CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns and FirstEnergy announced Thursday they mutually ended their stadium rights name agreement, meaning FirstEnergy Stadium is getting a new name.


What You Need To Know

  • The stadium will now be named its former title, Cleveland Browns Stadium

  • It's been named FirstEnergy Stadium since 2013 as part of a 17-year, over $100-million deal

  • Terms and conditions of the agreement weren't disclosed

It will revert to its former title, Cleveland Browns Stadium. It's been named FirstEnergy Stadium since 2013 as part of a 17-year, over $100-million deal.

“Together with the Browns, we have worked to enrich our communities while increasing awareness of FirstEnergy as an energy leader. Since we signed this agreement 10 years ago, our priorities have shifted as the company evolved from a competitive energy supplier to a regulated utility, and as a result, our corporate initiatives must also evolve,” said John Somerhalder, interim president and CEO. “Like the rest of northern Ohio, we remain passionate Browns fans and will cheer them on in upcoming seasons. We also look forward to maintaining our deep relationships with civic, arts and other organizations to bring good energy to our communities.”

The terms and conditions of the agreement weren't disclosed. 

"We've had a great association with FirstEnergy for more than two decades, and we appreciate this partnership and what it has created for our team and the broader northeast Ohio community," Dave Jenkins, Haslam Sports Group COO said. “We reached this amicable agreement that is consistent with the productive relationship we have always enjoyed, and we wish FirstEnergy success with their future initiatives. Our home stadium will return to its former name, Cleveland Browns Stadium.”

The City of Cleveland said in a statement that Cleveland City Council has supported a name change for about a year. 

"Clevelanders own the stadium, and it is only fitting to call it by a name of which we can all be proud," the statement said. 

In June of last year, Cleveland City Council passed a resolution, urging the stadium to remove "FirstEnergy" from the title. The resolution was passed following allegations that FirstEnergy was involved in a bribery scheme to influence state legislators to pass House Bill 6. The case eventually led to former House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio GOP Chairman Matt Borges being found guilty of participating in a racketeering enterprise involving bribery and money laundering involving FirstEnergy Solutions. 

This story will be updated when more information becomes available.

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