CRAINSCLEVELAND.COM I MARCH 18, 2024
SOLAR ECLIPSE
Expectations are mixed for turnout, economic windfall
Cleveland stands to benefit from the Women’s NCAA tournament, eclipse and Guardians’ home opener convergence next month By Kim Palmer
NASA
Cleveland stands — and hopes — to reap the economic benefit of a convergence of sports and science in April when the solar eclipse path of totality peaks just one day after the NCAA Women’s Basketball women’s national championship game and just hours before the Cleveland Guardians’ home opener Although all of North America (except Alaska) will experience at least a partial eclipse, Cleveland is within 25 miles of the “central line” of totality and closer means
a better, longer view of what author David Baron describes as, “looking with the naked eye at the center of the solar system.” Baron, an avid umbraphile, also known as an eclipse chaser, and author of “AMERICAN ECLIPSE: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World,” said Cleveland’s place on the solar eclipse totality path Monday, April 8, makes it well suited for visitors who want to experience peak moon shadow. See ECLIPSE on Page 16
Inside: Device allows smartphones to photograph eclipse without damage. PAGE 4 Health experts: Protect your eyes during the eclipse to prevent vision loss. PAGE 4 From crowd size to traffic, Cuyahoga County plots Eclipse Day public safety plan. PAGE 6 History threatens a cloudy Eclipse Day, some seek backup plans for a clear view. PAGE 7
ShotStop Ballistics ceases operations amid investigation ShotStop Ballistics, a company in Stow that has been described as a maker and supplier of ballistic plates, body armor and related products, has ceased operations following a federal raid and investigation into the business that remains ongoing. This has left many investors in the 9-year-old company in the lurch, at least some of whom are not expecting to see any — or at least any further — financial returns. Marketing materials for ShotStop have stated that the company’s American-made products
Inside: ShotStop faces investor lawsuits unrelated to federal investigation. PAGE 2 have been used by civilians as well as law enforcement, tactical, military and security groups. U.S. law enforcement agencies use ballistic-resistant body armor deemed compliant with standards set by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). This is emphasized by the National Sheriffs’ Association Mandatory Body Armor Policy, for example. See SHOTSTOP on Page 15
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PIXABAY
By Jeremy Nobile
No ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution
Browns Stadium design firm exec talks trends, renovating versus replacing By Joe Scalzo
When Populous executive Jonathan Mallie talks about NFL stadiums, one of the questions he’s often asked is, “Should they have a roof or not?” It’s a straightforward question ... without a straightforward answer. “Every city, every ownership group, every team — it’s different,” said Mallie, senior princi-
pal and director for Populous, a global architectural design firm that specializes in stadiums and arenas. “It’s very city-specific.” For instance, the NFL’s most iconic stadium — Lambeau Field — is an open-air facility located in one of the league’s coldest cities: Green Bay, Wisconsin. “Could you imagine the Green Bay Packers with a roof?” Mallie asked. Nope, just as you can’t really
imagine the Buffalo Bills or Chicago Bears or Pittsburgh Steelers playing indoors. But the Cleveland Browns? Well, the idea appeals to a segment of Clevelanders who have shivered through a quarter century of (mostly) awful December games inside a stadium that sits empty 350 days a year, including all of Taylor Swift's tour dates. See STADIUM on Page 16
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