Cleveland Cancels West 6th Street Browns Tailgates Due to Safety Concerns

CLEVELAND – The City of Cleveland has announced that it will cancel all remaining West 6th Street Browns tailgates for the 2024 season, citing ongoing concerns about public safety. City officials say the decision follows increasing incidents of "lawless behavior" associated with the popular event, which draws large crowds during Browns home games.

In a statement, city spokesperson Tyler Sinclair explained the reasons behind the decision. "The City has monitored the tailgate throughout the season and has become aware of escalating behavior the event draws," Sinclair said. He noted that the city had previously raised concerns with event organizers about both the size of the crowd and the resources required to manage the event. "Unfortunately, the lawless behavior continued, and the decision was made to not issue permits for the tailgate going forward this year."

West 6th Street tailgates, a longstanding tradition for Browns fans, are held in an area known for its bars and restaurants, which city officials believe contributes to the difficulty of managing the event. Sinclair highlighted that the decision to cancel permits for the remainder of the year was made with public safety in mind. "The City has an obligation to prioritize public safety above everything else," he said.

Gus Angelone, better known as "Pumpkinhead," the organizer of the West 6th tailgate, shared the news of the cancellation on social media, expressing disappointment with the city’s decision. Angelone stated that while issues have occurred near or in the vicinity of the tailgate, they were not directly connected to the event itself. He added that his team has been working to find an alternate location but has faced challenges in getting permits approved.

"There have been issues AFTER our events and city officials have been unable to handle all the safety issues being brought up by the neighborhood property owners," the statement read. Angelone clarified that the incidents raising concerns were not happening directly at the tailgate but in nearby areas. "So, a couple bad apples have ruined the bunch for everyone," he added.

While the West 6th tailgate is suspended for the rest of the season, the city confirmed that other popular tailgate locations, including the Muni Lot and The Pit, will not be affected by this decision. These events will continue to operate under the city's regular public safety guidelines.

In his statement, Sinclair also pointed to the city’s broader public safety goals, noting that Cleveland has seen "extraordinary decreases in homicides and overall violent crime" this year. The city hopes to maintain this progress by taking "deliberate actions" to ensure safety at large public gatherings, like the West 6th tailgates.

Discussions are ongoing between the city and event organizers about what the West 6th tailgate could look like in future seasons. Suggestions include increased security measures and more structured event planning to address safety concerns while preserving the event’s tradition.

Additional news coverage on this, from other local networks, can be found at the following sources:

1. WKYC, "Amid 'lawless behavior,' Cleveland officials end West 6th Street Browns tailgates for remainder of year," Available online.

2. Cleveland 19 News, "Cleveland business owners say no more West 6th Street Browns tailgates for the rest of the year," Available online.

3. News 5 Cleveland, "Here's why the West 6th Tailgate is postponed for the 2024 season," Available online.