CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Business owners in and around Cleveland were disappointed to learn the city was on the losing side in the Browns’ stadium tug-of-war. Hotels, stores, bars and restaurants will have to figure out how to make up for the money that will be lost when the team moves from Cleveland to Brook Park and a new domed stadium. and the city: “

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb says the Browns’ owners’ decision comes at a real cost to downtown businesses and the city: “We’ve already commissioned an economic impact study that shows the negative impact The Browns’ departure is estimated at more than $30 million per year. Developing a new facility in Brook Park creates a new, competing entertainment complex that threatens the viability of existing downtown sports and convention venues in which the city, county and state have already invested heavily in public subsidies.” “That’s it .”

Dr. John Burke, a professor of economics at John Carroll University, tells 19 News that the decision is “a disaster for the city of Cleveland.”

That’s because many downtown businesses consider Browns football their bread and butter. “Another company pulling out of Cleveland and going somewhere else,” Dr. Burke.

Laurie Torres is the owner of the restaurant in downtown Mallorca and believes the Browns’ move is not just about the loss of income that businesses will suffer: “It looks bad. It looks like the team that has been supported by the city for several years has somehow given up on the city center.”

Joseph Valenti is the owner of Flower Child Vintage, which benefits when Brown’s games are in town. He feels that if companies are threatened with a loss of sales, their employees will also be affected, and that will be damaging: “When you see people on bikes in the morning, they go to their workplaces and work in the city.” Restaurants, cleaning of hotels. There is a whole underbelly. All of these people will be affected by this decision.”

The city of Cleveland will also feel the loss of tax revenue from Browns employees: “That payroll is now going to go away, and the income taxes on that payroll are going to go away,” said Dr. Burke.

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