The initiative to fund a proposed new Cleveland Browns stadium hit a roadblock when a magistrate rejected the plan to finance the venue.
The Akron Beacon Journal reports Franklin County Magistrate Jennifer De Hunt ruled the state cannot use money from the Ohio Unclaimed Funds account to create the Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund, which would have financed the stadium. The state planned to put $1 billion into the fund for building and renovating sports and other facilities.
A temporary restraining order has been in place against this funding plan since December. The Browns were initially the only team slated to receive money from the fund, but other Ohio teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Guardians, and the Akron RubberDucks announced they wanted a piece of the funding.
The Department of Commerce and Division of Unclaimed Funds can object to De Hunt’s ruling, which would lead to judicial appeals.
