Hey businesses, save the Crew

Columbus Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt is not the devil. He is a businessman, making decisions best for his business. Has he taken a less than an honorable route dealing with our city? Of course, and all of us fighting to keep this team here have not appreciated his tactics.

Alex Fischer, CEO of the Columbus Partnership, and Mayor Andrew J. Ginther certainly have not appreciated his tactics, but that ship has sailed. The blame game has to stop. We don’t make productive progress by issuing negative and entirely unnecessary press releases.

The offers to buy half the team or the entire team were not sufficient to get Precourt’s attention. Precourt has the right to reject offers that do not meet his expectations. We need a private funding plan for a stadium, and there exists a road map for it to happen. Doug Kridler ignited the conversation; he is correct that corporate players have to step up to provide the land, the naming rights and the overall sponsorship to build a stadium.

Blame cannot be assessed to the mayor, the city council, or the Franklin County commissioners. There is no appetite here for direct public funding in any manner for a sports venue; however, indirect public funding in the form of a parking structure, road infrastructure and tax abatement is certainly viable.

Let’s cut to the chase. I believe Nationwide Realty, the real-estate investment arm of Nationwide Insurance, holds the Crew’s future in its hands. It has been conspicuously silent regarding the Crew. In fairness, it has done much for our city, and perhaps it feels its investment in the Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena present a conflict. But counter this with the fact that Nationwide Arena is receiving public financing dollars.

This discussion is about the community and the national reputation of Columbus. Nationwide Realty owns property that could not have been carved out more perfectly for a stadium location, given the nexus to both Nationwide Arena and Huntington Park. The energy of these three sports venues, near each other, in Downtown, would be indescribable.

It obviously would take more than a grant of the perfect land to build a stadium, but this is a field of dreams. If Nationwide Realty steps up, they will come. Other major corporate players in this city and region also have stayed on the sidelines. Cardinal Health, given the recent and perhaps unfair attacks by politicians looking for scapegoats, could turn the conversation by funding naming rights: imagine Cardinal Stadium.

Finally, let’s look at economic reality. Austin isn’t going to do anything for Precourt. Unrealistic construction numbers have been floated for this stadium, this is an $80 million stadium, not the $200 million stadiums being built in New York and California. Say $20 million of that comes through a land donation from Nationwide; Cardinal or others step up for another $25 million in naming rights; and Precourt funds the remainder: The team stays.

Our city cannot afford to lose this team. Corporations that have the corporate dollars can save it. They just need the will. Columbus