It is located just south of Cleveland Browns Stadium and has been designed to accommodate large event crowds.

Foundations for the station were put in place when the Waterfront Line was constructed, but the station did not open with the rest of the Waterfront Line on July 10, 1996, since Cleveland Municipal Stadium was being demolished and construction of Cleveland Browns Stadium had not yet begun.

At street level, the station has a glass enclosed station house with a fare booth (usually unattended) and an elevator and stairs leading down to the inbound side platform.

Passengers are asked to queue in different lines based on their destination to facilitate rapid loading of trains and attendants at booths located at the end of the ramp sell RTA tickets and inspect fares.

Media related to West 3rd station at Wikimedia Commons