public sources, with the Haslams originally set to contribute $1.2 billion. There are hopes of gaining $300 million in municipal-level support from Brook Park, leaving a final $300 million unaccounted for.
Amid all of that, Jimmy Haslam said there is “a 99.9% chance” of the Brook Park stadium happening, but he also acknowledged the inherent difficulties. A formal groundbreaking is targeted for early next year in advance of a projected stadium opening in 2029.
“This is a complicated project,” he said. “There’s stuff going on. It’s three and a half years until the stadium opens, and we will have to work hard every day to get everything to come together.
“We’re going to have the groundbreaking regardless,” Jimmy Haslam said. “Let me say this and try to be very respectful of everybody. … We can do the project without the county. I think it’s best if the county and [Haslam Sports Group] work together, O.K.? And I won’t say anything more than that.”
The Browns’ stadium situation is developing as similar ones are unfolding for current and potential NFL facilities in markets such as Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
Front Office Sports
stadium
30 July 20253 min readBrowns Push Forward On $2.4B Stadium Despite Political Obstacles
Front Office Sports
30 July 2025
stadium