Comments on: Report: Art Modell was offered stadium in Cleveland

By: watchfullhose

watchfullhose — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:07:51 +0000

hmink96 says:
Sep 14, 2012 12:59 PM
I wish i could be as bad of a businessman as Art was…

(its funny how people say that, but he was a great example of a rags to riches story, and the American Dream)

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It’s funny how people can hear the truth but choose to believe something else.

By: Chris Henry's Wild Ride

Chris Henry's Wild Ride — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 19:48:53 +0000

msb360 says:
Sep 13, 2012 11:10 PM
Now I see why Cleveland leads the country in Suicides.

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Actually Las Vegas does moron. Cleveland isn’t even in the top 15. Pittsburgh is though! Shocker!

By: hmink96

hmink96 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:59:59 +0000

I wish i could be as bad of a businessman as Art was…

(its funny how people say that, but he was a great example of a rags to riches story, and the American Dream)

By: sudz28

sudz28 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:59:38 +0000

You know really, they got to keep the name, keep the history, and only had to go without a team for 3 seasons. I can certainly understand how those would have been a rough and bitter 3 seasons for the city and the fans, but they got their team back in ’99 – isn’t it MORE than enough time to let it go already? Even most Baltimore fans no longer really hold a grudge about the Colts leaving, and we had to go without a team for 12 full years *and* we lost the name and history of our former team to boot! Cleveland whines about Modell like a sad, middle-aged woman who can’t let go of a guy that dumped her 2 decades previous.

By: ytownjoe

ytownjoe — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:46:43 +0000

Only one NFL team is owned by its fans – the Green Bay Packers. All the others are a business enterprise owned by very wealthy persons. They can do as they please with their business, including locating them wherever they please.
Does it matter which business enterprise you root for?
Will we see the day when one of the teams becomes the Beijing Bengal Tigers? Wealthy persons there may make a better offer.

By: frenzy95

frenzy95 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:25:58 +0000

dennychimes says: Sep 13, 2012 9:28 PM
I can understand their feelings but, I have to wonder, If the Fans in Cleveland put as much effort in rooting for the Browns as much as they do for their hatred of Mr. Modell they might just win a few more games.

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You know I never thought if I cheered more or rooted more that the play calling would get better, the WR’s would catch the ball more, the offense would score a TD at some point during the game. WOW!!! I’m gonna give that a try this weekend.

By: onereasonableman

onereasonableman — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:35:05 +0000

I’m from C Town and remember going through this time. Modell had talked about needing a new stadium before he left. I think there was discussion of the Browns joining the Gateway complex, but many people in town also didn’t want the stadium to move from the lake front.

It certainly was a mess and handled wrong, but I agree with those who say the timing of this article was poor. That’s exactly what I thought when I read it.

And to those who say this is a crappy city, we live around some of the best health care in the world, enjoy a relatively low cost of living, have an awesome metro-parks system, great blue collar and white collar people, passionate sports fans and a collective attitude that if you take us on we’ll kick your A$$.

It is a great place to live and we get tired of hearing that it sucks. It doesn’t. I’m very proud to have made a life here.

And yes, it would be nice to win a freakin championship at some point!

By: AlohaMrHand

AlohaMrHand — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:07:03 +0000

excellent job by the author to stir the pot even more in a city filled with already bitter fans.I swear the day LeBron does they’ll run articles claiming he once pissed on a dying orphan wearing a Cavs jersey.Get over it,you have your football team and you’ve had them back for quite awhile!Try being LA.

By: ravenator

ravenator — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:54:23 +0000

Classless

By: bengalwaco

bengalwaco — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:35:36 +0000

Can people please bring stuff up while the person or persons they are accusing are still a breathing entity please…. ffs

By: dawgpound55

dawgpound55 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:06:30 +0000

In the book titled “Fumble: Art Model, the Brown and the Move.” Tey author of the book, who was the VP of Stadium Corporation a Modell owned company that ran operations at the old Municipal Stadium where the indians and Browns palyed, stated that the city did offer Modell a domed stadium back in 86. He did turn it down because the stadium was to be shared with the Indians. Modell then told city council that you build the Indians a stadium and I am perfectly happy where I’m at. The Browns sold out one of the largest stadiums at the time every week and there was a 20 years waiting list for season tickets. He moved the team because he was a horrible business man. Nothing else!

By: lesterclan

lesterclan — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:50:47 +0000

I do not have dog in this fight and frankly I don’t give a crap about either Cleveland or Baltimore. However, absolutely Modell had been offered a stadium in Cleveland. Look it up. Now, wether it was as good as Baltimore’s I don’t know, but don’t tell us he never was offered a stadium deal in Cleveland so he “had” to move to Baltimore. It’s not a sin to want the best deal. We all do it. Just man-up and say “Baltimore made a better offer”. Gesh!

By: dcsuperfan

dcsuperfan — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:34:53 +0000

I won’t pretend to be an expert on this issue, and maybe Modell DID have a legit, even amazing offer on the table to stay in Cleveland. But to put this out there after the man is dead and can neither confirm nor deny it is sackless. Modell is undeniably one of the most influential people in the history of the greatest sport in the world, and should probably be in the HOF, even IF the move to Baltimore “tarnishes his legacy.” (Not saying it does or doesn’t.) @ Jack Gorman, voiceofreasonsays is a bit of a dolt, though I hate to say that about a fellow Redskins fan. But the story with the RG3 trade is that the Rams told CLE and WAS to make their very best, final offers at the same time to avoid a bidding war and move on with the evaluation process. The teams both offered 3 1st-rounders, with the Browns having 2 of those in this year’s draft, #4 and #22 (from ATL in the Julio Jones trade) and one in 2013, and the Redskins with #6 this year and a #1 in 2013 and 2014. But the Skins included a 2012 2nd -rd pick (#39, used to draft CB Janoris Jenkins, not bad!). When the Rams called the Browns to tell them they had been outbid, Holmgren said he would throw in the Browns’ 2012 #2. But Fisher stayed true to his word and held to the deal with WAS. I doubt CLE thought Richardson and Weeden were better than RG3, (at least I hope not,) but WAS showed more gumption. And, so far at least, the Skins look very smart to go for broke.

By: archetypeobscure

archetypeobscure — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:13:58 +0000

This isn’t new news. Just because something is being reiterated because of recent events, doesn’t mean this just occurred. They’ve been saying this since before the team moved. Whether it’s true or not, really doesn’t matter. Art moved the team. Doesn’t matter how or why, he just did. Thanks for continuing to stir the pot on a dead issue.

By: bluebongzilla

bluebongzilla — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 04:59:23 +0000

Maybe nothing was said in misplaced deference to Art Modell.

By: flbillsfan

flbillsfan — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 04:00:09 +0000

Modell will never be forgiven in Cleveland just as the Irseys will never be forgiven in Baltimore. Rightly so. Neither Modell or Irsey should ever be in the HOF in my opinion.

By: oranjellojones

oranjellojones — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 03:44:30 +0000

The support (or lack there of) from the city of Cleveland and its fans was not the reason for Modell leaving. I get so tired of reading that tripe. He left because (as others have mentioned) he’d run the business into the ground with horrible management.

It also gets old hearing it implied that things were suddenly rosy when he moved the show to Baltimore. He screwed that situation up financially too and had to take on partners and was losing money in that shiny new stadium too. He was a huge factor in the early development of the NFL but he ran his franchise horribly for over 30 years and screwed the fans and city of Cleveland completely. His legacy of the last 30 years was so bad that it makes no sense why people are so shocked that he isn’t lauded universally and why his overall legacy is a mixed bag at best.

RIP, let it go, but enough of the revisionist history and spin. It’s more than a little irksome to people who actually know what happened and encourages the disrespect and smack talk to continue.

By: halftermguv

halftermguv — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 03:30:38 +0000

After the move to Baltimore, the popular byline (in the Baltimore area) was that Cleveland had failed to keep them there.

It’s no crime to be a mediocre businessman but to blame your failures on others isn’t exactly honorable behavior. Modell never waivered from that tune. Even after he later sold the team in financial desperation.

As for the people urging the Browns fans to get over it; I dare you to strike up a conversation on Bob Irsay with any Marylander. [cover the ears of any nearby children]

Baltimore laid claim to martyrdom after the Colts left (also for a better deal) and it continues today. Every time Manning broke one of Unitas’ records it was always prefaced with “well that doesn’t count because they are the Indianapolis Colts”.

The Baltimore Colts’ martyrdom rang especially hollow when after years of screaming how unfair the move was and how low could a city stoop to get a team. Then (of course) they replicated the same actions as Indianapolis when they enticed Modell to Baltimore.

By: msb360

msb360 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 03:10:06 +0000

Now I see why Cleveland leads the country in Suicides.

By: lorddarkhelmet

lorddarkhelmet — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:47:51 +0000

he brings it up now because now that Modell has died there is all kinds of hall of fame talk. He rightfully wants to make sure that does not happen.

By: rmc1995

rmc1995 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:44:53 +0000

If you can believe wikapedia, read the history of the gateway complex. Modell was on board for a dome stadium in the 1980s initiated by the greater Cleveland Dome Stadium Corporation. The ballot to fund the stadium was voted down by 2-1. Another project to be funded by a sin tax, never got out of the drafting room. So yes. It appears he was informally offered a stadium while Forbes was in office. Forbes hazy memory confused the failed ballot with Modell rejecting the offer.

After the ballot failed, a new group with new leadership created the gateway complex. By that time Forbes wasn’t even on the council, so his hazy memory was a memory of something which he didn’t have a first hand account.
Forbes was also an opportunist politician who made millions using his political power.

By: yankeefootball

yankeefootball — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:36:17 +0000

Gorman is pretty close on the financials. Art Modell was horribly upside down with the debt. Mr. Modell was a very good man for things he did around the city. The charity work and goodness of heart was tremendous. It can never truly be denied. He is the man who helped the league accumulate the windfalls of cash from television that turned it into one of the most powerful businesses in the country. He could not run his own team. He was the president of the Stadium Corporation with which the Browns signed their leases. The leases he felt kept him from making money. In the end, he moved to cover his own debt. He claimed to take out a second mortgage on his home to pay Andre Rison’s bonus money. He ended up selling the Ravens to again get out from under debt. All the money he made for the league and had so much trouble keeping ho’s own organizations afloat. It’s a shame. I am a Browns fan and I really liked Art Modell for all he really did for the city of Cleveland, excluding football. He was a good man and should be remembered for doing good things most will never know about. It’s a real shame he had to make the poor decisions he did in order to save his beloved team. He should have just asked for help.

By: yajas

yajas — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:31:10 +0000

This is old news. The new stadium was already on the ballot before Modell committed to leaving. It passed and that’s what the browns play in today. So yes, Modell was offered a stadium. Heck, he got his stadium but left town before it was built.

A lot had also been going on between Modell and the city politicians for years and Modell even admitted in a radio interview about 8 years ago that he was in too deep financially and that’s why he moved to Baltimore. Baltimore’s deal bailed him out way more than just building a stadium in Cleveland did.

I’m a lifelong Browns fan and I can’t bring myself to hate Modell. (Don’t expect me to be visit his grave either.) He left to save himself and not to hurt others. It’s been 17 years and the Browns struggles today have nothing to do with Art. Overall, Browns fans have let it go. But letting go doesn’t mean we have to support him being in the HOF or sit quietly when people spew crap that isn’t true or bash Cleveland fans.

By: clemsonstillsucks

clemsonstillsucks — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:30:40 +0000

The last politician I heard use that excuse was Bill Clinton and he was a lying POS as well.

Let the man RIP.

By: rockthered1286

rockthered1286 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 02:18:19 +0000

Good thing AM didn’t actively petition for a new team in Cleveland, effectively becoming a crucial voice in the NFL being brought back to Cleveland. Yea that truly never happened. Definitely shouldn’t praise him for that. And it’s his fault management has made terrible moves ever since their second coming. And AM made Lebron leave too.

By: redpoop

redpoop — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:52:15 +0000

This story was out before Modell moved. He didn’t want to be part of Gateway (which built new baseball and basketball complexes) because he owned the concessions company at Municipal Stadium and would not at Gateway. I don’t see the use in bringing this up right now, though.

By: thefiesty1

thefiesty1 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:50:49 +0000

Sour grapes, still. Get over it, you still don’t have a team.

By: terryleather

terryleather — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:49:53 +0000

Of course they offered him a stadium. Why wouldn’t they? Cleveland is a football town. They wanted to have all three teams playing nearby, after bringing the Cavs in from Richfield. Just ask yourself what the most likely scenario is: did Cleveland shut out it’s favorite team from a project that could have brought millions more to the city, or did Modell (the man who fired Paul Brown) throw a hissy fit that other sports were getting a little attention and decide to take his ball to a richer friend’s house?

Now if you excuse me, I have to go work on my “Zombie Art Modell” costume for this Halloween.

By: berniekosarisgod19

berniekosarisgod19 — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:48:02 +0000

Florio, you need to talk to Tony Grossi, this is all information that we in Cleveland new, hell the city wanted to build a dome downtown, near the current Gateway Complex, and Art nixed that. He wanted to build a stadium on property he owned in Strongsville, a suburb about 30 miles South of Downtown, so he could keep the revenue from the stadium. Art had tons of opportunities, he was a bad business man, and was hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.
He made bad financial decisions, and never once came public to the people of Cleveland of his “need” for a new stadium, had he said to us “I need money from the fans/taxpayers to help me build a stadium or else I will be forced to move the team,” the voters would have approved a levy/tax by over 70% . Oh that’s right we did, a month after he moved the damn team. Get a clue Florio, and for all you ripping on Cleveland, we don’t care. Come visit here and say all your crap, and see how well you do. Go Browns!!!

By: surly1n1nd1anapol1s

surly1n1nd1anapol1s — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 01:38:22 +0000

Odd timing, limited credibility.