The Cleveland Browns have a new official health-care provider and sponsor.
The team announced a 10-year partnership Friday with University Hospitals (UH) in Cleveland.
The Browns’ previous relationship, with UH’s rival, the Cleveland Clinic, had lasted for nearly 40 years.
Under the new deal, UH will be responsible for providing primary-care and specialty medical services to the Browns’ players and their families, beginning today, said Dr. Robert Truax, a UH family medicine and sports medicine physician.
“It gives us an opportunity to take all of our knowledge and all of the research we’ve done here at Case Medical Center and apply it at the highest level and to help take the athletes and increase their performance so they can reach better gains and better performance,” said Truax, who is helping to coordinate the medical services UH will provide for the Browns.
UH also will provide urgent care to Browns fans at home games.
The Browns will pay UH for medical services provided to players and their families, UH spokesman Mike Ferrari said.
“Health and safety are very important issues not only for our players, but also for our staff,” Cleveland Browns President Alec Schneider said in a news release. “Our goal is to continually and aggressively look at how we can positively affect our organization. Through this medical partnership, we will further develop innovative and comprehensive programs that enhance athletic performance and wellness.”
Under a separate sponsorship agreement, UH is getting signage at FirstEnergy Stadium and other advertising opportunities.
UH officials declined to release the financial terms of the sponsorship agreement, which makes UH “the Official Health Care Partner of the Cleveland Browns.”
ESPN has reported the UH sponsorship deal is believed to be worth up to $30 million over 10 years.
In a prepared statement, Cleveland Clinic spokeswoman Eileen Sheil said the health system “has been extraordinarily proud to support the Cleveland Browns over the years and to serve as its medical team and hospital provider since 1976.
“In this current health-care environment and historical transformation, Cleveland Clinic is focused on providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable care to our patients,” she said. “With this comes a responsibility to be good stewards of our resources and focus those on our employees and patients first.”
Truax said UH’s new high-profile relationship with the Browns should attract more patients by raising awareness in the region about the health system’s sports medicine services.
“As that rolls out and becomes a natural progression of people seeing what we can offer, then it will obviously grow,” he said.
As a lifelong Browns fan and Northeast Ohio native who grew up in rooting for the team, Truax said also he’s excited to play a role in helping the organization succeed.
“It’s the team that I love,” he said. “My job is to give the coach the healthiest players and fittest players so he can do his job.”
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/CherylPowellABJ.