Yesterday, new Browns owner to be, Jimmy Haslam met with Cleveland City Council to discuss several matters.

If he could fix their problems, he might just be a solution to be President of the United States.  Getting them to act requires more than a cattle prod.

However, the thing that has all Browns fans in an uproar now is Haslam’s comment around possibly putting a roof on Cleveland Browns Stadium.

All he said was that he was going to bring in some architectural firms to study the feasibility of covering the sacred field that the Browns play on.

What’s the big deal?

First of all, it would make the stadium more of a multi-purpose facility, one that can be used for more than 10 or 12 football games per year, and perhaps a concert or two.

That would be good for Cleveland (with apologies to Sam Rutigliano).

Imagine the possibility of having an NCAA Regional Basketball Tournament or even a Final Four in Cleveland.  How about a Super Bowl?

Right now, those events are impossible for Cleveland to host.

There are other things that have to occur before our city can accommodate mega-events such as these, such as lack of hotel rooms.  But the lacking of housing is moot without the building in place.

The other argument that holds merit is how would the roof be paid for.  Obviously, since we live in one of the higher taxed areas in the country, it would be difficult for folks to take on another burden.  That’s a debate for another time.

The issue here is the football fans squawking about playing in a domed stadium, and thereby taking the elements out of the game.

WHO CARES!

If it’s a retractable roof, then the Browns games can continue to be played outdoors, if that is somehow important.

Of course, you would have to replace the grass with field turf as well.  The argument here is that the current field is a disgrace anyway.  For having just a handful of games on it, it looks terrible.

Watching the Browns-Eagles game, the home opener, the grass already looked chewed up, and it’s only September.

Think about what it will look like after a few games played with moisture and other weather elements.

So, going to artificial turf, regardless of where the stadium has a roof or not would be an upgrade.  There doesn’t seem to be enough of a soil base to grow grass effectively.

The point is this:  In a vacuum, putting a roof on Cleveland Browns Stadium is a good idea, and Haslam and the city government should do their due diligence to see if it is feasible.

There’s nothing wrong with that, and nothing to get all upset about.

In fact, Browns fans should get used to the idea that change is coming.  The new owner has promised that.  Whether it is new design for the uniforms, a different design for the field, or a new website, change is coming.

Based on the recent past, why not?

JD