Crew introduce new food options for 2023
Merry Crewsmas! The Crew are back at Lower.com Field on Saturday for the 2023 home opener against D.C. United, their first home game in 154 days.
Whether you’re heading to Saturday’s game or planning a visit later in the year, when temperatures are a little warmer and the sun is out — Saturday looks to be chilly, with the temperature in the low 30s for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff — here’s everything you need to know about what’s new at the Crew’s stadium for 2023:
New goal song
The Crew held a fan vote for a new goal song, and the winner will be revealed when and if the Crew score on Saturday. The three options were “Booyah” by Showtek featuring We Are Loud and Sunny Wilson, “Pepas” by Farruko and “Cup of Life” (E’clipse 2014 WM Remix) by Ricky Martin.
The new goal song won’t be the only new element at Crew games. The club has kept details vague, out of a desire to maintain the surprise for Saturday, but a new pre-match moment has been added called the “match ignitor,” which is “meant to ignite the crowd and highlight an individual with ties to the Columbus community.”
The jackhammer post-goal celebration, which pays homage to the original Crew logo with three construction workers, will take place in a newly constructed area called “Construction Cove,” intended to feel more like an actual construction zone.
All fans will be able to vote on the Man of the Match beginning in the 70th minute. The winner will be announced after “Wise Men” is sung with the Nordecke.
New food, beer options
The Crew have partnered with three new craft breweries — Garage Beer,
Wolf’s Ridge Brewing and Zaftig — to expand the beer options available, in addition to the existing partnership with Land-grant.
For the early games of the season, when it’s cold enough to want a hot beverage, a new loaded hot chocolate will be available at Pitchside Snacks in section 107. The Tim Hortons locations have also added vanilla, hazelnut and caramel syrup options for its coffees and hot chocolates.
The Crew have also introduced several new food items for this season. Hard hat nachos, which feature mango barbecue brisket, queso blanco, sour cream and pickled jalapenos will be available at Columbus Craves in sections 122 and 138.
In sections 110, 122 and 138 at Links and Beers and Columbus Craves, they’ve added a bacon jalapeno cheddar brat to the offerings. A burger featuring a beef patty, barbecue pulled pork, cheddar cheese, crispy fried onions and barbecue sauce — called the smokestack burger — has been added to the menu at The Pub.
Dirty Franks, in section 143, has two new desserts, a blondie with chocolate chips and a graham cracker crust — officially named “Blondies Have S’more Fun” — and funnel cake fries.
Mobile ordering options have also been added for four locations: Crew Grill (section 105), Donatos (section 107 and 132) and Hot Chicken Takeover (section 124).
Clubs and suites
The Crew added two new premium seating areas, theater boxes in the corners of sections 131 and 101/102 and a “Party Deck” above the Nordecke. Each Party Deck ticket includes all-inclusive food and beverage, and the theater boxes also include all-inclusive food and beverages as well as access to the Tipico Sportsbook Club.
The new food offerings extend to both the Tipico Sportsbook Club and the River Club, with a new carvery station that will feature a different meat option each game.