Parts of the grass field at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland were vandalized by someone who broke and drove onto the field early Tuesday morning.
Tire tracks stretched across the entire half of the playing surface, and video shows significant damage to parts of the pitch.
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A general view of FirstEnergy Stadium before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers on January 3, 2021 in Cleveland.
(Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
The Browns notified police about the incident, and despite the “superficial” damage, they say the field should be back to normal in time for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“We are aware of the incident that occurred early Tuesday morning at FirstEnergy Stadium and have provided the Cleveland Police Division with all relevant information,” the Browns said in a statement to ABC5 in Cleveland. “Based on our internal assessment, there was some superficial damage to the playing field which our grounds maintenance team is currently working to repair. We are very proud of the strong reviews and reputation of our stadium playing surface, we have been in contacted the NFL on the matter and we are confident that after the repair our field will be ready for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Buccaneers.”
A Cleveland Browns helmet on the grass before the National Football League game between the New England Patriots and the Cleveland Browns on October 16, 2022 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
(Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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The Cleveland Police Department is investigating a possible break-in, and the damage likely came from a golf cart after someone jumped over the stadium fences.
The Browns are 3-7 going into Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay, who enter Week 12 at 5-5 after winning each of their last two games.
A view of the Cleveland Browns logo before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 4, 2011 in Cleveland. Baltimore won 24-10.
(Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
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Quarterback Deshaun Watson will be eligible to return from his suspension after this weekend, when the Browns take on Watson’s old team, the Houston Texans, on Dec. 4.
