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Agencies flag Browns’ stadium plans; Browns say analysis contains misinformation

CLEVELAND — Two state agencies are raising questions about whether a $600 million investment in a new Cleveland Browns stadium will be a good deal for Ohio and its taxpayers. In a memo released Monday, the nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission warns that the team’s predictions about traffic and events at a new, domed stadium in […]

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CLEVELAND — Two state agencies are raising questions about whether a $600 million investment in a new Cleveland Browns stadium will be a good deal for Ohio and its taxpayers.

In a memo released Monday, the nonpartisan Legislative Service Commission warns that the team’s predictions about traffic and events at a new, domed stadium in Brook Park might be “overly optimistic.”

In a separate letter, obtained by News 5, the state’s budget director says her office does not support a plan to issue $600 million in bonds for construction.

The documents show that state policy analysts have big concerns about the public’s proposed role in the $2.4 billion stadium project. They’re skeptical about the Browns’ math on everything from construction jobs to spending at the 176-acre planned stadium district, where renderings also show apartments, hotels, offices, restaurants, retail and parking.

Team owner Haslam Sports Group “inappropriately overstates projections of future taxes generated by the project, over-inflating positive impacts,” wrote Kimberly Murnieks, the state’s budget director, in a letter addressed to other public officials last month.

The Browns pushed back late Monday, with a point-by-point response to the budget office’s report. In an emailed statement, the team also challenged the Legislative Service Commission’s analysis, saying it contained inaccuracies and misinformation.

A Browns spokesman said the team has already addressed many of the agencies’ concerns in direct conversations with Gov. Mike DeWine and other officials.

“We question many of the memos’ assertions and have worked with our team of national experts to prepare relevant information and responses,” Peter John-Baptiste, the team’s chief communications officer, wrote in an email.

“We understand and welcome Governor DeWine’s commitment to creating a responsible funding mechanism for sports facilities across Ohio, as he has consistently communicated the positive impact Ohio’s teams and their venues have on the state,” he added. “We look forward to more ongoing, collaborative dialogue with the governor and other state officials to create the best solution to bring our transformative project to the state and Northeast Ohio.”

The General Assembly is considering a proposal to borrow $600 million for the Brook Park stadium. The state would repay that debt, with interest, using tax revenues from the entire mixed-use stadium district.

The total cost to the state could approach $1 billion over 25 years.

Browns reveal more details about Brook Park plans in a pitch to state lawmakers

RELATED: Browns reveal more details about Brook Park plans in a pitch to state lawmakers

The Browns say Ohio will more than recoup its investment in the project. But state policy analysts – and financing experts interviewed by News 5 – say it’s impossible to properly vet those claims.

They want to see the assumptions and math behind the team’s headline numbers.

Finance experts, lawmakers ask Browns to explain their math

RELATED:‘No more pretty pictures’: Finance experts, lawmakers ask Browns to explain their math

“The academic literature on publicly funded sports stadiums is vast, covering many decades, sports, states and municipalities,” staffers at the Legislative Service Commission wrote in their memo. “The overwhelming conclusion from this body of research is that there are little to no tangible impacts of sports teams and facilities on local economic activity. A second conclusion is that the level of government subsidies given for the construction of facilities far exceeds any observed economic benefits when they do exist.”

The state budget director, meanwhile, wrote that Haslam Sports Group’s forecast for construction hiring seems “wildly overblown.”

She added that the state is facing many large capital projects – public buildings and infrastructure – and “does not have the capacity to accommodate these priorities plus $600 million in bonds for a single sports facility.”

‘An incredibly huge decision’ 

The Ohio House included the bond package in its version of the biennial budget bill in early April.

At the time, Rep. Brian Stewart, an Ashville Republican who leads the House finance committee, called it “the most conservative stadium funding proposal in America.”

He said the state has a long history of issuing bonds for major projects, as part of its capital budget bill. Stewart added that the Browns’ plan is “backed up by detailed financial metrics under which the new tax revenue generated by this project will pay the cost of the bonds, with no out-of-pocket expense for our taxpayers.”

On Monday, Stewart said he was not available to talk about the concerns raised by state policy analysts.

One of the memos shows that the state budget office voiced its objections to the stadium financing plan two weeks before the House voted on the budget.

Now the debate over the budget – and stadium funding more broadly – has moved to the Senate, which expects to vote on its version of the mammoth spending bill by mid-June.

After that, the chambers will hash out any differences between their versions. The final budget needs to go to DeWine’s desk for his signature – and any vetoes – by June 30.

The governor favors an alternative plan to double the tax rate on sports-gaming companies’ profits to pay for stadiums and youth sports education.

DeWine proposes using some of the money sports bettors lose in Ohio to help pay for new sports stadiums

RELATED: DeWine proposes using some of the money sports bettors lose in Ohio to help pay for new sports stadiums

Sen. Nickie Antonio, the chamber’s minority leader, recently asked the Legislative Service Commission to weigh in on the Browns’ proposal. The Lakewood Democrat released the agency’s memo Monday.

During an interview, she said the analysis just leaves her with more questions and concerns.

“We’ve been asked to make an incredibly huge decision. … That’s a lot of money to be able to be working off the back of a napkin, which is what this feels like sometimes right now,” she said. “So any time that we can add to the information about this for our decision-making, I think it’s really important.”

Antonio wants clarity on what will happen if state tax revenues from the project fall short of covering the debt payments. The House budget bill requires the Browns to put up $50 million as a sort of security deposit – money Haslam Sports Group would get back if the state doesn’t need to tap it. But Antonio isn’t sure that’s enough.

She’s also worried about the impact a Brook Park stadium could have on Cleveland.

“To cannibalize and gut the city of Cleveland, and take these resources away, I don’t think serves anyone well,” said Antonio, who represents much of the city.

The Browns also want Cuyahoga County to issue $600 million in bonds for the project. But County Executive Chris Ronayne has said that request is far too large – and too risky for the county and taxpayers to take on. He’s been urging the Browns to stay Downtown.

‘Not simply a world-class stadium’

Until this week, the only economic-impact reports about the stadium came from the city of Cleveland and the Browns.

A study commissioned by the city last year said losing the team would be a blow to a fragile Downtown, where fans spend money on transit, hotels, bar tabs and restaurant bills. The report also said an enclosed suburban stadium could siphon events away from Rocket Arena and other Downtown venues.

A Browns move to Brook Park will deal an economic blow to Cleveland, study says

RELATED: A Browns move to Brook Park will deal an economic blow to Cleveland, study says

A consultant said the city would lose $11 million in annual tax collections. But the report did not include how much Cleveland is spending on debt service and other expenses each year for Huntington Bank Field, which is city-owned. The Browns’ stadium lease is set to end in early 2029.

The Browns, meanwhile, say the Brook Park stadium district would be a net gain for Cleveland and the region. In December, the team released headline findings from a report showing the project could bring up to 1.5 million more visitors here each year, luring major concerts that are skipping Ohio and pumping $1.2 billion into the local economy.

Browns say new Brook Park stadium district will add $1.2 billion to the local economy

RELATED: Browns say new Brook Park stadium district will add $1.2 billion to the local economy

The Legislative Service Commission cited both reports in its analysis – but said it wasn’t able to get a full copy of the Browns’ economic-impact study, prepared by a real estate consulting firm called RCLCO. The team has only released an executive summary.

The agency believes the Brook Park project will take jobs and activity away from Cleveland – and could pull sporting events from other Ohio venues, too. In the memo, the researchers noted that Haslam Sports Group, which also owns the Columbus Crew soccer team, recently moved a game from Columbus to Cleveland to capture a much larger crowd flocking to see superstar Lionel Messi.

“The increase in economic activity in Cleveland was therefore created at the cost of revenue that would otherwise have been generated in Columbus,” the memo said.

The researchers also said they didn’t have a clear answer to lawmakers’ questions about whether issuing stadium bonds might run afoul of the Ohio constitution. Ultimately, they wrote, only a court can make that decision.

The Browns say the new stadium would be owned by a New Community Authority, a special governmental entity that has unique powers to develop and finance projects. In a response to the state budget office, the team and its consultants said the deal structure aligns with Ohio law and the state’s borrowing policies.

“Our project is not simply a world-class stadium that would be Ohio’s first dome and the easternmost dome in the United States,” the team wrote. “It is a transformative … sports-anchored, mixed-use development project.”





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How teens are using sports to improve their mental health

WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — As concerns over youth mental health continue to grow, communities are turning to an outlet to help young people cope: sports. From physical activity to social support, studies show playing sports can have long-lasting mental health benefits.            What You Need To Know North Carolina FC Youth […]

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WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — As concerns over youth mental health continue to grow, communities are turning to an outlet to help young people cope: sports. From physical activity to social support, studies show playing sports can have long-lasting mental health benefits. 

 

        What You Need To Know

  • North Carolina FC Youth knows youth sports can serve as an outlet to alleviate stress
  • From physical activity to social support, studies show playing sports can have long-lasting mental health benefits
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a study in 2023 that found 40% of these teens said that they’ve dealt with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year
  • Some programs also offer financial aid for families, making it easier to access youth leagues regardless of income

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2023, a study found that among high school students across the nation, in the past year many teens face mental health issues. According to the study, 40% of these teens said that they’ve dealt with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year. Nationwide, 20% of teens reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year.

In 2023, the CDC reported how teen’s mental health is taking a decline. (Spectrum News)

North Carolina FC Youth is the largest club in North Carolina, offering soccer to children from the ages of 5 to 18 across the Triangle. Lucia Namey, an NCFC Youth soccer player, said the game means everything to her.

“It was genuinely life-changing for me,” Namey said. “I don’t know where I’d be without soccer.”

Namey recently injured a ligament in her knee. 

“With injuries, they’re just very isolating, and you feel very lonely, because no one knows exactly what you are going through,” Namey said.

She said that if it weren’t for the support of her teammates, she wouldn’t have been able to get through her injury.

“Everyone showed up for me when I need their support the most,” Namey said. “I think that in moments like that, when you’re at your lowest, having a big circle around you, showing you love, helps get you through because you know that you’re not alone, even when you do feel alone.”

Her favorite part of being on the team is the strong support system that sports teams like these can bring.

“Being here definitely just boosts your mood. I leave feeling much happier,” Namey said. “I can be having the worst day, and I know that I’ll leave here feeling so much better.”

For her, it’s not only about the support of her teammates, but also being able to let off some steam and be physically active after school.

Lucia Namey, NCFC Youth soccer player, is out with an ACL injury, but she still comes to practices to support her teammates. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley Van Havere)

“You get that anger out, you get to express yourself in a different way that’s not screaming or yelling at someone,” Namey said.

It’s not just about the exercise, NCFC Youth Chief Marketing and Development Officer Katharine Eberhardt said the social side of sports plays a huge role in mental well-being.

“Mental health is such an important topic, it always has been, and especially now, it’s a part of the conversation,” Eberhardt said. “We want parents to be talking with their kids, we want coaches to be talking with their their players.”

With a world full of screen time, Eberhardt said it’s becoming even more important for activities like these to exist.

“It’s great to have an outlet where we can create this environment that allows kids some freedom to become friends,” Eberhardt said.

For NCFC Youth Coach Tom Misuraca, it’s all about watching the teens grow as people and have fun on the field.

“You just got to keep them up and keep them going, get their confidence back, let them know they’re doing a good job and just be there for them and talk to them when they when they get down,” Misuraca said.

For these kids, the real win isn’t just what’s on the scoreboard, but it’s in feeling supported. Sports doesn’t fix everything, but it might just be part of the solution. 

Some programs also offer financial aid for families, making it easier to access youth leagues regardless of income. If you’re interested in joining a youth sports team, here are some helpful resources:

NCFC Youth sign-ups

City of Raleigh’s youth athletics

YMCA of the Triangle’s youth sports

Town of Cary’s youth sports

Town of Wake Forest’s youth sports

 

Related Stories

 



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Updated Decision on Age Group Formation from US Youth Soccer, AYSO, and US Club Soccer

  FRISCO, Texas (June 10, 2025) – Following extensive review and discussion, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, and US Club Soccer have collectively decided to move to an age group player formation cycle that runs from August 1 to July 31, starting with the 2026-27 season/registration year. This change was made based on additional critical feedback, […]

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FRISCO, Texas (June 10, 2025) – Following extensive review and discussion, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, and US Club Soccer have collectively decided to move to an age group player formation cycle that runs from August 1 to July 31, starting with the 2026-27 season/registration year. This change was made based on additional critical feedback, data, and expert input to better align players with their school-grade peers. Our associations feel that this age group player formation will be the most inclusive and help increase participation.

The August 1 to July 31 age group player formation cycle will be used for all USYS league and Cup competitions for the 2026-27 season/registration year including: National Championships, Presidents Cup, and National League.

US Youth Soccer CEO Tom Condone addressed the adjustment to the registration process: “At US Youth Soccer, our mission is to support the development of every player. After careful collaboration with our partners and listening to our membership, we believe this shift to an August 1 player formation cycle better aligns with school calendars, supports social and individual needs, and ultimately enhances the youth soccer experience for families across the country.”

As a reminder, under U.S. Soccer’s new policy, each Federation member can determine age group registration rules for the leagues and competitions they operate or sanction. To support this transition, U.S. Soccer has introduced a tool to help parents and guardians easily understand the age groupings based on their child’s birthdate.

Again, please note that this decision is effective beginning with each Organization Member’s 2026-27 season/registration year.

READ MORE: Updates included in this article are pertaining to – US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO Returning to Seasonal-Year Age Group Formation in 2026


About US Youth Soccer

US Youth Soccer, the largest youth sport organization in the country, is on a mission to provide worldclass support, resources, and leadership, helping every member fulfill their goals on and off the field of play. US Youth Soccer registers 2.68 million players annually. Through its programming, resources and leadership, US Youth Soccer is advancing the game for its 54 Member State Associations, 10,000 clubs and leagues and one million administrators, coaches, and volunteers. US Youth Soccer connects families and communities to the power of sports and its shared love of soccer. US Youth Soccer provides a path for every player, coach and referee offering programs that provide a fun, safe and healthy environment at every level of the game.

About US Club Soccer

A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible development environment for players of all ages.

Anchored by Players First and its pillars of Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Referee Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety, US Club Soccer offers registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms, player identification and a variety of other programming, resources and services.

US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike, DICK’S Sporting Goods and Gatorade.

About AYSO

American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is a national nonprofit organization committed to delivering quality youth soccer programs in a fun, family-friendly environment. AYSO is rooted in Six Philosophies: Everyone Plays®, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship, and Player Development. Now celebrating its 60th year since inception in 1964, AYSO programs span over 640 communities across the United States.

As a member organization of the U.S. Soccer Federation, all AYSO programs, including AYSO PLAY!, conform to U.S. Soccer standards for safety and player development curricula. Learn more about AYSO at www.ayso.org.





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La Pine youth sports get new life | La Pine / Sunriver News

LA PINE, Ore. — After the collapse of La Pine’s youth sports programs last fall, a Bend-based nonprofit is stepping up to help local kids get back in the game—offering financial aid and hope to families still recovering from the fallout. Every Kid Sports provides qualifying families with financial support to cover youth sports registration fees. “Sports […]

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LA PINE, Ore. — After the collapse of La Pine’s youth sports programs last fall, a Bend-based nonprofit is stepping up to help local kids get back in the game—offering financial aid and hope to families still recovering from the fallout. Every Kid Sports provides qualifying families with financial support to cover youth sports registration fees.

“Sports is more than just a game, as our mission states,” said Executive Director Eleana Ranaika. “It’s supporting life and part of life is community.”

When the non-profit heard about the struggles at the La Pine Park and Recreation District, the two organizations decided they could do more by working together as a team. 

“Every youth sport will need a body, and a body is $40,000 a year, and we just don’t have those types of funds with the situation we are left in. We’re slowly but surely recouping that and we’re going to get to where we can,” said LPRD Facilities Coordinator Wynn Malikowski.

In October 2024, the previous park and recreation board resigned and dismantled all youth recreation programs, citing financial issues. Since the recreation lacks the means to recreate youth sports, the LPRD Foundation provided a $4,000 donation to Every Kid Sports to help families make sports more affordable. 

“To provide scholarships for kids in the La Pine area to play sports,” said LPRD Foundation board member Brian Lusby. “Our goal is to, with the district losing the ability to, at least temporarily, provide those programs. We wanted to support all those kids and make sure everybody has an opportunity to play.”

Every Kid Sports will be at the La Pine Concert in the Park series this Thursday to accept the $4,000 donation.

“We support kids 4-to-18 years old who are currently receiving OHIP benefits and they can come and apply to every kid’s sports pass, and we will support up to $150 to pay their youth sports registration fee,” said Fanaika.

In addition, Every Kid Sports is planning to launch its “Born in Bend” campaign. That three-year initiative will support 2,500 kids throughout all of Central Oregon.

“This gracious donation by the foundation of $4,000, that’s probably close to 400 kids, this year that that will be able to play sports because the money that we’re funding is directly for our La Pine athletes,” said Malikowski.

Athletes will now have a better opportunity to get back on the field.



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KNEB-AM 960 AM – 100.3 FM

Former WNCC men’s head coach and former Northern Colorado assistant coach, Cory Fehringer, will be back in the area less than one month from now for a two day basketball camp that will be held at Bridgeport High School. The camp will feature help from Scottsbluff all-time great Dru Kuxhausen plus current WNCC […]

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Former WNCC men’s head coach and former Northern Colorado assistant coach, Cory Fehringer, will be back in the area less than one month from now for a two day basketball camp that will be held at Bridgeport High School.

The camp will feature help from Scottsbluff all-time great Dru Kuxhausen plus current WNCC men’s head coach Roybell Baez.

The dates for the two day camp will be June 30th and July 1st and is open to all girls and boys from grades 6th through 12th. The cost of the camp is $120.

There will be two sessions both days of the camp with session one each day running from 10 am to noon for boys 6th grade through 12th grade and session two will run from 2 pm to 4 pm for girls 6th through 12th grade.

Camp Focus – Fundamentals of Scoring: Hard to Guard

  • Footwork – Finishing – Shooting
  • 1v1, 2v2 triggers, 3v3 FIBA
  • Skills, Measurements, and Concepts

For more information or to get signed up you can email , or call Sean Sterkel at 308-279-1070 or Cory Fehringer at 970-580-7279.



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LaFollette Owls host youth basketball camp | Lafollette

The LaFollette Middle School boys basketball team hosted its annual youth basketball camp from June 9-11. “I look forward to camp every year. You know that,” head coach Ken Weaver said. “Same thing I tell you every year, numbers are down a little bit this year, as far as elementary. Normally with third- through fifth-graders, […]

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The LaFollette Middle School boys basketball team hosted its annual youth basketball camp from June 9-11.

“I look forward to camp every year. You know that,” head coach Ken Weaver said. “Same thing I tell you every year, numbers are down a little bit this year, as far as elementary. Normally with third- through fifth-graders, we have quite a few kids. We normally have it the first week of June, but the high school teams now are starting to have their team camps the first week school is out, so we had to push our camp to this week. I don’t know if that hurt the numbers where other camps have been going on or what. Anyway, we got a good turnout, good group of kids. We have some good talent coming up.”



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Stadium funding bill advances to House floor in special session | State News

JEFFERSON CITY — A bill including incentives to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri will move to the floor in the Missouri House of Representatives following committee approval Tuesday afternoon. The House Economic Development Committee passed the bill without making any changes. The Missouri Senate passed the legislation, along with two other […]

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JEFFERSON CITY — A bill including incentives to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri will move to the floor in the Missouri House of Representatives following committee approval Tuesday afternoon.

The House Economic Development Committee passed the bill without making any changes. The Missouri Senate passed the legislation, along with two other bills, last week in the first week of the special session.

The bill includes the Show-Me Sports Investment Act, which aims to help fund renovations to the Kansas City Chiefs’ stadium and building a new stadium for the Royals. The bill would allow up to 50% of stadium construction bond costs to be paid back with tax money generated at the stadiums.

Lawmakers are up against an end-of-June deadline to pass the legislation; Kansas passed a bill that would fund up to 70% of stadium costs and requires the teams to make a decision whether to stay in Missouri by the end of the month.

If the House votes to approve the legislation, it goes to Gov. Mike Kehoe’s desk for his signature. By placing the bill in the special session agenda, Kehoe indicated his support for the legislation.

Supporters of the bill say keeping the sports teams in Missouri is important for the economy. A New Bloomfield Republican told KOMU 8 on Monday that he believes the bill will keep jobs in Missouri.

Kathy Nelson, the president and CO of both Visit KC and the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation, agrees. She testified in favor of the bill before the Economic Development Committee on Tuesday.

“This bill was so critical to Kansas City, not only for the Royals and the Chiefs, and the stadiums, and keeping them in Missouri, but also selfishly the amateur sports tax credit,” Nelson said. “That’s a big, big deal to Kansas City and our region. So for us, to make sure that we’re able to continue to keep things like Big 12, NCAA, NAIA, Olympic type of things, and youth sports, that’s a huge deal and impact to our community.”

The bill is expected to pass the House; the chamber passed the stadium funding bill in the regular session before the Senate derailed the legislation.

However, the bill saw testimony against its passage on Tuesday, as well.

“It just spends an awful lot of money of the people of Missouri to give to wealthy team owners who don’t need it,” said Patrick Tuohey, a senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute. “And really, it won’t change their behavior. They will stay in Kansas City, and probably the Missouri side because it’s a good market. I think Missouri and Kansas City and Jackson County should be able to make the argument that we’re a great place to invest, but we’re not going to pay you to love us.”



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