The Cleveland Browns have broken ground on their new stadium, expected to open for the 2029 football season. It is expected to be a state-of-the-art dome, surrounded by new developments of hotels and restaurants.
However, as construction continues, some new information about the project came out today that may have their players and the NFL Players Association at their opposition. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk broke the news that the new stadium in Brook Park, just outside of downtown Cleveland, is expected to field a turf surface, and not natural grass.
This has been a massive topic of discussion around the NFL this summer, as stadiums were changing their turf surfaces to natural grass for the FIFA World Cup, then expected to transition them
back to turf for the start of the season. Players have been adamant about their disdain for playing on turf as opposed to natural grass, and even the Arizona Cardinals have a natural grass surface inside their indoor facility.
That has not seemed to make a difference for Jimmy Haslam and the Browns.
While it would be harder to grow healthy natural grass in Northeast Ohio, as opposed to the warmer climate domes, it appears the Browns are not willing to put in the effort. The injury rates on turf surfaces as opposed to natural grass have been proven to be starkly larger as well.
The Browns still have three years to change their minds, but this news certainly kills some of the excitement surrounding the new facility.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns kill the buzz of new stadium with most news update released
