The Cleveland Browns have played in what is currently known as FirstEnergy Stadium since returning to the NFL in 1999.
Hastily built, the stadium is functional, which would be fine if it was the 1980s as the Browns had no trouble drawing crowds to a dilapidated Municipal Stadium as they made the playoffs in five consecutive seasons.
But functional is not sustainable in today’s NFL, where lavish luxury suites and fan amenities are, if not on the same level as fielding a winning team, very close to the top of the “must-have” list for NFL owners.