Huntington Bank Field

The Challenge

Opening in 2029, the new Huntington Bank Field will serve as the home field for the Cleveland Browns and a year-round site for world-class concerts and cultural events. This first-of-its-kind venue is meticulously designed to represent the Browns, their passionate fans and the unique character of Northeast Ohio. Being built from the ground up, the project embodies the identity of the franchise while addressing the realities of Cleveland’s climate. From the seating and the sightlines to the roof structure and the stadium’s thoughtful integration with the surrounding district, every design detail is tailored to the Browns’ loyal fan base and their city. 

The Design Solution

Every dimension of Huntington Bank Field is designed to create a competitive edge and extraordinary fan experience.

The stadium will extend 80 feet below ground level, creating a unique, immersive environment. Seating rows are positioned lower and closer to the action than in any other NFL stadium, from the first row (16 feet from the field) to the last (248 feet from the field).

The northeast end of the venue will be dominated by standing-rail seats for the Dawg Pound, the Browns’ most vocal and avid fans. This endzone-spanning section will be set at a towering 34-degree rake to create a powerful wall of sound. A standing-room-only bridge will cantilever over the Dawg Pound section to give fans a unique perspective on games and other events. A massive video screen angled above the Dawg Pound will reflect and amplify crowd noise. The visiting team tunnel will route directly past the Dawg Pound, allowing Browns fans the opportunity to provide a properly intimidating welcome.

The stadium’s new field suite concept combines suite hospitality with enhanced front-row seating, to provide a next-gen premium experience. In addition, the Grand Concourse will unite the upper and main levels into the largest concourse in the NFL. Directly linked to outdoor plazas, the Grand Concourse is envisioned as a cultural destination featuring food markets, vibrant programming and an integrated team store. Bowl-facing bars along the Grand Concourse will keep fans immersed in the action.

Huntington Bank Field is engineered as a year-round entertainment destination. The venue will capture the feel of an outdoor stadium, while smart design solutions will shield fans from Northeast Ohio’s often harsh climate, to deliver atmosphere without compromise. The stadium’s transparent, folded plate roof is a custom structural response to local weather conditions. The design balances structural efficiency, snow management and natural light, creating a more open and airier interior than traditional enclosed stadiums. The roof design references Cleveland’s many grand halls – interior spaces that reveal magnificent civic rooms for gathering and activity, filled with daylight.

Sustainability at Huntington Bank Field is embedded in the architecture. By setting the bowl approximately 80 feet below grade and incorporating passive air strategies calibrated to Cleveland’s climate, the stadium will achieve significant energy efficiencies even before mechanical systems are engaged.

The venue’s capacity will range from 6,000 to more than 70,000 attendees. The event level and seating configuration are designed to easily be transformed to host soccer matches, basketball tournaments, concerts, esports competitions and graduations, to make the stadium a true centerpiece of the community.

Huntington Bank Field will anchor a fully integrated district designed to function year-round while preserving a football-first identity. Outdoor plazas will provide a best-in-class tailgating environment. New parks and open spaces will create places for recreation, gatherings and cultural events that enrich everyday life, and an enlarged network of roads and bus routes will strengthen connections to surrounding neighborhoods, ensuring greater accessibility for residents, workers and visitors alike. Future phased developments will expand and enhance the plazas to create a premium open-air destination for live entertainment and community events.

The Design Impact

As a state-of-the art venue, the new Huntington Bank Field is designed to enhance the fan experience and attract world-class sporting and cultural events to Northeast Ohio, such as the Super Bowl, NCAA basketball championships, Olympic trials, MLS and FIFA soccer matches and top-tier concerts.  

The stadium will support year-round activity to anchor the development of a large-scale lifestyle and entertainment district. Experiential retail space, residences, hotels and other unique destinations will contribute substantially to the fiscal health of the region. The project will serve as a catalyst for long-term investment in public infrastructure across the region, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and a stronger future for Northeast Ohio.