Two former Cleveland politicians say ex-Browns owner Art Modell turned down the city's offer to build a new stadium before he moved the team to Baltimore.
Former City Council President George Forbes says Modell was offered a new stadium when taxpayer-funded facilities for the Indians and Cavaliers were being built. Forbes and former Cuayhoga county commissioner Tim Hagan both say Modell rejected the idea. Modell's longtime spokeperson says public leaders stated only that they would take care of him later. But a Cleveland Magazine story in the mid 1990's quotes Modell as saying he regretted not taking the offer. Modell later said he left because the city wouldn't build a stadium. Modell passed away last week.