Cleveland Browns Should Change Stadium Name: Politicians

CLEVELAND — As indictments, lawsuits and investigations continue to bubble up related to the House Bill 6 scandal, two Ohio politicians think the Cleveland Browns should rename FirstEnergy Stadium.

House Bill 6 provided a $1.3 billion bailout for two FirstEnergy nuclear plants (now Energy Harbor plants) in Ohio. The legislation is now at the heart of a racketeering investigation involving former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and other political figures. FirstEnergy has since admitted wrongdoing in the case and agreed to pay $230 million in fines as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.

On Friday, state Reps. Jeffrey Crossman, a Democrat from Parma, and Kent Smith,a Democrat from Euclid, called on the Browns to rename their stadium to disassociate from FirstEnergy.

“If someone associated with the Cleveland Browns went out and robbed a bank, they would be cut or fired immediately. FirstEnergy essentially went out and robbed Ohioans of millions of dollars,” Crossman said. “Why are the Browns pretending that FirstEnergy is a good corporate citizen and continuing to promote them?”

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“I first raised the issue of FirstEnergy's name on a taxpayer built stadium in a floor speech on July 23, 2019, almost one full year before Speaker Larry Householder was arrested,” Smith said. “As a former season ticket holder myself, the Cleveland Browns owe it to their fan base to seek another stadium sponsorship opportunity with a local company that has not pled guilty in federal court to what has been described by the former U.S. Attorney as ‘the largest bribery and money laundering scheme in Ohio history.’”

More fallout from the House Bill 6 scandal:

• HB 6 Scandal: Ohio Can Seize Assets Of Former Utilities Chairman
• FirstEnergy Hit With Wire Fraud Accusation, Will Pay $230 Million
• Ohio Governor Won't Say He Regrets Picking Regulator Now At The Center Of Historic Utility Scandal