The Browns and the Crew have had ongoing discussions for more than a year about the possibility of building a shared training facility, and while the "marriage has not faded," the plan "is now a long-term thing," according to a source cited by Michael Arace of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. The Browns "have an ardent interest in staging the larger part of their training camp in Columbus," while the MLS club "wants and/or needs an expanded and improved training facility." It is a "brilliant idea to marry the wants, needs and interests of the two franchises by building a singular facility in Columbus," and "all the right people remain at the negotiating table." But for now, they will "go their separate ways." The Browns have "shifted their immediate focus from the Ohio Expo Center" to Ohio State. The Crew have "been cut out of the picture -- temporarily, at least." For months, there has been "talk of a multi-use facility being built on the Expo Center site adjacent to Mapfre Stadium." The problem for now "is logistics." The State Fair "is in session during Browns training camp," so the NFL team is "looking at a short- to mid-term solution." There are "wrinkles to smooth out" on OSU's campus, but they are "nothing compared to a building project at the Expo Center." Browns Owner Jimmy Haslam III on Wednesday night had dinner with OSU VP & AD Gene Smith, and on Friday, Haslam "would not go as far as to say that campus would be a training-camp parking spot while plans for a multi-use facility are furthered." But he did not "quash the idea, either." Arace: "I would say the over-under on shovel hitting dirt is eight years" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 8/9).
