Haslam Sports Group, working with a construction joint venture of AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company, has officially broken ground on the new Huntington Bank Field, initiating site work on what team officials call the largest economic development project in Northeast Ohio history, according to clevelandbrowns.com.
The enclosed stadium and surrounding mixed-use district will become the new home of the Cleveland Browns beginning with the 2029 NFL season. With the groundbreaking completed, construction has moved into full-scale execution, beginning with earthmoving, grading and subsurface preparation across the stadium footprint.
AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company are overseeing all construction activities for the project, which will include extensive excavation, foundation systems, concrete placement, structural steel erection and enclosure work. The stadium is designed by HKS, with Lincoln Property Company leading development of the surrounding entertainment district, according to clevelandbrowns.com.
The venue will be Ohio’s first enclosed NFL stadium and is designed to host events year-round, including professional football, NCAA Final Fours, international soccer matches and major concerts. Flexible configurations will allow the stadium to accommodate crowds of up to 75,000.
From a construction standpoint, the project features a long-span roof system without interior trusses, a design that increases the importance of precision engineering, heavy lift planning and sequencing of structural steel and concrete operations. The seating bowl is also designed to bring fans closer to the field than any other NFL stadium, adding another layer of complexity to foundation layout and structural alignment.
Construction Timeline
Construction is expected to span the remainder of the decade and will be completed in multiple phases, according to clevelandbrowns.com.
- 2026–2027: Site Work and Earthmoving — Early phases focus on mass excavation, grading, soil stabilization and installation of underground utilities and stormwater infrastructure. This stage supports both the stadium and future mixed-use development and represents the heaviest earthmoving activity of the project.
- 2027–2028: Foundations and Structural Construction — Work will transition to deep foundations, concrete placement and erection of primary structural systems, including the seating bowl and support elements for the roof. Coordination between concrete crews, steel erectors and heavy equipment operators will be critical during this phase.
- 2028–2029: Enclosure and Buildout — As the structure is enclosed, crews will install the transparent roof system, exterior façade and interior mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Interior finishes and stadium operations spaces will come online as Phase 1 of the surrounding mixed-use district advances concurrently.
The stadium and Phase 1 of the mixed-use development are scheduled to open in 2029.
Workforce, Local Participation
More than 6,000 construction jobs are expected during peak activity, with thousands of additional permanent positions tied to stadium operations and the surrounding district. AECOM Hunt and Turner Construction Company are partnering with several Northeast Ohio firms, including DiGeronimo Companies, Independence Excavating and Independence Construction, to perform excavation, site development and heavy civil work, according to clevelandbrowns.com.
For contractors, equipment suppliers and material producers, the Huntington Bank Field project represents one of the largest and most complex construction efforts the region has seen, with demand extending across earthmoving, concrete, steel and specialty trades through the end of the decade. CEG
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