CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland City Council approved aplan to pay $30 million for upgrades to
FirstEnergy Stadium, home of theBrowns.Following a four-hour debate, the council passed theordinance.
The city will pay $2 million over the next 15 years — moneyobligated to the NFL team per a lease
agreement — to help fund a $120million renovation of the 15-year-old facility, which is owned by
thecity.Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner unveiled theirplans for the stadium makeover
earlier this month and their proposal wastentatively agreed to by the City Council last week, pending a
finalvote."I’d like to thank Cleveland City Council for voting toapprove the city’s contributions
to the renovations of one of the city’smost valuable assets— FirstEnergy Stadium," Mayor Frank
Jackson said."I’dalso like to thank Jimmy Haslam and the Cleveland Browns for thesignificant
investment they will make in our stadium. This type ofprivate investment in our City is essential to our
continued success."TheBrowns are financing the entire project by using a $62 million loanfrom the
league and money from the city. The stadium improvements willinclude two giant scoreboards, escalators
to better pedestrian trafficand a new state-of-the-art sound system.Several council members argued the
city should be using money for other needs.The Browns intend to begin the first phase of the project
shortly after the final home game."Werespect the process we went through with City Council and
Mayor Jacksonand appreciate their support for this project," Haslam said in astatement released by
the team."We look forward to moving aheadwith the renovation of FirstEnergy Stadium. We know it
will positivelyimpact our fans’ experience and our community will be proud to showcasethe transformed
home of the Browns for the rest of the country."___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.orgCopyright 2013
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