Browns could reportedly spend years in Columbus during stadium rebuild

It sounds like the Cleveland Browns could have a temporary home later this decade. 

Ken Prendergast of NEOtrans Blog reported Monday that Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam along with city officials are expected to make "one or more big announcements starting next week," including one regarding "a major rebuilding" of what once again recently became known as Cleveland Browns Stadium.

The Haslam family reportedly had wanted a new stadium since at least last year, but Prendergast said that "the Browns and the city of Cleveland did not see eye-to-eye about" such a project due to projected costs that had "grown into the billions." 

Prendergast wrote that the rebuilding of Cleveland Browns Stadium could potentially begin ahead of the 2026 NFL season and last for up to two-to-three campaigns. The Browns would have to spend those seasons playing home games at another venue, and Prendergast reported that "Columbus is a likely location." 

The Haslams are the majority owners of Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew, but Prendergast and Grant McQuillan of Gambling.com both noted that the Crew's Lower.com Field seats only 20,371 fans. To compare, Cleveland Browns Stadium has a capacity of roughly 67,895 spectators. 

It's unknown if the Browns could come to terms with Ohio State for the use of the university's Ohio Stadium. "The Horseshoe," as it is affectionately known, has a seating capacity of 102,780. 

For what it's worth, some Cleveland sports media personalities doubt the Browns will play any regular-season home contests in Columbus during the 2020s: