The Cleveland Browns are looking at facilities in Columbus to move their football operations, including their training camp.
"Representatives have approached us about looking into different options, and currently, we are exploring an opportunity in Columbus, which would include a financial contribution from the team towards a community-based recreational facility," the team said in a statement posted Thursday.
The Browns, who currently train at a facility in Berea, said they are looking at three areas of importance that are focused on training and using the facility to host youth.
Our statement on future training camp site. pic.twitter.com/xbloEBAA6q
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 8, 2016
On Thursday, the Columbus Dispatch reported the Browns and Franklin County officials were working on a long-term deal to build a new recreation center at Tuttle Park near Ohio State University. The center would host a portion of the team's training camp during the summer.
The current proposal would require the Browns to contribute $5 million, Franklin County would contribute $5 million and the city would cover the rest of the cost of the recreation center, estimated to cost a total of $15 million to $17, the newspaper reported, citing Tony Collins, Columbus' director of recreation and parks.
The proposal has not been finalized, but the Browns are expected to move to Columbus in 2018.
