By

BROOK PARK, Ohio -- Massive haul trucks and excavators look like children’s toys against the barren 178-acre backdrop at the site that the Cleveland Browns have selected for their future home. Crews from Independence Excavating were at work Friday busting up concrete remaining from the former Ford Motor Co. plants which operated for decades on the property.

The Browns purchased the property earlier this year for $76 million, setting the stage for one of the largest sports construction projects in Ohio history.

Bulldozers first began moving dirt at the beginning of October and construction is expected to start in 2026. AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction will serve as construction managers of the new Huntington Bank Field.

The planned stadium will be a $2.4 billion indoor venue designed by HKS, the same firm behind SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Renderings show a translucent roof that allows natural light and seating for 67,500 fans, expandable to 75,000 for concerts and major events. The Browns envision the stadium as the centerpiece of a larger entertainment district that will serve Northeast Ohio year-round.

The team’s goal is to open the stadium in time for the 2029 NFL season, though a recent $100 million agreement with Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb provides flexibility. Under that deal, the Browns can extend their lease at the current lakefront stadium for up to two additional years, through the 2030 season, if construction delays occur.

Generations of factory workers could scarcely have dreamed that Cleveland football would one day call this place home.

As the last remnants of the Ford factories are crushed into gravel and the Browns play their final seasons on Cleveland’s lakefront, this massive field in Brook Park is slowly being prepared to change the future of both cities forever.

John Pana

John Pana is a video producer with cleveland.com. He enjoys filming bike trips and other outdoor activities. His articles on Ohio trails have appeared on the front page of The Plain Dealer. With nearly 500... more

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.