Browns sign 20-year stadium rights deal with Huntington Bank as they prepare for potential new home

CLEVELAND — As preparations are underway for construction of a new, covered stadium, the Cleveland Browns are changing the name of their current stadium.

The NFL team announced a 20-year deal with Huntington National Bank Tuesday, a partnership that includes naming rights. The lakefront stadium in Cleveland will now be called Huntington Bank Field.

The Browns will open the 2024 season at home on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

“We are excited to have reached a long-term partnership with Huntington Bank of Ohio,” said Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam. “Huntington Bank has a long-standing reputation for excellence and continues to grow both regionally and nationally while maintaining its roots here in Ohio.

“Giving back to the community and focusing on education are two of the many attributes that unite our organizations. We look forward to working with Huntington to make a positive impact in Northeast Ohio and beyond.”

The financial terms were not initially known.

Huntington is based in Columbus, Ohio. The Haslams also own the MLS Columbus Crew.

The lakefront stadium, which seats 65,000, was known as Cleveland Browns Stadium after its contract with FirstEnergy Corp. ended in 2023. FirstEnergy’s partnership with the team came under criticism after the utility admitted to paying bribes to Ohio lawmakers.

The new partnership comes as the Haslams consider moving the team from the city center to a covered stadium. The team recently unveiled plans to build a $2.4 billion dome in Brook Park, Ohio. That proposal also includes retail and hotel properties.

The Haslams, who have owned the Browns since 2012, believe a new stadium and entertainment complex could attract big events like the Super Bowl, Final Fours and music acts to the city, spurring development and economic growth.

The lease on the team’s current stadium expires after the 2028 season.

The city opposed the plans, arguing that moving the Browns would be detrimental to the downtown area. The city has offered to pay about half of the $1.1 billion proposal to renovate the stadium, which opened in 1999 when Cleveland returned to the league as an expansion franchise.