The Mistake by the Lake: Cleveland Municipal Stadium

[@BGee-no3uv]

I'm 91. In1945, my dad took us to see the Cleveland Rams play the Washington Redskins for NFL Championship at the Municipal Stadium. Cleveland won 15-14 in 8 below weather. Quarterback Bob Waterfield was also the punter and place kicker -- making 31-34 field goals that year. That memory served me well until the Otto Graham, Jim Brown era. I had seasons tickets for many years. Dad insisted we get there early enough to park in the badly paved lot right next to the stadium. Bernie Parrish, Browns corner back in the late 50s was a neighbor of my dad. Bernie used to laugh and said that we went to the game before he did! Say what you will about that old stadium, I loved it ! And hot dogs with Stadium Mustard...yum. --- USAF Retired

[@ClvlndBrwnsFan]

I have many fond memories of going to the Stadium as a child and early adulthood.

[@SMcK17]

I don't care what anybody says. this is the stadium I love and by which all other stadiums I judge. There was nothing like a Browns game here during the 80s.

[@cjones3710]

What a wonderful park, symmetrical and beautiful. An eye sore is what happened to Jacobs Field totally Junked up. Led crap all over, adverts, ruined upper deck, went to number 2 or 3 behind Oriole Park and maybe Ballpark in Arlington, to what ever that. Mess called Progressive field is now ...

[@cjones3710]

Memorial Stadium has the open end zone also w only small bleachers for Colts on the North open end One (center field). And when Ravens played in late 90s they added more semi permanent seating since the Orioles moved downtown already . But Cleveland municipal was NOT a cookie, more akin to a larger Yankee Stadium imo.

[@mjp96]

@@cjones3710 what?

[@tomwilson1006]

I remember watching “the fumble” live on TV, it was absolutely heartbreaking.

[@fixedgear37]

@@cjones3710You make no sense.

[@ousamaabdu794]

Satchel Paige first start here drew 72k fans in Aug 1948, his next start drew 75k, and then the third start 78k! Must have been an electric feeling in the air.

[@hopefullywiser]

Attended the July 4th, 1976 "Hands across America" game, celebrating America's 200th birthday. There were so few fans in attendance, we weren't able to make a circle around the inside of the stadium.

[@chriswallace7235]

I miss that place so much

[@JohnDoe-od7ye]

In the 1980s I would go to early season day games at Municipal Stadium and sit right behind the dugout for $4 to $5. There would be around 2K people in the mammoth stadium. Awesome times!

[@SirManfly]

I always liked the old stadium 🏟️ But I also like the current Browns stadium 🏟️ and I as well don’t think that one is so bad either, though some kind of renovation appears to be on its way?

[@carseye1219]

You didn't get $5 box seat tickets at the gate. I would buy General Admission for that price and then slide down into the field boxes by the middle innings. I NEVER saw any "behind the dugout" seats for $4 or $5, even in the late 1960s. And you called it "Municipal"? I didn't know any Cleveland natives that called it that.

[@JohnDoe-od7ye]

@@carseye1219 Bro, chill. 🥶

[@JUVI9596]

Why only 2K people ?

[@kennicholas5536]

​@@JUVI9596 because the teams were terrible and only hard-core baseball fans would go. I used to go to see the great Yankees and red Sox and Orioles teams of 70s and 80s.

[@thrivnak787]

Saw so many games there.Loved that stadium.Had a game crowd one time of about 86,000.

[@johnepants]

Remember, it didn’t get any renovations because, again, Art Modell was in charge of the stadium and only put money into more advertising space on the bleachers and luxury suites. He let the stadium turn into a dump on a $1 per year lease with the city

[@exoticbeatz1]

Cuh $1 per year?

[@johnepants]

@@exoticbeatz1 yeah. Art was was in charge of the stadium for 30 years and put 0 upgrades into the thing when he was only paying $1 per year to lease it. He let it fall into a dump. It’s one of the reasons the Indians had to leave and were threatening to move without a new stadium

[@trevor5904]

​@johnepants that's not true. Modell was required to put money into the stadium in order to get control of it. Modell put in the loge suites as part of this deal, as well as field and electronical maintenance. The field was lowered and raised multiple times over the years as well as having to be completely re done nearly every season due to being dual use and in poor climate. 108 bi level loges were added in 1974, and in 1975 the field was completely dug up to redo the drainage tiling... also redid the scoreboard maybe 3x while he owned it.

[@johnepants]

@@trevor5904 ok, so scoreboard (more ad space on bleachers), loges (luxury boxes) and field work. No money put in to upgrade facilities for his team or his biggest tenant, the Indians. His crappy ownership of the stadium led to his biggest tenant telling him to screw off and he was too short sited to see at the time that he needed a new place after they left and didn’t jump on the Gateway plan. There is a reason Bisciotti. It’s because that loser Modell continued to suck as a businessman and owner even in Baltimore and the NFL finally forced him to sell the majority of his team

[@trevor5904]

@johnepants I can agree w you that he made shitty team and business decisions, ie: the firing of brown/rutigliano, letting Kosar go.. but he did put money into the facilities, and met the requirements put forth by the city. The Indians didn't draw crowds for shit from the mid 60s-1993 and were almost moved to Tampa. Indians got public money and modell didnt.. Yea he's a prick, but how about actually doing some research before you run your mouth like you know wtf you're talking about

[@morthedgebuckle227]

At least everyone got a seat. Great NFL iconic stadium. Always thought of it as Browns stadium more than the Tribe stadium. Otto Graham, Jim Brown, Paul Warfield, Greg Pruitt.

[@murphyotoole9014]

Saw a couple of Indians games there when my dad and I traveled through Cleveland on a roadtrip. I actually liked the right field upper deck seats . . and that mustard at the stadium was the best I had ever had anywhere . . . But then again, what do I know? I love the Oakland Alameda County Stadium as an A's season ticket holder, so maybe I just have a soft spot for stadiums that are viewed as dumps . . .

[@cwc8979]

I loved this stadium 👍👍👍

[@cjpreach]

Except for the 50 yr-old restrooms. hehehe

[@jonathansmith3742]

In 1980 I went to the World Series there. The World Series of Rock. Def Leppard, Eddie Money, The J Geils Band and Bob Seger. Spent the previous night under the bridge partying with friends and people I had never met before. Great Concert, great memory.

[@GABESTA535]

The reason it feels so similar to Yankee Stadium is that both were built by Osborne Engineering.

[@Samtheman85844]

Cool.

[@michaelmeden9117]

The picture at the 6:03 mark could possibly be a picture of me! No way of knowing when this shot was taken but I was the one who shot the fireworks for the anthem and home runs from 1988 to the closing of the stadium. Pregame I would have loaded the shells for the anthem in that exact spot. So many great memories of working in that place. The fans, the staff, and more than a couple players I got to meet at the behind the fence parties and at batting practice. Would have worked for free doing that gig!

[@DrSkull1939]

Now wait a minute. The Original Browns( Modell) went to Baltimore but then the City gets a new stadium and a team. Modell said they didn't have the Political Will to build a new stadium and felt like they couldn't come up with a first class stadium. He left town without even hearing a proposal from the city. That seems shady

[@kenreighard5071]

He was a terrible business man and was in horrendous debt. He took quick cash to move, the bashtage.

[@scoot1105]

Modell was an idiot!! When the city and county came to him about going in with the Gateway Project that eventually built Jacobs(Progressive) Field for the Indians and Gund Arena(Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse) for the Cavaliers, he turned them down because he wanted his own funding to renovate that dump!

[@imagine9265]

Gotta go to MOE s MODELLS ! 😆 🤣 😂

[@crosstatt7441]

Art doesn’t get a pass, but the city was also responsible. Mike White didn’t act fast enough.

[@thebadguyswon-w7n]

I went to a Browns vs. Steelers game here in '92. I felt like I was at a Halloween party. Great gameday atmosphere.

[@CH-tg6zq]

I have always been fascinated with stadiums and arenas. Love your channel!

[@tomwilson1006]

And now the Browns are moving in 2028 12 miles south to Brook Park into a domed stadium. Just hasn’t felt like the Cleveland Browns since 1995……

[@de-fault_de-fault]

Osborn Engineering worked on lots of other pre-WWII stadiums including the original build of Yankee Stadium, so the resemblance make sense. You can really see it in the shape of the upper deck and its roof.

[@ThomasC-Crazy4NiagaraFalls]

Somewhere in a box in my basement, I have a VHS tape of me driving my 1979 Ford LTD onto the field to pick up two stadium seats I purchased as they were tearing this wonderful old stadium down. I loved this place. Great memories of freezing there watching the Browns and burning up watching the Indians. One particularly freezing Browns game I remember was a Browns v Bills playoff game. And my favorite Indians memory... slamming the empty seats in rythme to the chant Joe-Joe-Char-bon-eau!!!

[@ousamaabdu794]

The renderings I've seen for a renovation in the 80s and 90s ( the renderings here on this channel lol) actually looked pretty good on the football side of things. The outside of the stadium looked grand on the outside, like the original Yankee Stadium.

[@mrnosaj71]

Cleveland had such hope.....

[@scoot1105]

The place was a dump! The bathroom urinals leaked all the time. Rats would be running around the upper deck and concourse area. It smelled like feet and bad fish most of the time But... That was a great place to be when the Browns were winning! That place would get so loud it would literally MOVE about 6 inches!! An the Dawg Pound had some of the craziest fans!! I miss the old dump!! Lots of great(and not-so-great) memories were created in there!!

[@edalexander6155]

Look how far the stands where from the field. That west endzone shot was where my seats were in the upper deck 10 rows from the top. We had 6 seats from 79 to 81. One of us had to set behind the pole. You couldnt see 20yrds of the field. Glad when they built the new one. Have 2 seats lower deck also west endzone love the seats. Been there since 08

[@QZaccardelli]

Every once in a while you’ll walk into someone’s house in Cleveland and see, on display, a seat torn from the stadium before demolition. A lot of bricks, too.

[@76carmel]

There are technically two Mistakes by the Lake. Cleveland Municipal Stadium and CNE Stadium (Exhibition Stadium) in Toronto.

[@stevemastnick5034]

Cleveland Municipal Stadium,the Akron Rubber Bowl,the Richfield Coliseum,Canton Fawcett Stadium. All late venues with great memories.

[@ElectrifyingUno]

The rumor/myth was it was built for the 1932 Olympics, the bid failed hence the stadium being called the mistake by the lake. I remember walking in there for the bash brothers A's vs Indians game, even with 50k fans there it was so cavernous. Wish I had pictures of it and the huge chief wahoo batting cutout. Which is now at the western reserve historical society.

[@Lfg117]

Legendary: 5- Or 10-cents beer night that got out of hand. The native drum pounded by a mascot at MLB games during the 70s (I heard on radio) 🔥. Chris Chambliss 4ever!

[@brianinthepark5429]

WOW. The 1 minute 20 mark. Right on the other side of the big tower and some other building the steam and smoke stacks take over. Truly an industrialized society! ~Brian

[@NobodyUR]

My favorite stadium I’ve ever seen a game. Loudest as well. It was a shithole but it was our shithole

[@coreylevine8095]

How about Los Angeles Memorial Colosseum

[@nicklanese2210]

First game there Indians vs KC Athletics on September 26 1959 and was there for Browns final home game in December of 1995. Loved going there w My Uncle and then w my wife and then w my kids.

[@biffbenedict1603]

wasn't there something about it being built at an angle or direction that it shouldn't of been in regards to lake effect?

[@alexandergodfrey83]

I’ve never been to Cleveland, but I’m glad the Guardians and Browns have their own stadiums.

[@240walnut]

I've actually never physically been to Cleveland Browns Stadium I've always been interested in things and I've done research on it and even though I was never there I love it the location by the water like that I guess something is special about it I've taken into consideration that but I don't expect people to even consider a great thing I consider ... happy upgrading

[@davidwomack8938]

It’s always good to have perspective with progress, and the norms of decades past. A stadium like this would never be tolerated in today’s times. The average NFL attendance during the 1980’s was 55-60k per game across the league with many empty seats, even w/much smaller stadiums. Cleveland and Buffalo both averaged 75-80k those years, tops in the league. What was once a source of pride to play in a gritty old stadium without any creature comforts, transitioned to luxury venues focused on the fan’s stadium experience as an entertainment destination outside of just the game on the field. I am sure stadiums in 30 years will be a completely different concept than even the newer super stadiums are today, and we will talking about what a dinosaur AT&T Stadium was.

[@ZacharySmithsr]

🎉 I miss the stadium the mud and snow and grass stain

[@atlanticcoast63]

Age doesn't necessarily mean irredeemable - Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia SC, home of the USC Gamecocks, has a capacity of 77,500, and it is only three years younger than Cleveland Municipal, but it has been upgraded to the point where it looks as modern as anything you could ask for and still sells out every game.

[@DrSkull1939]

So if you are an owner and want to leave town with your records and likeness, you got to keep the same name like the Baltimore Browns

[@crosstatt7441]

Art Modell agreed to be in charge of the stadium, which put him in massive debt. That also lead to the departure of the Browns. Had Modell not taken responsibility of it, we may have lost the Indians (Guardians). He regretted that he took responsibility and the move haunted him for the rest of his life. It’s unfortunate how it all happened. However, I can’t absolve Art Modell entirely, but he had some compelling reasons to leave. Also, the city was responsible. It lead to more teams (especially the NFL) building new ones.

[@kevin2400]

You were right.... the indians... I refuse to say that other teams name

[@Nicksonian]

The Stadium seemed old the first time I saw an Indians game around 1967. I saw games there with 75,000, and 1,300 in attendance.

[@simonray4838]

What happened to titanics engine room

[@lizzyfan1986]

Home of World Series of Rock

[@amusement420]

7:38 It's pronounced "Low-czh" is as good as I can type it. Or look up "Pronunciation of Loge | Definition of Loge" by Pronunciation Flashcards. How to pronounce English. I have 35mm photos when we went in the 70's from a corporate one which is basically a suite. I've also been in one in then Jacob's Field. Good video though. Edit: Jerry Sherk Cleveland Browns defensive tackle, when he was injured took up photography. He took photos of a football game from on top of the roof he shared on a facebook page many years ago.

[@TheMick126]

Please do chavez ravine riverfront stadium 3 rivers stadium veterans stadium

[@carseye1219]

They can do any one of the last 3 with one episode, and just say "ditto" for the other two.

[@mumbles215]

Grew up going to Vet stadium. 700 level (for us young broke folks) was a nonstop party with zero security. They left us alone up there and it was wild. Very diff experience than todays family vibe.

[@ElectrifyingUno]

Art Modell was offered to move into the Gateway project with the Cavs and Indians but he refused, can't read that off Wikipedia. Looking at it now, the stands being covered with a canopy was ahead of its time 😆.

[@DrSkull1939]

I think teams and their owners nowadays want to build Domes so they can get year long use out of these stadiums. They definitely want to host a Super Bowl. Their current stadium is almost cookie cutter stadium

[@lonniestephens6254]

It would have been quite interesting for the Cleveland Browns if Cleveland's Municipal Stadium was actually refurbished.

[@msn64man1]

Who remembers the upside down stadium

[@stevekimmel3841]

Great party for concerts too.

[@tomzifertomzifer6944]

I was there a few times it was pretty cool

[@jameshannahs9010]

The Rams played 20 home games at Municipal Stadium before moving to LA in 1945.

[@EricBlackburn-hg9pj]

The "Old Lady by the Lake".......now sleeps...in the Lake......How Erie....How Ironic.......You had to be there.......Stay Browns.........Edward T

[@ericjencson9489]

It's a loge not a lodge

[@great-one0389]

I assume this William R Hopkins is the guy the airport is named after.

[@RecoveringAddict101]

I grew up a Baltimore Colts fan, and remember Irsay sneaking the team out in March 1984. Respectfully, you kept your team's name, colors, history, etc, PLUS you were promised an expansion team by the SAME commissioner (Tagliabue?) who worked behind the scenes to keep the NFL out of Baltimore. Please keep in mind that while it was crappy for Browns' fans, at the very least you KNEW when you would get another team, with your history intact......

[@johnepants]

Sorry but the only reason we were able to keep the team name and colors is because the city had to sue Model. Art was also one of the owners that helped block Baltimore from getting an expansion team prior to Carolina and Jacksonville getting one, so overall, Art can go straight to hell. Isray packed up and left because Maryland’s legislature was about to seize his team by eminent domain. One owner was clearly forced out, the other was just a piece of trash who’s sole good decision was making Ozzy general manager of the Ravens

[@chperezjr]

If renovated Im almost sure it would've still standing roday

[@JamesJohnson-l6y]

That stadium is so an eyesore. No wonder it nicknamed "The Mistake in the Lake."

[@carseye1219]

Yeah, there were a lot of things wrong with it but I would much rather freeze my as* off among real, rabid, working-class fans on a wooden bleacher bench in old "Cleveland Stadium" (NOBODY I knew in Cleveland ever referred to it as "Municipal") for $30 than spend a fortune in pampered luxury in a place like SoFi, listening to polo wearing rich as*holes talk about their golf scores, ignoring the game on the field.

[@mattyg4186]

What was worse Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1995 or Baltimore Memorial Stadium in 1996 & 1997 ? 😂

[@mattyg4186]

@@robertsmith6188 Baltimore may be Warmer than NY & New England but not SC, Georgia, Florida warm

[@mikegray3089]

My wife grew up in that stadium 🏟😊

[@jeffreyknight3884]

What's the mistake of this stadium. There were many exciting games played here. Change your title,

[@williamfryman4360]

The stadium was built to try and host the Olympics. Once Cleveland lost the bid it was too big for the Indians, and then by the 80’s it was terrible for football (sitting in the upper deck on the sidelines was like watching the game through a telescope from Columbus). I loved the place as Browns fan, but it was very outdated and way too spread out by the end of its lifecycle.

[@HectorHustles]

Yeah, I was gonna say it reminds me of a toilet seat a old one

[@NT-fo3me]

Was there once, 75/76 for a Rolling Stones concert. J Geils Band, Tower of Power and Joe Vitale's Madmen (he plays drums on all but 2 of Joe Walsh's solo albums) Packed to the rafters. Too bad I never went to see the Steelers kick the Browns' asses though 😅

[@klaws32]

Browns had a record of 33-13 vs the Steelers at Municipal Stadium. Steelers didnt start dominating Browns till about 1994 to present. Most of those wins are at the new stadium.

[@GCBlues45]

When tearing it down they even bother taking out the seats. I wonder if anyone got a seat from it.

[@JamesJohnson-l6y]

Two reasons: the Old Browns move to Baltimore to become the Ravens & the Indians (now they called the Guardians) move to Progressive Field.

[@ronpeacock9939]

The way I remember it at the time… a referendum was on the ballot (with a deal in place with the browns) to make some major changes… and 2 days before Election Day, Art Modell (be careful.. his name is a swear word in Cleveland) announced the move… 2 days later, the referendum passed easily… in court… Modell would have been toast.. but Baltimore threw big $$$ at him and the NFL.. so the NFL stepped in to make a deal… A deal if the city of Cleveland had to do over.. would not have happened… Yes, they got an expansion team.. yes the Name and history stayed.. .but that expansion team has never been as good as the old browns were… still just trying to get to league average.. while the old browns.. have superbowl rings.. Still, hard to badly think of a stadium built in 31 that lost it’s team 64 years later… 64 years… Hell, the Atlanta braves have gone through 3 stadiums in that time. Same with the Texas Rangers…

[@KittyPurrfect100]

Browns have never been to a Super Bowl

[@johndouglas5712]

It passed 50.7 to 49. 3 % and no . The vote was in May 1990

[@ronpeacock9939]

@@johndouglas5712 I think you are thinking of a different vote.. that might have been the vote for the Jake… but the browns move to Baltimore was quite a few years later… like 96 or 97… still.. if the negotiations happened today.. I think the city of Cleveland would make bigger demands.. they got screwed badly.

[@johndouglas5712]

@@ronpeacock9939 Without the first vote , in 1990 , they never could have extended the tax . Believe me ! I’m still paying it

[@ericlehman6841]

You understand that the only reason why Gateway passed is to get the Cavs back downtown. Okay, yeah it doesn't excuse Modell for not going on board. However, Mike White was also to blame because he didn't act fast enough.

[@russs7574]

Oh, I'm sorry.....I thought you meant the Browns.

[@disastertom]

How many times do you need to repeat the same stuff over and over?

[@ericschminke8233]

Municipal Stadium will always be a stadium like no other when the Idiots, er Indians, from the 1960s to 1992 played there. I didn't count 1993 as that was obviously an exceptional season for equally obvious reasons.

[@mikekeeler6362]

You had to have a good Outfield to play in that Stadium 464 ft straight away Center

[@robertostrom5675]

Browns started there in 1946, not 1947.

[@supaganzai]

It will forever be the Pandemonium Palace.

[@RBK_3]

It was over 60 years old in 95 not 50.

[@skalin2345]

9:30 best logo in all of sports

[@kimberlyhurst]

A dome stadium is such a bad idea, look at the weather experienced in Ohio. We have had tornadoes, blizzards, flooding and domed stadiums can collapse, like the Minnesota Superdome with heavy snow

[@Mario-cv5el]

The fans did their own renovations in 1995 when the browns played their last game when they threw the wooden seats on the field. What a dump

[@davidwomack8938]

Having grown up in Dallas, this was the out of town stadium I always longed to see as a kid. Something about the mystique surrounding this place and how unique it was. I’ll always regret that I never saw the stadium in person.

[@cmdrflake]

This place was very dusty and not particularly pleasant by modern standards. Pitchers loved this place until the’50’s and the Tribe moved the fences in to help them score runs.

[@yourexcellency7774]

Unlike any otherrrrrrrr

[@samueljones1288]

Old dawg pound

[@demarcosanders6249]

Only 3 pro teams played in that Stadium the Rams Browns and Indians

[@aaronwilliams6989]

How about more than 60 years.

[@vahi37]

Is that how Cleveland people talk?

[@charlessmith263]

When did they first used fireworks for Cleveland Indians home runs? And of course, as you know, right now, thanks to societal inclusivity requirements, the "Indians" nickname was changed to "Guardians."

[@skaterdude8044]

Veterans stadium

[@jeffreycorduroy759]

Stadiyuuuuuum!

[@markdantonio1582]

this guy is beyond annoying....its like listening to stones in a blender.....

[@stankbox]

No doubt.

[@stevencramsie9172]

He sounds like one of those analysts they have on ESPN talking about player trades, the draft, or things like that. He has next to no voice inflection whatsoever.

[@exoticbeatz1]

lol yeah. He also made a dating life update 😂

[@kaplezedrummer24ify]

2.5 million 😭

[@kaplezedrummer24ify]

Would only be 38 million dollars in today's money. Ain't no way

[@robertmiller2104]

What a dump in the end of its life

[@williamfryman4360]

Still better than the shithole stadiums in Baltiless, Shittsburgh and Cincinasty now.

[@fixedgear37]

@@williamfryman4360You think of that all by yourself? Creative.

[@dakotamorehouse9947]

Guardians will be longer than 20 years!

[@neopa3695]

There was NOTHING wrong with this stadium. Modell was just a greedy bastard.

[@darbaaron]

Pandemonium Palace

[@joethaler7921]

Why is this narrator so f’ing angry and obnoxius?

[@edalexander6155]

The Cleveland Rams played also in this relic. 😂 after 1964 its been the mistake by the lake. Get off that spot of land Browns. Make this happen.

[@Samtheman85844]

Old Stadium.

[@rorygrime1202]

It sold out for football many times

[@stevencramsie9172]

It’s Cleveland, there was literally nothing else better to do.

[@ericlehman6841]

Yes, but the city didn't have money to run it. Art Modell shouldn't have agreed to it.

[@edalexander6155]

The hexitron looks like a dog house. That would work with a retractable. Bulid it down the road or more into the city. Or better yet brookpark. Get er done. ⬜️🟫🟧🟫⬜️