Browns tailgates on West 6th Street no longer permitted

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CLEVELAND (WJW) – Cleveland Browns fans are already going through a lot watching a struggling team not meeting expectations, but now the city of Cleveland has made a decision to end home tailgates on West 6th Street for the rest of the season due to public safety concerns.

“We’ve been doing the tailgates professionally for 14 years with our partners on West 6th and now they’re coming to an abrupt end,” Browns superfan Gus “Pumpkinhead” Angelone said.

Angelone is an influencer and coordinator of the tailgates in the Warehouse District. He said these are typically family friendly and a great place for fans to unite before games or gather to watch the games at bars withing the district. But recently, things are getting out of control after the tailgates and games are over, something over which Angelone said he has no influence or control.

He feels it’s the same people participating in street takeovers who are creating chaos in the Warehouse District.

“This past year, we started charging admission $5 and giving all the proceeds to charity to kind of keep the riffraff out,” Angelone said. “We’ve never had any issues before. And again, these street takeovers, I don’t even know what to call them – criminals – are just taking over the city streets and you know, after the tailgates let out, they’re just congregating in front of the bars and causing trouble.”

Fights, widespread public intoxication and overall lawless behavior are making things difficult for the Cleveland Division of Police, prompting the city to no longer permit the tailgates in the interest of public safety.

“I always heard year after year the tailgates are the best part of the day,” Angelone said. “And now again they’re being stripped away from us because a couple bad apples and really has nothing to do with us.”

Business owners and employees at restaurants along West 6th Street said they’ve noticed a shift in behavior this year and something needed to be done. But the businesses also depend on the customers visiting the area.

“We’ll make the bulk of our money on Sunday,” Agave & Rye bartender O’Shea Holt said.

Holt said he doesn’t think eliminating the tailgate is the perfect answer and feels that increased security or police would help solve the issue.

“Cleveland cops, I know they’re kind of like understaffed, but just having more cops down here I feel like work prevented it, like a lot,” Holt said.

With the tailgate canceled for the rest of the season, people will still be able to visit the businesses and restaurants for game days. But what happens if the same number of people or bad actors visit the area, despite no tailgate?

“They’re going to have the same issues on [October] 20th and the tailgate is not going to be there to point the finger at,” Angelone said. “So, then what are they going to do? And then who are they going to blame?”

A city spokesperson said fewer people visiting the area will make it easier for police to control any bad actors.

Angelone wants Browns fans who are upset about this change to contact Ward 3 City Council Kerry McCormack at 216-664-2691 or kmccormack@clevelandcitycouncil.org.

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Tino Bovenzi

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