Debunking a myth: When the Browns end up in their fancy domed stadium, please stop saying this one thing

The plans for Brook Park are full steam ahead

The Cleveland Browns have been a pro football franchise since 1946. They have played in two leagues and called two stadiums their home.

That is about to change.

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Plans for a new $2.4 billion domed stadium are a go to be built in Brook Park along with their entertainment village right off I-71, which is conveniently located across the street from the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and a stone’s throw just north of Berea. This complex will include hotels, restaurants, night clubs, souvenir shops, ice cream parlors, concert stages, and anything else a small town can offer, like hair styling shops, cell phone edifices, clothing retailers, and book stores.

It will be a municipality in itself, owned by Haslam Sports Group. They will have their choice of which hotels and eateries they deem suitable, to which they can keep out the undesirables.

There are two sides to this dome stadium idea.

The traditionalists don’t want a roof over the playing field. Or over the stands, for that matter. Clevelanders consider themselves tough, rugged, and used to severe elements. They can withstand the wind off of Lake Erie and the bitter cold. Just try to stop Browns fans when the temperature reaches single digits. Cleveland did pretty well against the Pittsburgh Steelers last year in that snowstorm, remember? Did anybody leave early?

That game more resembled the frozen tundra at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. But one thing that Browns’ victory proved was that Clevelanders can take it.

And besides, every team in the AFC North has an outdoor venue and is just as likely to have a weather issue each Sunday as does the City of Cleveland.

The other side of Browns fandom isn’t interested in sitting in the cold for three hours.

These fans have been to other indoor facilities located in cold terrain, such as Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Detroit. The temperature outside can be double-digit inches of snow, and yet the climate inside is devoid of jackets with scarves, and instead is short-sleeved shirts.

This is not only advantageous for fans, but the players, coaches, and referees who are working the game. Not to mention the chain gang and beer hustlers in the stands.

On game day in a domed stadium, it is a toasty 72 degrees. And that’s everywhere inside the venue, whether that is in the restroom, waiting in line at a concession stand, stationed in your seat, or any passageway underneath the stadium.

The traditionalists aren’t interested in any of this. So what if the air is brisk standing at a urinal? The line to buy a hot dog is supposed to be chilly and, in fact, is a break from the wind swirling in the openness of the stadium.

Plus, both teams have to play in the same weather. The fact that the visiting team is from Atlanta or Miami, or Los Angeles isn’t the fault of Cleveland fans. The visitors all knew this game would come one day on the schedule, and here it is. Freezing cold. Windy. Brutal.

Deal with it. Suck it up.

But please. One thing has to stop being said about the Cleveland Browns.

Right now, the traditionalists’ key catch phrase is this message: The Browns right now hold a “home-field advantage” from playing in harsh winter weather.

Really? That’s the benefit? Not having to fly and then staying in a hotel with a strange bed?

Whoever came up with that hasn’t done their homework. Certainly, most players would rather stay home and play their game, and then be able to go out afterwards, eat a good dinner, and take time with family and friends who have flown in for the contest with an off day on Tuesday.

But do the Browns really, really have a home-field advantage just for playing in chilly, windy Cleveland?

Okay, to begin with, Cleveland is 288-240-6 at home all-time, played in two stadiums in their 78-year history.

From 1946 to 1995, all games were played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. The Browns’ home record was 202-117-5. The franchise won eight championships during this time, plus captured 11 conference championships, 12 division crowns, made 27 playoff appearances, and at one time went to the title game 10 consecutive years and 11 in 12 seasons.

Since re-entering the NFL in 1999, the Browns have won 86 home games, while losing 123 with one tie.

More specifically, let’s go back to the last 10 years:

• 2015: games played (8), 2-6-0
• 2016: (8), 1-7-0
• 2017: (8), 0-8-0
• 2018: (8), 5-2-1
• 2019: (8), 4-4-0
• 2020: (8), 6-2-0
• 2021: (9), 6-3-0
• 2022: (8), 4-4-0
• 2023: (9), 8-1-0
• 2024: (8), 2-6-0

Winning 38 games in 10 seasons with a win percentage of .463 is nothing to write Grandma about.

Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

More specific? What about the colder months, beginning with the December contests? Yeah, that research goes quite a bit deeper.

• 2015: home games played (8), 1-1-0
• 2016: (8), 1-1-0
• 2017: (8), 0-2-0
• 2018: (8), 2-0-0
• 2019: (8), 1-1-0
• 2020: (8), 0-1-0
• 2021: (9), 1-1-0
• 2022: (8), 1-1-0
• 2023: (9), 3-0-0
• 2024: (8), 0-2-0

Next up: November home games:

• 2015: (8), 0-2-0
• 2016: (8), 0-3-0
• 2017: (8), 0-1-0
• 2018: (8), 1-1-0
• 2019: (8), 3-0-0
• 2020: (8), 2-1-0
• 2021: (9), 1-0-0
• 2022: (8), 1-0-0
• 2023: (9), 2-0-0
• 2024: (8), 1-1-0

Might as well go the distance and include regular season home games in January:

• 2015: (8), 0-1-0
• 2020: (8), 1-0-0
• 2021: (9), 1-0-0

During this same time, Cleveland played three playoff games, all of which were on the road.

The grand totals? November home games: 11-9-0, December: 10-10-0, and January 2-1-0.

What does this mean? It means that there isn’t a home field advantage for the Browns during the cold weather months. No, sir.

So, what does it matter if they play outside or indoors? And if it doesn’t matter, then please stop saying that the Browns have this mythical benefit when it is certain that they do not.

And if you take away the assumption that Cleveland has this environment reward, remember that both teams play in the same weather. That supposed “advantage” disappears rather quickly when you factor in levels of fan comfort, performance for players, and safety factors.

To spew out the idea that Northeast Ohio’s gruesome weather may somehow work in the Browns’ favor is implausible.

And by looking at the facts, it is just plain wrong.