Cleveland Browns President Mike Holmgren wants fans to behave

In the Mike Holmgren Era, fans will be enthusiastic and supportive. Not aggressive or obscene. Not spilling beers or vehemently taunting opposing fans. Not being obnoxious or offensive. At least that's the goal.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Mike Holmgren has a vision for the Browns. It involves winning, of course. Loads of winning.

He also has dreams of Cleveland Browns Stadium becoming the kind of place where he can bring his grandchildren and wife; where he can roam through pregame tailgates for good-natured discussions with fans, as he did when coaching in Green Bay and Seattle.

In the Mike Holmgren Era, which officially began this weekend with the opening of Browns training camp, fans will be enthusiastic and supportive.

Not aggressive or obscene. Not spilling beers or vehemently taunting opposing fans. Not being obnoxious or offensive.

After hearing too many stories of longtime season-ticket holders not renewing seats because they were disgusted with the behavior of out-of-hand fans at Browns Stadium, Holmgren is taking his first steps in overhauling the culture of the Browns organization by making a simple request: Please behave, Browns fans.

Make Browns Stadium a difficult place for opponents to play, but don't make it a place where some of Cleveland's own fans won't attend games because of disgust with your behavior.

For now, the plan is simply to send the message, starting from the top. Holmgren's "Home-Field Advantage" campaign will kick off with visible reminders on signs throughout the stadium that fans need to maintain civil language and behavior while cheering on the Browns. In-game videos might follow.

"Right now what we want to do is really just spread the word, spread the message that we want to create an atmosphere where everyone can go to the game and feel good," Holmgren said. "It'll be a fun experience. It'll be a safe experience. And you're not going to have to worry about someone ruining the game for you."

The rules for behavior -- as specified in a Code of Conduct issued by the NFL in 2008 -- aren't changing. But the enforcement of those rules might alter this season with Holmgren in charge.

"Maybe we're a little stricter in how we enforce some of the stuff and just take a little harder stance in controlling it," Holmgren said.

That means aggressively pursuing any complaints from fans, who can send discreet texts to Browns security during games when anyone is interfering with enjoyment of the game. It might mean more arrests and more ejections from games. And, if need be, the revoking of season tickets.

For now, the Browns don't plan on increasing their level of security.

Already, about 175 security members patrol the stadium as both undercover and visible officers. The 220 ushers in the stadium carry pagers to dispatch police, housekeeping, medical staff or a supervisor if issues arise. And 80 cameras that can zoom all the way onto fans' faces blanket the stadium, inside and out.

The City of Cleveland is responsible for policing popular tailgating areas such as the Municipal Lot on South Marginal Road along the Shoreway. About 10,000 fans tailgate there before, during and after each game. Cleveland Police staff the Muni Lot with 12-15 officers, according to Safety Director Martin Flask. Recent discussions with the Browns have addressed whether there is a need for stricter enforcement of open-container laws or more officers.

"We want everybody to have a safe and enjoyable experience," Flask said. "Sometimes excessive alcohol consumption gets in the way of that. We need to be mindful of that."

The problem is not new. The city addressed fan behavior with a strong-armed approach in 2002 after Browns fans embarrassed the organization and city in 2001 by showering the field with bottles over an official's controversial call. Former Mayor Jane Campbell and the Browns worked with Cleveland police to enforce open-container laws in pregame tailgates.

"Once they did that, lo and behold, people behaved," Campbell said then.

But many tailgaters were angered by the crackdown, and enforcement has eased in the years since.

Holmgren says he can practically hear fans' complaints, already, that he is trying to squash the fun of Browns fans by requesting toned-down behavior. But Holmgren counters that is precisely what he doesn't want because he values the impact fans can have on the outcome of games.

When Holmgren went to Browns Stadium as a visiting coach, he ranked Cleveland's fans among the top five in the NFL.

"We don't want to create a police state," Holmgren said. "I don't want to do that. That's not the point. The point is making it fun, and not take one ounce of enthusiasm, not take one ounce away from a fan's ability to cheer their team on.

"This might be a tough thing for some people to get their hands around; it might seem as if we're making an attempt to lose our home-field advantage. I would say, on the contrary."

Holmgren also understands some burden in altering fan behavior lies with the team. Generally, when teams win, fan behavior tends to improve. If Holmgren's vision for the team materializes, he envisions fan behavior will improve, as well.

"I think it goes hand-in-hand when the team's doing well, you want to watch the game and be part of it," he said. "The fans are very, very important in the team's success. Instead of acting up, you're cheering for the team."

Regardless of how the Mike Holmgren Era begins on the field this season, however, the new Browns president wants to send the message that he is demanding improvements from fans, as well.

"As an organization, I think you owe it to the vast majority of people who go to the game and want to watch the game and enjoy the game and feel good about bringing their kids or their wife or their grandma to the game," Holmgren said.