BROOK PARK, Ohio — Brook Park Mayor Edward Orcutt told 3News his city is open for business. However, he's not aware of anyone purchasing the land in Brook Park who has ties to the Browns, a rumor that has spread quickly through Greater Cleveland.
"There's nothing imminent about the Browns coming to the city of Brook Park," Orcutt declared Tuesday.
Meanwhile, residents in Brook Park have provided positive feedback to the mayor.
"I think that it would be wonderful for our neighborhood," Sheila Winter said. "Hopefully the Browns will come here."
Shane Susak, a longtime football fan, questioned the name of the Browns if they were to move to Brook Park.
"What're they gonna call [themselves]? The Cleveland Browns? What, Brook Park Browns," she asked. However, she admits she does want to see the Browns come to Brook Park.
Ken Prendergast of NEOTrans blog reported Browns owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam have purchased 176 acres of land in Brook Park near Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. With the lease on Cleveland Browns Stadium set to expire in 2028, the team has been in negotiations with the city of Cleveland about potentially renovating the old facility, but admitted last week to "studying other potential stadium options in Northeast Ohio at various additional sites."
3News asked Orcutt if he had spoken with anyone from the Browns.
"I don't comment on private conversations that I have with future economic development here in the city of Brook Park," he responded. He also said the city won't get too excited because of the size of the project.
"When you think about a stadium, you'd have to get people into the stadium, get them out of there, so you think traffic and safety," he explained.
Mayor Orcutt stressed that if next steps are taken to bring the Browns to Brook Park, he'd like to hear from more residents.