$1 billion deal: Cleveland Browns officially unveil new owner Jimmy Haslam III – NFL News
The Cleveland Browns’ new owner – the truck-stop magnate Jimmy Haslam III – was officially unveiled by the outgoing owner Randy Lerner after both sides signed the $1 billion plus deal for transfer of the ownership rights to Jimmy.
As per details of the deal available at the time of filing this report, the payment will be made in two instalments of $700 and $300 each, as the deal progresses through different regulatory hurdles. The final payment will come at the time of the clearance
and closure of the deal, which can take up to a month or more.
Jimmy is in Cleveland to meet with the present owner and president Mike Holmgren, coach Pat Shurmur and other officials of the Browns.
He said he wants the team to be a consistent winner on the field. The aim is similar to the one Jacksonville Jaguars’ new owner Shahid Khan had spoken of at the time he took over the side from its former owner Wayne Weaver in January this year.
The owner also assured the fans that he has committed to keep the team in Cleveland and he will honour that commitment. He said he is aiming to "winning back to Cleveland," adding there is a “zero chance” he will relocate the team out of the town. He said
he is determined to “listen, learn and observe."
He added:
"Our style is going to be involved. We'll be out there selling the Cleveland Browns all the time."
It was the first ever visit of the new owner of the team, and apparently he was well taken by the local football community. The Browns’ fans, however, are still a bit of sceptical and probably confused. This may be due to the fact that the deal came all
of a sudden for them and they did not have much time to debate the matter beforehand.
Another aspect that may come in the way of the new owner’s acceptability and popularity among local fans is that Jimmy is former minority owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and boasts to be a ‘1,000’ percent Steelers fans.
He nevertheless is not as warmly received by the Browns' fans as was the Jaguars’ owner Shahid Khan. Still, it is only the beginning and there is a plenty time for him to build a strong relationship with the local communities. Putting the team back on winning
ways, as he has aimed, is going to be the best way to win loyalties of local football community.
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