AG would sue to block move
Renderings depict Austin stadium
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is prepared to take “necessary legal action” to keep Columbus Crew SC from leaving town.
He agrees that a 1996 state law passed in response to Art Modell’s decision to move the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore could be used to keep the Crew in Columbus.
“The Ohio attorney general’s office has reviewed the law passed after the Browns’ move. We believe the evidence will show that this law would apply to the Columbus Crew and Mapfre Stadium,” DeWine said in a statement.
The basis for the law says no owner of a professional sports team in Ohio that uses tax-supported facilities or gets public financial assistance can move out of town unless the owner gives six months advance notice and gives the city or
local individuals who live in the area the opportunity to purchase the team.
On Wednesday, Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, asked DeWine to take legal action to keep Crew SC in Columbus.
Duffey said he was pleased by DeWine’s announcement.
“I didn’t expect the review to come back that quickly, so I’m really excited about it,” he said. “I felt very confident about what I uncovered.”
Duffey was first to point out that the state could use the law passed after the Browns left for Baltimore to stop the Crew from leaving. He said the team has received state financial benefits in the form of parking improvements, below-market-value leases and tax-free property.
“I think it’s kind of a slam dunk at this point,” he said.
But Micah Derry, state director of Americans for Prosperity — a group back by megadonor Koch Brothers — called it “unfortunate” in a statement that Duffey and DeWine “have expressed such a complete and utter disregard for private property rights.”
Derry added: “As a former season ticket holder myself, I am disappointed Anthony Precourt is seeking to leave Columbus but under no circumstances should the government be attempting to force the sale of a private enterprise. The possibility of losing a sports franchise does not justify this inappropriate use of force and coercion.”
Precourt, Crew SC owneroperator, announced Oct. 17 that he might move the team to Austin if a Downtown stadium does not materialize. So far, talks between city officials and the Crew have not produced results.
Precourt Sports Ventures said in a statement there is “nothing to address” in DeWine's announcement.
Columbus officials have made suggestions on stadium locations, including either Berliner Park or the Dodge Park. But Precourt said after a Nov. 15 meeting that no legitimate offer was proposed.
“Ohioans are very loyal fans who passionately support our teams and take great civic pride in their accomplishments. Our teams are a part of our communities,” DeWine said in a statement.
Through a spokeswoman, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said his office supports any effort that keeps the Crew in Columbus.
Earlier Thursday, the Crew’s ownership group produced preliminary renderings and a sketch of a stadium site at the Butler Shores Metropolitan Park in Austin.
Since announcing Oct. 17 that it would consider relocating the Crew to Austin after the 2018 season, Precourt Sports Ventures has said publicly that it would privately finance a 20,000seat stadium with a price tag in the $200 million range.
Thursday’s rendering depicts a 20,000-seat stadium positioned on the western side of Butler Shores park with a “community plaza” east of the stadium.
Richard Suttle, an attorney in Austin who has been lobbying on behalf of PSV, said in a statement that while there may be other stadium sites for the Major League Soccer team, the Butler Shores location would be “virtually perfect” as long as it is compact and designed with “minimum traffic, light and sound impact as a priority.”
There are, however, some obvious obstacles. The site is the current home of the South Austin Little League, the oldest Little League in Texas. Suttle said PSV is “fully aware” of the need to take care of the league, adding that it will begin a “comprehensive process” to do so.
In an interview with the Austin American-Statesman, PSV President Dave Greeley addressed several concerns with the site, including a lack of on- site parking, sight- line issues and the pervasive heat in Austin in the summer months.
Greeley noted the lack of on-site parking at other MLS venues such as Orlando and Portland and for Austin suggested ride-sharing, biking, walking and perhaps water taxi as methods to counter a lack of parking.
Greeley added that the proposed stadium would be built “15 to 20 feet” into the ground to reduce noise and light pollution and preserve a view of Austin’s skyline. He also suggested 8 p.m. start times for home games to account for traffic and reduce the heat factor.
The Austin City Council passed a resolution Nov. 9 instructing the city manager’s office to examine city-owned sites, including parkland, as possible locations for a soccer-specific stadium and practice facility. That report is due to the city council by Thursday, its next regular meeting.
The use of parkland for the construction of a soccer stadium likely would require a public vote for approval.
Precourt Sports Ventures said in a statement Thursday it does not have additional updates “regarding Columbus-based solutions to the long-term sustainability concerns of Columbus Crew SC.”
“While PSV was told last month by Columbus officials that the city of Columbus would not be communicating further with PSV, we remain committed to exploring strategic options as we have communicated, which can include meaningful and constructive dialogue with Columbus leaders,” the statement read.