Browns to host Orange & Brown Scrimmage at Ohio Stadium

Before the Browns take the field for the first time at a freshly renovated FirstEnergy Stadium, they’ll square off against each other at one of the nation’s most iconic spots for college football. The Browns announced Thursday they will host the “Orange & Brown Scrimmage” in Columbus on Aug. 7 at Ohio Stadium, home of the 2014 College Football Playoff national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. The late afternoon intrasquad scrimmage, which updates the open practice format of the franchise’s annual Family Day/Family Night, will be free to all fans. A finalized start time will be announced at a later date. “The intrasquad scrimmage is an important element of our preparation for the 2015 season,” Browns coach Mike Pettine said. “Ohio Stadium will provide a great atmosphere for our team to compete, and I’m confident our players and fans will enjoy the experience.” This marks the third different location for the event in as many years, as the Browns continue their efforts to showcase their competitive brand of football across the state of Ohio. After 2013’s Family Night at FirstEnergy Stadium, the Browns were at Akron’s InfoCision Stadium last season. Both events drew more than 20,000 fans. Columbus, a college football-frenzied cornerstone that has grown into one of the nation’s largest cities, is also a hotbed for Browns fans. The city’s metro area is home to 12 Browns Backers clubs and recently ranked fourth among major cities in viewership for the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Close to 75 years since Columbus housed the office of NFL president Joe F. Carr, Browns President Alec Scheiner and other prominent members in the organization have made regular visits to the state capital over the past few years to further strengthen the franchise’s ties to the blossoming area. “We are thrilled to bring the Browns to our State Capital and to our passionate football fans across the state,” Scheiner said. “The Dawg Pound extends across the state and nation, and we know they have a strong presence in the Greater Columbus area. We hope fans from throughout Ohio will be able to experience this event at The Horseshoe to complement our open practices in Berea. We are very grateful for the hospitality extended to us by Columbus, The Ohio State University, the Greater Columbus Sports and the Columbus Partnership to make this event a success.” The scrimmage will provide fans with the opportunity to watch Browns wide receiver Brian Hartline and safety Donte Whitner back in the stadium where they starred as Buckeyes…

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