Baltimore Relocation Hiatus
From 1995 relocation to 1999 rebirth: the Browns' three-year hiatus.
The Browns' relocation saga began in 1995 when owner Art Modell announced he was moving the team to Baltimore, sparking outrage among Cleveland fans. After negotiations and legal battles, an agreement allowed Modell to move the team, but Cleveland retained the Browns' name, colors, and history. The franchise suspended operations for three years while the old stadium was demolished and Cleveland Browns Stadium was built in its place, with play resuming in 1999 under new owner Al Lerner.
- Period
- 1996–1998
- Owner Involved
- Art Modell
- New Franchise
- Baltimore Ravens
- Key Advocate
- Jim Brown
- Return Year
- 1999
- History Status
- Retained in Cleveland
Lore & Background
The Browns' last game before the relocation was a regular-season game on December 17, 1995, at Jacksonville. The team's last home game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium was earlier in the 1995 season. After the 1995 season, the franchise went on a three-year hiatus while the old stadium was demolished and a new stadium was built, with the Browns starting play again in 1999.
In Their Own Story
The lights dimmed over Municipal Stadium for the last time in '95. A fan stood by the turnstile, holding a ticket stub from a season that felt too short. The silence wasn't just quiet; it was heavy with the weight of what left behind. He touched the cold metal of the gate, knowing the brown and orange would be gone until the league decided otherwise.
Reader's Guide
The Browns suspended operations after the 1995 season, with the team's final game being a road loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 24, 1995. The franchise resumed play in 1999 at the newly built Cleveland Browns Stadium.
Did You Know?
- The Browns' last game before the relocation was played at Jacksonville on December 17, 1995, not at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
- The franchise was suspended for three years (1996–1998) while the old stadium was demolished and Cleveland Browns Stadium was built.
More in Club History & Eras
Elsewhere in the Cleveland Browns universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record