The state of Ohio could potentially ground the Cleveland Browns and Haslam Sports Group’s proposed stadium project in Brook Park because of conflicts with Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, according to a Cleveland.com report.
State aviation officials from the Ohio Department of Transportation said in a report the stadium’s proposed height would impede air traffic.
Given the state’s legislature approved $600 million in funds for the project in June, this is an unexpected development.
ODOT informed the Browns of their decision in an Aug. 1 letter.
“The proposed structure exceeds this protected surface at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Cleveland, Ohio by 58-ft at the highest point,” ODOT officials wrote in the letter.
The letter informs the team they would need to adjust the height.
“This structure may also be permitted at your proposed height at another location further away from the airport. If you want to change the location of the proposed structure, you will need to file a new 7460-1 Notice of Proposed Construction with the FAA.”
The Browns have been working on the proposed stadium for more than a year and have also been locked in a tug of war with city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County officials.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Will new Cleveland Browns stadium be grounded? ODOT rejection is a potential roadblock
Reporting by George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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