Since vacating Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1995 and returning to a new Cleveland Browns Stadium in 1999, Browns fans have been given a game day experience that has been less than legendary.
The current brain trust running the team has even referred to the game day experience in Cleveland as "antiquated, unexciting, and uninspiring".
Granted, a large part of that has been the uninspiring product that the Browns have put onto the field over the last 14 years. Going better than 5-11 each year would probably make going to a Browns game a bit less of a yawn-inducing experience.
Since there's no guarantee that the team will suddenly challenge for the playoffs under new head coach Rob Chudzinski, the Browns have apparently settled for the next best thing: Wiener dogs.
Granted, there are other things that the team will do to try to heighten fun on Sundays: A new drum line, big explosions when the team is introduced, a renovated tailgate area, etc. But, still, it's the wiener dogs that captures one's imagination.
The video below, captured by a Seattle Seahawks fan, gives one a sense of what to expect:
As Seahawks fans can attest, there's nothing much that can compare with the unrestrained hilarity of wiener dogs scampering 50 yards downfield.
Since earlier this year, the team has had to endure as less-than-enthusiastic reception to their new General Manager, being publicly humiliated by Chip Kelly, several off-the-field incidents involving players, and swirling investigations around owner Jimmy Haslam.
There's only one tonic for it, really. It's time for the wiener dogs.
