- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Brook Park Today
By the People, for the People
Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Seek Access to State Unclaimed Funds for Gateway Obligations
A civil engineer argues that the same funding source used for the new Browns stadium should be made available to help the city and county meet their Gateway stadium commitments.
Published on Feb. 19, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
A letter to the editor argues that since state unclaimed funds are being used to pay for the new Browns stadium in Brook Park, the same funding source should be made available to Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to help them meet their financial obligations for the Gateway sports complex, which includes Progressive Field and Rocket Arena. The writer, a civil engineer, notes that the city and county have struggled to fulfill the terms of the Gateway agreement and believes accessing the state's unclaimed funds could provide a solution.
Why it matters
The Gateway sports complex, which includes the home stadiums for the Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers, has been a long-standing financial burden for the city of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Tapping into the state's unclaimed funds could provide a new revenue stream to help the local governments meet their obligations and maintain these important sports venues.
The details
In the letter, the writer points out that a precedent has been set by using state unclaimed funds to pay for the new Browns stadium in the nearby city of Brook Park. The writer argues that the same funding source should be made available to Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to help them fulfill the financial terms of the Gateway agreement, which covers Progressive Field and Rocket Arena.
- The new Browns stadium in Brook Park is being funded by state unclaimed funds.
- Cleveland and Cuyahoga County have struggled to meet the financial obligations of the Gateway agreement.
The players
Cleveland
The city of Cleveland, which is responsible for a portion of the financial obligations for the Gateway sports complex.
Cuyahoga County
The county that encompasses Cleveland and is also responsible for a portion of the financial obligations for the Gateway sports complex.
Gateway
The sports complex in Cleveland that includes Progressive Field and Rocket Arena, home to the Indians and Cavaliers respectively.
Browns
The professional football team that plays in a new stadium in the nearby city of Brook Park, which is being funded by state unclaimed funds.
What they’re saying
“Since state unclaimed funds are now being utilized to pay for the new Browns stadium in Brook Park, why can't that source be used as revenue for Cuyahoga County and the city of Cleveland to help honor the Gateway agreement at Progressive Field and Rocket Arena?”
— Name withheld by request, Civil engineer (cleveland.com)
What’s next
The writer suggests that the state should make the unclaimed funds available to Cleveland and Cuyahoga County to help them meet their financial obligations for the Gateway sports complex.
The takeaway
This case highlights the potential for creative funding solutions to address the ongoing financial challenges faced by local governments in maintaining major sports venues. If the state is willing to use unclaimed funds for one sports facility, there may be an opportunity to apply that same approach to help support other important community assets like the Gateway complex.
