1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Welcome into another edition of Building Brownsound, and today we 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: have a very special guest, the Commissioner of the National 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: Football League, Roger Goodell. Commissioner Goodell, thank you so much 4 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: for the time. It is great to be with you today. 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:12,959 Speaker 2: Thank you, Nathan, thanks for having me. 6 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:15,480 Speaker 1: All right, let's talk about big picture here in the 7 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,320 Speaker 1: National Football League. Why are these new stadium projects so 8 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: important to you and the NFL at large? 9 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 2: Well, multiple reasons. I think they're really important to our communities. Also, 10 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 2: you know, these stadiums are more than just a stage 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 2: or more than just a stadium. They're actually economic drivers 12 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 2: in their communities. No stadium is the same as another stadium. 13 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 2: They vary from community to community for reasons. Some are dumb, 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 2: some are open air, some are mixed use, some are not. 15 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: But I think what we're seeing is a real trend 16 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: to make these stadiums a part of the community and 17 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 2: drive economic activity in those communities that can be incredibly 18 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: beneficial on a year round basis. And I think that's 19 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: a really positive trend for the communities. But I also 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 2: think the NFL, and of course it's a huge fan experience. 21 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: I'm a big believer in we owe it to our 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 2: fans to give them a great fan experience. That's everything 23 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:21,839 Speaker 2: from getting to the stadium to the moment you get home. 24 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: Make it a great experience for our fans. That's really important. 25 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: It is and the Browns fans so certainly are excited 26 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: about this opportunity to have a state of the art 27 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: in closed facility. You mentioned that economic development and what 28 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: it means to the community. This has a chance to 29 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,880 Speaker 1: be transformative for the Northeast Ohio region. So what kind 30 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:43,080 Speaker 1: of economic development have you seen from these stadium projects, 31 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: especially those with the surrounding mixed use developments. 32 00:01:46,800 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 2: Well, I think they've actually reshaped communities across the country 33 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 2: because of the vision of the leadership, particularly in the 34 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: public sector and the private sector and our NFL teams, 35 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,559 Speaker 2: where they're looking at how do you develop an entire 36 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: portion of a city. Nashville is a great example of 37 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: that Los Angeles. When we return to Los Angeles, that 38 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: has actually changed the entire landscape of that area, which 39 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 2: is right near the airport, has a lot of similarities 40 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 2: to Brook Park, but it's become a mixed use site 41 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:27,959 Speaker 2: where you have retail, you have dining, you have other 42 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 2: economic activity, office buildings, those are drivers and magnets to 43 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 2: further economic activity where they just built a new arena 44 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 2: across the street from our site. So these become really 45 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 2: important structures that bring in additional investments into the communities. 46 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: And when you have people like the has thems who 47 00:02:55,160 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 2: really understand the importance of this, willing to invest big 48 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 2: ns of dollars and to work to try to make 49 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: this really work for the community, I think that's a 50 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:07,320 Speaker 2: great thing. 51 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 1: One of the things that struck me when I was 52 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 1: talking with Jimmy and d about this project is that 53 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: they said, look, we are stewards of a treasured community 54 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,920 Speaker 1: asset for a period of time, and as those stewards, 55 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: we want to do everything we can for that asset 56 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: and for this community. When you hear that, that's the 57 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: mindset of an ownership group. And then now they're kind 58 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: of putting, as you said, their money where their mouth 59 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: is in this mixed use development, the enclosed stadium in 60 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 1: brook Park. How does that resonate with you as the 61 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: commissioner of this league. 62 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 2: Incredibly well, Nathan and proud that our ownership and particularly 63 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 2: both Tea and Jimmy has them and their entire family. 64 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 2: They're committed to Cleveland. They're committed to making sure that 65 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 2: you know, they provide the best possible opportunity. They're committed 66 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 2: to investing in Bria, where they're putting hundreds of millions 67 00:03:56,240 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: of dollars into redoing that portion of the commun and 68 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 2: their training facility. These are all investments that the Hasms 69 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,520 Speaker 2: are making other owners are making across the league. But 70 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 2: I couldn't be prouder of the Hasms and their vision 71 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: and their willingness to invest behind it in the community 72 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:16,680 Speaker 2: as well as the Browns. 73 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: Is there something special about the fact that the NFL 74 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: season begins every year in Ohio with the Pro Football 75 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame induction, with the Hall of Fame, the 76 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: kickoff game, and that now Ohio is going to have 77 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,560 Speaker 1: a state of the art facility right here in the 78 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:34,600 Speaker 1: birthplace of football. 79 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, there is, because it is it's a birthplace of football. 80 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,960 Speaker 2: And I don't you know, we have a lot of 81 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 2: great football communities, but you look at the history of 82 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: our league, Ohio stands really tall, and that having two 83 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 2: NFL franchises, with the Browns and the Bengals, having the 84 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: Hall of Fame, being in the birthplace of our game, 85 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 2: it is a big part of our history, but more importantly, 86 00:04:58,640 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 2: it's a big part of our future. 87 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: It certainly will be, and you mentioned earlier it also 88 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 1: has the most passionate fans. We like to think about 89 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,680 Speaker 1: the dog Pound. It's the fortieth anniversary of the Dog Pound. 90 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: Browns fans are as loyal, passionate, invested as any around 91 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 1: the league, and there are a lot of great fan bases, 92 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 1: But you mentioned earlier the fan experience. To give fans 93 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: of that level a stadium at that level seems like 94 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: a pretty exciting opportunity. 95 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 2: I do. I think it's great for our fans. The 96 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 2: stadium that I've seen in the vision that's there is 97 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 2: going to be one that will be unmatched, and I 98 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 2: think that's something that the Browns fans will take great 99 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: proud in. But I also think again, investing in the 100 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 2: community beyond just the stadium, the investment of economic activity, 101 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 2: I think that's going to serve the entire region, including 102 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 2: the downtown, in a very very positive way. 103 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: And you know what serves the entire region is that 104 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: when you build a state of the art facility like 105 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: this in closed Huntington Bank Field will be in brook Park, 106 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: you surround it with that mixed use economic development. You're 107 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:07,680 Speaker 1: also pretty attractive for big events, and I know you've 108 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: said before that the building is super Bowl quality. What 109 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 1: does that mean for this region the type of events 110 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: that it can attract in the NFL and otherwise, but 111 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: of course in the NFL and the big events super 112 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: Bowl drafts, which we've had a draft here in Cleveland 113 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: in the past. 114 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, Nathan, listen, I think this stadium will be a 115 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: state of the art facility. It'll be something that everyone 116 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,159 Speaker 2: will be proud of, from the NFL to the community 117 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 2: of course, to has some family. Super Bowl bo has 118 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 2: become bigger than just the stadium, right, You have to 119 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 2: have a lot of facilities to host the Super Bowl. 120 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 2: From hotel rooms. I think we're close to fifty thousand 121 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: high quality hotel rooms, the other facilities, the airport, which 122 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 2: I think in hope in the context of this development 123 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: we'll see upgrades also. Those are all part of hosting 124 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: something like this Super Bowl. We had the Draft there 125 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: several years ago, which has become super Bowl like in 126 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 2: its impact and also in the needs. Unfortunately, the draft 127 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:17,280 Speaker 2: that was held in Cleveland was right after COVID and 128 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: we were coming out of that. My hat's off to 129 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: the people Cleveland, not just the fans, but the public 130 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: sector and has some family in the Browns for making 131 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 2: that happen in such a way that I think we 132 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 2: all could be proud of. And we kept everybody safe, 133 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 2: and I think that was a really big statement. So 134 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 2: I hope the draft will be back. I hope, you know, 135 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: this is something that we'll be talking about from a 136 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: Super Bowl standpoint at some point in the future. 137 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: Well, that would be very exciting because listen to Cleveland, 138 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 1: we understand coming out of COVID couldn't be quite on 139 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:52,280 Speaker 1: full display. So I know that there are a lot 140 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: of people that want to know. You know, you mentioned 141 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 1: it could come back, and then when will it come back? 142 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,800 Speaker 1: When will that draft come back here to Cleveland Commissioner, I. 143 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 2: Don't know the answer to that, but I think the 144 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 2: stadium is a big part of that. I really do. 145 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:07,920 Speaker 2: I know for us whether it's in the stadium or 146 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,720 Speaker 2: whether it's around the stadium. As you know, we were 147 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,200 Speaker 2: right on the banks of Lake Erie, which was a 148 00:08:14,240 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 2: beautiful setting. I think the draft is an important element. 149 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,520 Speaker 2: I don't think we delivered all that we should in 150 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 2: that because of COVID and I definitely want to see 151 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 2: the draft get back there sometime soon. Welcome Ischer. 152 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: We thank you for the stewardship of this league and 153 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: thank you for your time here today. We couldn't be 154 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: more excited about the enclosed Huntington Bank Field, and it 155 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:37,240 Speaker 1: sounds like you are as well as a great asset 156 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: for this community and for the National Football League. So 157 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 1: thank you so much for your time. 158 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: Thank you, Nathan. I appreciate all the support for the 159 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 2: Browns in the NFL in Ohio, so thank you.