Cleveland Browns

After the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday escalated an ongoing legal battle with the City of Cleveland, Mayor Justin Bibb called the team's "scheme" to move out of the city a "betrayal to Ohio taxpayers."

The plan from the Browns' owners includes a $1.2 billion contribution from the public, which private funders would match. Private funding would also cover any overruns.

As the City of Cleveland and the Browns prep for a legal battle over the team's proposed move out of Downtown to the nearby suburb of Brook Park, Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said he believes there is a chance the team may not leave after all.

The city has filed a state law suit against the Browns, invoking the Modell Law. The state law puts up obstacles for teams wishing to leave taxpayer-funded facilities.

The team's attorney indicates the Browns have no intention of backing down from their move from Downtown Cleveland to Brook Park.

Named for the former Browns owner who moved the team to Baltimore in 1996, the Modell law requires Ohio owners whose teams play in taxpayer-funded stadiums to get permission from their home city or give six-month notice with a chance for the city or an investor “in the area” to offer to buy the team.

Cuyahoga County pushes back on the study, which officials say was not shared with them.

While city and county officials continue to bemoan the Browns' move to Brook Park, Mayor Edward Orcutt is arguing the move will actually benefit the region.

The team has struck a deal with Huntington Bank for naming rights of the current venue Downtown – or a new one in Brook Park if it decides to build a stadium there.

The new exclusive agreement allows the university access to the Browns trademarks for advertising purposes. It also sets out new academic programming in partnership between the school and the football team.