It didn't take long for the sale of the Cleveland Browns to become official. Less than one week after reports surfaced that Randy Lerner had entered discussions to sell the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Thursday morning that deal with Jimmy Haslam was now official. According to Schefter, the sale price was for more than $1 billion:
Sale of Browns is now official and complete. Randy Lerner sold them to Jimmy Haslam for in excessof $1 billion.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 2, 2012
Reports last week indicated that the sale price would come in short of $1 billion but that appears to have changed. It was also reported last week that Lerner would retain a 30 percent stake in the team.
Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan also tweeted that he's heard Haslam has been in Berea this week, undoubtedly familiarizing himself with the operations as the sale came to a close:
Heard rumor that Jimmy Haslam has been in the building this week and continues to be behind the scenes
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) August 2, 2012
The team has yet to confirm Schefter's report.
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