‘I don’t like the indoor stadiums and I don’t like that it’s going to be in Brook Park. There’s 0% that I like about what’s happening in Cleveland right now.’
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns’ proposal for a new indoor stadium in Brook Park is drawing strong reactions, including criticism from retired NFL star Jason Kelce and his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
During the latest episode of their “New Heights” podcast, the Kelce brothers, who grew up in Cleveland Heights, voiced their disapproval of relocating the Browns’ home stadium from downtown Cleveland and replacing the open-air venue with a domed facility.
Jason, who recently retired after a 13-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles, was particularly blunt.
“Something really stupid out in Brook Park that they’re trying to get everybody excited about—the stadium no longer being in downtown Cleveland,” he said.
Travis, a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the NFL’s top tight ends, also questioned the decision, emphasizing the atmosphere of a downtown stadium.
“I just feel like sports towns, it feels better when it’s downtown,” he said.
While acknowledging that the stadium renderings looked impressive, Jason made it clear he prefers the current location.
“Yeah, I’m not a fan. I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t like it. I’ll tell you what, though, it doesn’t matter how cool it is, I’m not going to like this. This thing looks sweet. I like the old stadium because it’s downtown. I’d rather play in a dilapidated stadium than this.”
The six-time All-Pro center added that he enjoys it when weather conditions impact football games, referencing a snowy playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia earlier this year.
“All I know is I like when elements play a role in the game. I like when snow is involved. We had an awesome playoff game here at the Linc this year in the snow against the Rams. That wouldn’t have happened with an indoor stadium,” said Jason.
Travis, who is also dating Taylor Swift, expressed a personal connection to the downtown game-day experience.
“There’s just something about taking the Rapids all the way downtown, and I’m sure they’ll have some sort of way that you could take the Rapids out to Brook Park from everywhere in Cleveland, but it’s just such a unique feeling going downtown, feeling the excitement of everyone going down to the busiest part of the city and that atmosphere that it creates in Cleveland.”
Travis also made it clear that his preference is to keep the stadium downtown.
“Just do it in downtown Cleveland. We love it being around the lake.”
As the episode continued, Jason was even more blunt in his opposition to the new plans.
“I don’t like the indoor stadiums and I don’t like that it’s going to be in Brook Park. There’s 0% that I like about what’s happening in Cleveland right now.”
Their full comments can be watched below:
On Monday, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam conceded that it’s possible the stadium could end up staying on the lakefront in downtown Cleveland.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of 3News partner Cleveland.com, Haslam said it will come down to whether Ohio lawmakers approve $600 million in funding for the stadium proposal in the budget at the end of June. If so, the plan is to have shovels in the ground to begin construction in Brook Park in the first quarter of next year.
If not, Haslam told reporters that the Browns would move to “Plan B,” which would be renovating the existing Huntington Bank Field in downtown Cleveland.
On Oct. 17, 2024, the Browns confirmed their plans to move to Brook Park with an adjacent mixed-use development alongside the domed stadium. Team owners argued renovating the current stadium would not solve long-term issues, and that a domed stadium would allow them to host big events year-round and generate more revenue in the region.
3News’ Dave DeNatale contributed to this report.