The application for ownership of the Cleveland Browns franchise that will return to the field in 1999 was distributed today.

The NFL will begin reviewing submitted materials on May 15. There will be a full discussion at the NFL spring meeting May 19-20 in Miami of all issues relating to the re-launch of the Browns as an expansion team. A final decision on the ownership of the Browns is not expected to be made for several months.

The application requests information on personal and business background, proposed ownership structure, financial data, and other pertinent information.

After reviewing the applications, the NFL will request an application fee of $150,000 from those groups that qualify for further review. One-half of the fee will be refundable, and the other half will be used by the NFL to invest in youth football and to make charitable contributions to benefit community organizations in the greater Cleveland area.

The NFL will announce the ownership groups after the application fees are received. Until that time, the NFL will not comment on prospective ownership groups.

The Browns, wearing the brown, orange and white colors of the team that represented Cleveland in the NFL from 1950-95, will play their first game during the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Weekend in August 1999 in Canton, Ohio against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Browns’ first game in Cleveland in the new 70,000-seat Cleveland Stadium will be played on August 21, 1999.