Ohio lawmaker pitches using Browns stadium funds to cut gas taxes
An Ohio lawmaker has proposed redirecting $600 million earmarked for the Cleveland Browns' new Brook Park stadium to fund a gas tax holiday across the state. The money, pulled from Ohio's Division of Unclaimed Funds, is currently in legal limbo after a judge blocked the grant in December 2025. The proposal forces a choice between supporting a billionaire's stadium project and providing immediate relief to drivers.
The proposed $600 million originates from Ohio’s Division of Unclaimed Funds, a repository for dormant assets like forgotten bank accounts and uncashed checks. A judge blocked the transfer in December 2025 following a lawsuit, leaving the funds in legal limbo even as construction on the Brook Park stadium, slated for a 2029 opening, continues. The stadium site is roughly 13 miles from the team’s current lakefront home.
The proposal arrives amid a gubernatorial race where both major candidates have floated gas tax holidays. Ohio’s gas tax typically funds road repairs and Department of Transportation projects. The plan also touches on the recently amended "Modell Law," which was changed under Governor Mike DeWine to prevent teams from leaving the state rather than just the city of Cleveland, a shift that enabled the current stadium project.
This proposal could force a clear public debate on government priorities, pitting infrastructure funding and consumer relief against subsidizing a private sports franchise. If the measure gains traction, it may influence how voters in Ohio perceive the gubernatorial candidates and their fiscal commitments. The outcome could also set a precedent for other states considering similar reallocations of sports subsidies, potentially affecting future stadium financing deals nationwide. The legal status of the funds remains a key variable in whether this becomes more than political posturing.