Reason #421 - New Owner Loves a Roof

The Browns' new owner Jimmy Haslam likes a roof in his other businesses.  Check out all of those Pilot and Flying J stations - a roof over every set of gas pumps.  Why?  Because customers prefer that in bad weather.  Sounds like a good reason to me.

Reason #420 - Clueless Opposition to the Idea

One of the oft-cited reasons for opposition to a retractable roof on Browns Stadium is because of the home field advantage the Browns have in the cold-weather outdoors. Seriously, people? The @OfficialBrowns are 68-143 since their return in 1999.  Home field competitive advantage - seriously?!?!

Reason #419 - New Ownership

Browns owner-in-waiting Jimmy Haslam says it deserves consideration. Smart businessman who sees growth potential. That's about the best reason I can think of, aside from sheer desperation, of course.

Reason #418 - Twins' New Stadium

The Twins' new roof-less ballpark opens next April. They can't wait to leave the Metrodome, which is horrible. But there will be lots of bad weather in the Upper Midwest - maybe worse than Cleveland's. What were they thinking? Let's show Cleveland they're not the only ones with no foresight? Indians play a night game there on April 20. It better be parka giveaway night.

Reason #417 - 2010 Schedule

The Indians 2010 schedule is out and they play the first six games on the road. Not good for a team that always seems to struggle in April. And, yet, the team's own Web site heralds this schedule as "a 2010 schedule that mercifully includes just seven home dates in the often cold and cruel month of April..." Brutal honesty, I guess, for some brutally cold and frustrated fans. Good luck selling tickets to those seven games.

Reason #416 - Sustainability

I admit I've been looking for some new reasons lately. This week, I've found one, at Cleveland's Sustainability Summit, which is charged with developing plans for revitalizing our economy and city by 2019. It's a fact that a retractable roof on Browns Stadium would make Cleveland a much better all-weather city, and that's sustainable. New jobs in adding the roof, new year-round jobs, new events, more downtown visitors and tourists, greater use of public transportation, more civic pride, an improved lakefront, etc.

Reason #415 - Slow Starts in April

The Indians finished 8-14 in April - another bad first month for the team. Same thing every year. Many want to blame the manager, Eric Wedge. I think the cool, rainy weather is a major factor - it's been with us every year just like the manager. So, I say, blame the lack of a retractable roof. Instead of firing the manager, how about hiring a retractable roof contractor?