Work
Ariat Work and the Cleveland Browns Partner to Recognize the Workers Behind Game Day: The Team Behind the Team
Cleveland knows hard work when it sees it, and it doesn't hold back on the respect. Show up. Put in the hours. Get it right. That's what this city celebrates, on and off the field. Nowhere is that more true than on game day itself.
Most fans see three hours of football on Sunday. What they don't see are the early mornings, long nights, and countless hours it takes to prepare the stadium and field for kickoff. Work that starts long before the gates open and doesn't stop when the final whistle blows.
That's the story behind Ariat's new partnership with the Cleveland Browns. Ariat is now an Official Partner of the Cleveland Browns, the Official Workwear of Huntington Bank Field, and Presenting Partner of the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew. As part of the partnership, Ariat will outfit the Grounds Crew in Ariat Work jackets, footwear, and apparel.
"Cleveland is a city that respects the people who show up, work hard, and take pride in what they do," says Susan Alcala, Ariat's Vice President of Partnership Marketing. "That spirit is what made this partnership such a natural fit for Ariat. The Browns Grounds Crew represents the hardworking professionals Ariat Work is built to support, people whose dedication often happens behind the scenes but is essential to making game day possible. We're proud to recognize their work, support them with gear built to perform, and shine a light on the people who help make football happen."
Watch: The Team Behind the Team
Meet the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew
They're the team behind the team. The group responsible for getting Huntington Bank Field ready for every Browns game, in every condition Cleveland weather can throw at them. The crew runs six full-time and six part-time groundskeepers year-round, growing up to twenty on game day.
Leading them are Head Groundskeeper, Neal Pate, Assistant Head Groundskeeper, Russell Horn and Stadium Field Manager, Andrew Bossard. This season, for the first time, the crew steps into the spotlight as the face of Ariat's newest partnership.
"Neal, Russell, Andrew and the entire grounds crew are the foundation of everything at Huntington Bank Field," says Browns President David Jenkins. "Before the lights come on, before a single rep is run, they've already put in days of preparation to make sure the surface is safe for our team. Players, coaches, and staff don't think about the grass under their feet unless something's wrong with it, and that's exactly the point. They're the unsung heroes of game day, and they represent something we value across every department: showing up and doing the job right, even when no one's watching."
Standing with them is Joe Thomas, an eleven-time Pro Bowler and Browns Hall of Famer who spent a decade playing on this exact field. Thomas is serving as a spokesperson for the partnership, and for him, it's personal. He knows better than most what it takes to show up for this team, week after week. Joe's spent the last decade protecting quarterbacks on this exact field and says the one constant through all of it wasn't any player. It was the crew.
The Work Behind Cleveland Browns Game Day
During the week, it's daily mowing, weekly line painting, and constant field testing, along with near-constant weather monitoring. Weather is the one variable the crew can't control, so they stay in regular contact with the league on tarping strategy and game day expectations, always trying to stay ahead of surprises rather than react to them. Staying adaptable and trusting the preparation matters just as much.
"Most people don't even realize it's a job," says Neal Pate, Head Groundskeeper for the Cleveland Browns. "There's a lot of science behind what we do, a process and a reason for everything, all built around keeping the field performing at the highest level and keeping players safe. For most of my career, if nobody was talking about you, that meant you were doing a good job. Being recognized by a brand whose values line up with the work we put in every day feels different. We wouldn't be doing something like this if it didn't feel like a natural fit for who we are.”
During pregame warmups, with as many as 160 people out on the field at once, is when the crew gets the clearest read on how the surface is going to hold up. It's the moment Pate says he's proudest of each week, seeing everyone out there safely before kickoff.
Ariat Work Gear for the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew
Ariat Work is built for people who tackle the toughest jobs every day. Trusted across industries to help workers stay safe and perform at their best. For the Grounds Crew, that means gear built around the specific demands of the job. Hours on their feet, constant kneeling and bending at ground level, and Cleveland weather that can swing from summer heat to lake-effect snow within the same month. Comfort and how the gear holds up in the elements matter most to the crew, along with the flexibility to move freely through all of it.
We selected Made Tough Pants and shorts, Rebar Lift Boots, Long Sleeve Work Shirts, Heat Fighter Shirts, and durable Hoodies and Jackets to give the crew a head-to-toe system built around what they need most on the job: layers that provide comfort, protection, and durability through whatever a shift throws at them.
Each piece serves a purpose. From durable pants and supportive work boots built for long days on the job, to long sleeve work shirts that provide dependable coverage and all-day comfort, Heat Fighter shirts that help workers stay comfortable in the heat, and hoodies and jackets that add warmth and protection as conditions change.
Together, the assortment gives workers versatile gear they can rely on to stay comfortable, protected, and ready to work, no matter the job or conditions.
Shop the Grounds Crew Kit
R$ 1,100.00
Lightweight yet durable, Rebar® Lift delivers the cushioning and stability you need for long work days. Built to perform in outdoor conditions, and versatile enough to wear anywhere.
Rebar Lift 6" Waterproof Work Boot. The waterproof construction is built for exactly the conditions the crew works in most: wet turf, morning dew, and mud, through a full shift on their feet.
R$ 210.00
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R$ 235.00
An all-around easy tee that's great for outdoor jobs, our Rebar® Heat Fighter T-shirt is made of moisture-wicking mesh that keeps you cool and comfortable all day long. The lightweight fabric has a stain-resistant finish to keep you looking sharp, even on dirty job sites.
Rebar Heat Fighter Long Sleeve Shirt. Built with lightweight, breathable fabric designed to keep you cool, suited to the long, hot stretches of early-season field prep.
R$ 605.00
When the job gets rough and the temperature drops, this fully insulated jacket keeps up—and keeps you comfortable. Built with CORDURA® Advanced Fabrics, it stands up to hard wear while locking in warmth and blocking cold, wind, and weather.
Rebar Cordura Ripstop Insulated Jacket. Insulated and built with ripstop construction to hold up through the wind and cold of a Cleveland winter, keeping the crew on the field through late-season games.
R$ 300.00
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R$ 325.00
Unmatched fit that's built for real work, these pants deliver comfort that moves with you all day. Cut closer through the seat and thigh with a classic straight leg, they offer a clean fit, while Made Tough® canvas stands up to rough jobs.
Rebar M5 DuraStretch Made Tough Straight Pant. Built with stretch fabric that moves through a full shift of kneeling, bending, and walking miles across the field without wearing out.
Also part of the crew's kit: the Rebar Cotton Strong Long Sleeve Shirt, Rebar Lightweight Logo Hoodie, Rebar M5 Straight DuraStretch Edge Jean, and Rebar DuraStretch Made Tough Short, layers built to move with the crew through every phase of a Cleveland football season.
Supporting the Workers Who Make Game Day Possible
The Grounds Crew isn't the only workforce behind Huntington Bank Field. As part of the partnership, Ariat will also outfit construction workers building the future with Ariat Work gear. A separate effort from the Grounds Crew kit, rooted in the same idea.
"Both crews embody everything Ariat stands for,” Susan says. “Craftsmanship, grit, showing up before anyone asks you to. Ariat Work is built for hardworking professionals across industries, so it was only natural for this partnership to extend beyond game day. Construction workers and the Browns Grounds Crew may do quite different jobs, but they share the same need for gear that delivers comfort, durability, and performance in demanding conditions. Whether they're building for the future or preparing the field for kickoff, we want to support the people doing the work that makes it all possible."
For Jenkins, that recognition means something closer to home.
"It means a lot to finally see this be about them," Jenkins says. "Neal, Russ, and the rest of the crew have earned this many times over, and I'm glad they're finally getting something that's theirs. A logo on a sign is easy. A partnership built on shared values is harder to find, and that's what we found with Ariat."
Together, Ariat and the Cleveland Browns are celebrating the people who make football possible, long before kickoff and long after the lights go down. The Grounds Crew. The construction workers building the future of the Browns. The ones who show up and do the work, whether anyone's watching or not. We look forward to building on this partnership and showcasing the people whose dedication lays the foundation for game day, season after season.
Ready to Gear Up Like the Grounds Crew?
Boots, layers, and workwear built for early mornings, long shifts, and everything a Cleveland gameday throws at you.
Cleveland Browns x Ariat Work FAQs
What is the Ariat Work and Cleveland Browns partnership?
Ariat is now an Official Partner of the Cleveland Browns, the Official Workwear of Huntington Bank Field, and the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew. As part of the partnership, Ariat outfits the Grounds Crew with Ariat Work jackets, footwear, and apparel, and also outfits construction workers building and maintaining the stadium with Ariat Work gear.
Who is the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew?
The Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew is led by Head Groundskeeper Neal Pate, Assistant Head Groundskeeper Russell Horn, Stadium Field Manager, Andrew Bossard, along with three Assistant Groundskeepers: Shaun Card, Trystian Vecchio and Ian Anderson. The crew includes six full-time and six part-time groundskeepers year-round, growing to fifteen to twenty people on game day.
What does the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew do on game day?
Throughout the week, the crew handles daily mowing, weekly line painting, and constant field testing, along with monitoring weather and coordinating with the league on tarping strategy. On game day itself, the goal is a field that performs consistently and keeps players safe from the opening kickoff through the final whistle.
What Ariat Work gear will the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew wear?
Ariat will outfit the Cleveland Browns Grounds Crew with Ariat Work jackets, footwear, and apparel, including the Rebar Lift 6" Waterproof Work Boot, Rebar Heat Fighter Long Sleeve Shirt, and Rebar Cordura Ripstop Insulated Jacket, among other pieces built for field conditions across the season.
How does the Ariat and Cleveland Browns partnership support other workers?
As part of the partnership, Ariat will also outfit construction workers with Ariat Work gear who are building expansion and development projects.