New stadium nice, but support priceless
Crew owner should reconsider move
For anyone who doesn’t know that Columbus and the Crew SC belong together, Tuesday’s 4-1 playoff win over New York City SC should dispel any doubt. The Massive passion of Crew fans was on full display in a fired-up Mapfre Stadium.
That’s not to say Columbus won’t lose the team; owner Anthony Precourt hasn’t recanted his stated desire to move the Crew to Austin after strongly implying last month that he would do so if he can’t get the city or others to build him a Downtown stadium.
But, can this marriage be saved?
We believe so. The response of fans since Precourt’s bombshell announcement two weeks ago makes clear that the team has deep support here; and the team’s impassioned playoff performances in Atlanta and at home show the team responds to that fan love. We hope Precourt recognizes this as the invaluable asset it is — that this community will back a good business decision and a winning team — and come to the table to see if we might preserve and grow an otherwise successful union.
The #SaveTheCrew movement was launched immediately after Precourt’s Oct. 17 announcement, and by the following Sunday, more than 2,000 people showed up at a rally for the cause in front of City Hall.
Cars are spotted around town with that rallying cry scrawled on windshields, and “Save the Crew” banners and chants filled the Mapfre Stadium stands Tuesday. Someone even paid for an airplane to fly over the stadium with a banner. Credit for Tuesday’s large and loud crowd, on a cold trick-or-treat night, goes to Crew supporters who bombarded social media with their own marketing campaign.
Meanwhile, Precourt has been largely silent.
Many Crew faithful were discouraged when he bowed to pressure from angry season-ticket holders and offered refunds for next year, believing it was a sure sign the Crew is leaving.
True black-and-gold fans might want to hold off on taking him up on that offer. If anything, those who want to keep the Crew should consider buying in.
A move isn’t certain. While Precourt seems to favor a move to Austin, civic leaders there have made it plain they’re also not interested in using taxpayer money to build a stadium. And the Major League Soccer organization faces a possible legal challenge from folks in San Antonio, who understandably are irate that the league apparently was talking with Precourt about a Crew move to Austin while encouraging San Antonio to spend money and time bidding for an expansion team.
The simple fact is, the Crew SC has special value in Columbus, because of its history as the league’s charter city. Soccer lovers around the world are pulling for Columbus. Yes, attendance has slid somewhat in recent years, but marketing and advertising for the Crew haven’t exactly been robust.
What is needed now is some frank talk and trust. All sides — the league, Precourt, Columbus leaders and fans — can contribute to a solution that keeps the Crew in Columbus. Which is where it belongs.