Saved the Crew? Local group in negotiations to keep MLS in Columbus
Columbus may retain its top-level soccer franchise after Major League Soccer released a statement confirming an investor group is attempting to buy the Crew.
The group, featuring the family of Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, also plans to build the club a new home in downtown Columbus, therefore leaving Mapfre Stadium behind, according to Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl.
MLS is apparently committed to honoring the promise to Crew owner Anthony Precourt to launch a franchise in Austin, Texas. ESPN's Jeff Carlisle understands the group attempting to save the Crew plans to keep the existing players, technical staff, and front office staff in Columbus.
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"Major League Soccer and the Columbus Partnership have been working together for several months on a plan to keep the Crew in Columbus and we have made significant progress," MLS said in a prepared statement.
"MLS, the Columbus Partnership and the investor group all agree that for the Club to be successful, it requires strong local owners, long-term corporate support, a strong season ticket base and long-term plans for a stadium, practice facilities and associated sites. MLS is committed to keeping the Crew in Columbus should we continue to make progress on these critical components and agree to key terms with the investor group."
Dee and Jimmy Haslam confirmed their efforts to purchase the Columbus Crew while assuring Browns fans they are still devoted to the NFL franchise.
"We value and appreciate the benefits a professional sports franchise can bring to a community and are hopeful to be part of the solution to keep the Crew in Columbus," the statement read. "We would invest in a strong infrastructure within the Crew organization so that we can continue our focus and commitment to building a winning Cleveland Browns football team in Northeast Ohio. We look forward to seeing how this process evolves."
Alex Fischer has been a prominent figure in trying to keep the Crew in Columbus. He is president of the Columbus Partnership, a civic organization dedicated to bringing investment into the city, and the collective provided its own perspective on Friday's news in a joint statement.
"We are optimistic about our recent conversations with Major League Soccer regarding the potential sale of the operating rights of the Columbus Crew SC," read the statement tweeted by Fischer. "While there are many details to be worked out, our alliance is working diligently and collaboratively with the League to keep Crew SC in its community. We are very excited about the quiet but deliberate progress that has been made to date and will keep the community updated as this process moves forward."