FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland

FirstEnergy Stadium will be idle for one additional day next fall, as the Cleveland Browns play a home game in London.

(Thomas Ondrey, Plain Dealer file)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- How can the Cleveland Browns play a "home game" in London next season when they have a city lease that makes FirstEnergy Stadium their home?

The possibility for such a move was envisioned as far back as the mid-1990s, when the city and the NFL were working out a deal for the return of the Browns to a stadium yet to be built.

An agreement dated April 26, 1996 -- just after the original franchise left for Baltimore and three years ahead of the Browns' return -- stipulated that the Browns would play half their regular season games in the new stadium.



One caveat, however, was included: one game could be played elsewhere every two years.

The Browns' game in London, scheduled for Week 7 or 8 next season against the Minnesota Vikings, will mark the first time the clause has been used.



Next season's NFL schedule of four games in London will bring to 27 the number of teams to play an international game since 2007. All 32 NFL teams eventually will be assigned an international game.

The Browns played an exhibition game in London in 1989, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles, 17-13. The Browns also played exhibition games in Montreal in 1988 (losing to the New York Jets) and Toronto in 1993 (beating the New England Patriots).

Peter John-Baptiste, vice president of communications for the Browns, said the franchise wants to support the league's initiative to showcase the NFL overseas, yet being compelled to play in London does not come without concern.

"You're concerned because you want to give your home fans the opportunity to see their team as much as possible," John-Baptiste said.

There will be an impact on Cleveland and local fans, though it is difficult to quantify.

The city collects an 8 percent admissions tax. The tax

Some season ticket holders view paying for two exhibition games as an unwanted requirement to secure their seats for eight regular season games. Now, they will receive tickets to just seven games that count in the standings. But the

Studies on the

Numerous bars, restaurants and parking lots in downtown Cleveland receive extra business on game days.

Tax dollars were used to build the stadium.

"Every time there is an event downtown, it generates income for the city," Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley said in an interview Wednesday. "So I will be curious to see a cost estimate for what revenue would be lost on account of the decision to play a game overseas."

Leila Atassi, City Hall reporter for cleveland.com, contributed to this story.