COLUMBUS, Ohio – The state capital might talk Buckeyes' football 365 days a year, but it would love to be home to the Browns for three weeks every summer.
A prominent Columbus business leader with ties to Browns owner Jimmy Haslam told cleveland.com his organization has submitted a bid to become the team's new training camp home. Alex Fischer, president and CEO of the Columbus Partnership, acknowledged he's spearheading a campaign to lure the Browns to the state's largest and most prosperous city for their annual summer camp.
The deadline for bids was Aug. 15, although the Browns have not decided whether they will relocate camp from their Berea facility. The University of Akron, which hosted the Browns' Family Day scrimmage, is known to be one of the bidders. It's unclear how many locations are vying for the honor or when the Browns will make a decision. One source said Ohio Wesleyan University in suburban Columbus also is in the running.
Columbus' proposal included letters of recommendation from the mayor, county commissioners, local businessmen and other "political types," Fischer said.
The Browns have been strengthening their ties with the nation's 15th largest city since they named Alec Scheiner team president in December 2012. One of his first trips was here to introduce himself to businessmen in the vibrant corporate community.
Fischer's effort to make Columbus the Browns' summer home intensified about six weeks ago, however. A native of Hendersonville, Tenn., Fischer has worked in the private and public sectors. He served as a deputy governor and chief of staff to former Tennessee governor Don Sundquist. He also was commissioner of the Tennessee department of economic development.
Fischer lived in Knoxville – home to Pilot Flying J – and knows the Haslam family.
"Nobody in Ohio holds Jimmy Haslam and the Haslam family in higher regard than me," Fischer said.
Unlike the University of Akron's plan, the Columbus proposal does not have a specific site targeted.
"There are a number of places we think could meet the Browns criteria," Fischer said. "During the process we've expressed that to them."
Greater Columbus Sports Commission executive director Linda Shetina Logan told cleveland.com Ohio Dominican University is one place under consideration. Another possibility is eventually building a facility, which also could be used by the Columbus Crew, the city's MLS entry, and area youth soccer organizations.
Central Ohio represents an NFL battleground market, one within 185 miles of four franchises: Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts. The Browns' losing ways have enabled the Steelers and Bengals to make inroads in a region that's created 100,000 jobs in the past four years.
Browns officials want to be a serious player here, capitalizing on marketing opportunities and a shifting population base. The club's vice president of fan experience and marketing Kevin Griffin is a Columbus native and former Buckeyes football player. He's also the nephew of OSU icon Archie Griffin.
In January, he told cleveland.com:
"We will do an event or two down there in the off-season," Griffin said. "The strategy is not fleshed out, but I can tell you it's one of our top priorities."
The Browns might ultimately opt to stay in Berea, where camp has been held since 1992, but General Manager Ray Farmer and coach Mike Pettine seem receptive to moving it.
"I definitely like the idea," Farmer said on Sept. 5. "Now, whether or not it makes sense, that's a whole other subject – where you go, how far away is it, what the facility is like. There are a lot of intangibles that go into making that decision, but I do think there are positives and there are negative either way with taking training camp somewhere else."
The NFL trend, however, has teams returning to their home facility. This past summer just 13 of 32 clubs conducted camps offsite.