CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – For almost 80 years the Browns have played football on the lakefront in downtown Cleveland, but right now their future is uncertain.

“We have three major teams in the city of Cleveland so let’s keep it and keep having fun and going to games and we can afford it, we’ll be able to do it,” said fan Christine Davis.

The Haslam’s have been toying with the idea of building a domed stadium in Brook Park when their lease expires in 2028. The city has made the team a public proposal to stay put, a plan to chip in $461 million in a $1 billion renovations package.

So how will the city pay for it? A big chunk will come from a tax on Brown’s tickets. Starting in 2029 Browns fans could expect to pay about $1.50 more per ticket and by 2058 tickets could cost up to $25. So do fans mind footing the bill?

“I don’t think I’d really even notice another $1.50,” said fan Danny Pumper. “You’re already spending much money here as it is so it doesn’t really matter.”

“I like the experience of coming downtown for the games so I would rather keep going to downtown Cleveland than to Brook Park to watch them play,” Laura Smith said.

“Honestly, I mean I’ve always known it to be downtown so for it to move to like Brook Park that’s a bit further away that would be a big change and you know I like the location,” explained Ismail Abdullah. “So personally, I would pay a little bit more for it to stay downtown per ticket, yeah.”

“I wouldn’t mind paying a little extra for tickets anyway I mean tickets are gonna be expensive no matter where you put a stadium so why not come downtown and enjoy it,” said fan Anthony Riccardi.

The Browns would get control of the Muni lot and other parking lots on game days. The city’s proposal also opens the door for the Haslams to negotiate their way into the city’s plans to develop the waterfront.

“Especially all the small businesses around here,” said Pumper. “A lot of people love it down here to come down to the games. It’s kind of hard to go to Brook Park now. Some people won’t want to do that.”

And what about the dome? Do fans think it would be worth it to move for that?

“It’s part of the experience to freeze at games,” Pumper said.

“It is, it’s part of the experience,” Smith agreed. “You have to play in the snow.”

“A dome would be like nice, it would be nice but freezing at games it’s part of Cleveland tradition,” said Abdullah.

“I prefer downtown because of the cold weather and everything, that’s what being a Browns fan is all about everything being in the cold weather but at the same time I’m like you know dome isn’t that bad either because you can keep warm in the winter, and you can get a lot of shows and concerts and events and everything,” said fan Roger Schlott.

“Downtown is kind of nostalgic but if you have a roof at least people are going to be comfortable during the game,” said Bill DeToro. “As it is now you gotta walk a mile to your car you’re soaking wet. Then you gotta get into the stadium you’re even more soaking wet, cold. Let’s make it a little more comfortable, keep old people like me coming to the games.”

“It’s part of the experience because we’re tough in Cleveland but it would be nice to have a dome and be warm but it’s okay, we still go,” said Davis.

The Browns have until August 12 to respond.

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