football club
The Columbus Crew, once known as Columbus Crew SC and concisely Columbus SC, are an american professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The Crew competes in Major League Soccer ( MLS ) as a member of the league ‘s Eastern Conference and began play in 1996 as one of the 10 charter clubs of the league. [ 4 ] The team is presently operated by an ownership group led by the Haslam family ( besides owners of the Cleveland Browns ) and former team doctor Pete Edwards. The Haslam/Edwards group is the third base possession group in club history.
Reading: Columbus Crew
The franchise was founded in 1994. Its stadium is Lower.com Field, opened in 2021. From 1999 to 2021, the Crew played home games at Historic Crew Stadium ( once Mapfre Stadium and Columbus Crew Stadium ), the first soccer-specific stadium built for an MLS team, with a seating capacity of 19,968 as of the 2015 temper. From 1996 to 1998, the Crew played its home games at Ohio Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University. [ 4 ] In 2014, the team set club attendance records for both most accumulative attendance and most sellouts. [ 5 ] The Crew have won six major trophies : the MLS Cup in 2008 and 2020 ; the Supporters ‘ Shield in 2004, 2008, and 2009 ; and the 2002 U.S. Open Cup. The Crew have qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League ( or its predecessor, the CONCACAF Champions ‘ Cup ) four times, reaching the quarter-finals on the inaugural three occasions .
history [edit ]
The begin ( 1994–1998 ) [edit ]
The Crew played their beginning bet on on April 13, 1996, at Ohio Stadium On June 15, 1994, Major League Soccer announced that Columbus, Ohio, would be home to one of the ten initiation members of the new top flight north american professional soccer league. Columbus had promised structure of a soccer-specific stadium and had sold over 12,000 season ticket deposits. [ 6 ] The team was tentatively named the Columbus Eclipse in its lotion to the league, as a solar eclipse had passed over the city after reaching the league ‘s 10,000-deposit minimum, but it was finally renamed the Crew. [ 7 ] MLS investor Lamar Hunt, and his son Clark became the owners of both the Columbus Crew and Kansas City Wizards in 1996. The inaugural players for the Crew were south african national team veteran Doctor Khumalo, by appointment, and Brian McBride. McBride was selected as the first overall pick in MLS ‘s first draft in 1996. Former U.S. National Team coach Timo Liekoski would be the team ‘s head coach for its first season. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] The Crew played their first game on April 13, 1996, in movement of a home push of 25,266 in Ohio Stadium against D.C. United and won 4–0. [ 10 ] Columbus would struggle, however, winning alone 5 of their following 21 games. After the 6–16 starting signal, Tom Fitzgerald replaced head bus Liekoski. [ 11 ] The Crew, under Fitzgerald, won 9 of their last 10 games to finish fourthly in the Eastern Conference. They went on to lose in the conference playoff semi-finals. [ 12 ] The Black & Gold finished 15–17 in both 1997 and 1998, which put them in one-third and fourth place, respectively, in the Eastern Conference. Each season ended with losses in the Conference Finals to D.C. United. The Crew reached the 1998 U.S. Open Cup Final, however, the peer was postponed due to a hurricane and controversially relocated from Virginia Beach to Soldier Field in Chicago then the home of Chicago Fire, who won the peer 2 to 1 after supernumerary time. Stern John, in his foremost of two seasons with Columbus, was the 1998 scoring champion, amassing 26 goals and 5 assists. [ 9 ] [ 12 ]
A newfangled home ( 1999–2003 ) [edit ]
Columbus ‘s 1999 season began with the opening of Columbus Crew Stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States. Columbus won their first game in the stadium, 2–0, against New England Revolution in front of a sell-out crowd of 24,741. Columbus would finish in second rate at 19–13, but would lose in the conference finals to D.C. United for the one-third uncoiled season. The 1999 season was the last for Stern John who scored 52 goals in 65 games for the club. [ 9 ] The team had the lowest goals against average in the Eastern Conference, [ 13 ] and Mark Dougherty became the first goalkeeper in league history to record 50 wins, with a 4–2 gain over the MetroStars on August 18, 1999, at Giants Stadium. [ 14 ] Dante Washington was acquired from the Dallas Burn to replace John, but his 13 goals in 2000 was not enough to propel the Crew to the playoffs. For the first gear time, Columbus failed to reach the postseason. Columbus got off to a slow 1–3–2 beginning in 2001, which led to the substitute of bus Tom Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, who had coached 161 of the Crew ‘s first base 183 MLS matches over parts of six seasons between 1996 and 2001, was replaced by Greg Andrulis. Andrulis would lead the Black & Gold to a 2nd-place finish in 2001 but the team was ousted from the playoffs in the league quarterfinals. [ 9 ] [ 12 ] In 2002, Columbus would win the U.S. Open Cup for the inaugural time in team history. They advanced to the finals by beating the Richmond Kickers, MetroStars, and Kansas City Wizards. In the final examination, they beat LA Galaxy, who had just won the MLS Cup earlier in the week. Freddy García scored the merely finish and keeper Jon Busch posted the shutout in Columbus ‘s 1–0 succeed. It was the first championship in team history. [ 15 ] The Crew finished 11–12–5 in the regular temper and finished in a tie for first place. They lost in the league semi-finals to New England. Kyle Martino won cub of the year in 2002, a first for the Crew. By winning the 2002 U.S. Open Cup, Columbus received a bid to play in the 2003 CONCACAF Champions ‘ Cup. They advanced to the second round by beating Árabe Unido 4–2 on sum in the first gear round before losing to Monarcas Morelia, 6–2. McBride would play his final examination season with Columbus in 2003 before joining Fulham of the Premier League. [ 9 ] [ 12 ]
Transitions ( 2004–2006 ) [edit ]
With the departure of Brian McBride, Columbus added Robin Fraser and Simon Elliott to the golf club. These additions proved to be critical as Fraser went on to win the Defender of the Year prize in 2004. The Crew set a franchise record for points, 49, by going 12–5–13, thanks in separate to an 18-game unbeaten streak ( 8–0–10 ) to end the season. Despite winning the Supporters ‘ Shield for best record in the league, the golf club would be eliminated from the MLS Cup in the easterly Conference semi-finals. In his final season for the Black & Gold, Jeff Cunningham scored his 62nd finish, which tied him with McBride for the franchise record. [ 9 ] [ 12 ] Over both of the future two seasons, Columbus battled injuries to several players and struggled to win many games. Despite winning the MLS Coach of the Year Award in 2004, [ 16 ] Andrulis was replaced on an interim basis by Robert Warzycha center through the 2005 season. After missing playoffs in the 2005 temper, the golf club would hire former L.A. Galaxy and UCLA head coach Sigi Schmid. Schmid had won an MLS Cup and U.S. Open Championship in his six seasons with Galaxy. [ 17 ] Warzycha remained on staff under Schmid. In 2006, the Crew went on a 13-game winless stripe ( 0–7–6 ) between June 10 and August 19. The season ended on a tragic note when team founder and owner Lamar Hunt died on December 14, 2006. [ 9 ] [ 12 ] [ 18 ] Around this fourth dimension, Columbus Crew supporters began using the term “ massive ” to describe the club and city, at beginning ironically, but then as a term of pride and endearment of the club that continuously fought the odds. [ 19 ]
The Barros Schelotto era ( 2007–2010 ) [edit ]
The 2007 season in Major League Soccer started with news program that global icon David Beckham signed with the LA Galaxy. [ 20 ] The Crew followed become by signing Guillermo Barros Schelotto on April 19, 2007. [ 21 ] Columbus besides signed forward Alejandro Moreno to bolster its attack. flush with these newfangled players, the Crew still missed the playoffs in 2007. [ 9 ] In 2008, the Crew won its first MLS Cup. Led by Barros Schelotto, who scored seven goals and had 19 assists and won the MLS Most Valuable Player Award, [ 22 ] the team besides won its second gear Supporters ‘ Shield. After going 17–7–6 in the regular season, the Black & Gold won playoff games against Kansas City and Chicago Fire before beating the New York Red Bulls 3–1 in the final examination. Chad Marshall won MLS Defender of the Year award, and Sigi Schmid won Coach of the Year. [ 9 ] [ 12 ] After the 2008 season, Sigi Schmid left Columbus to coach Seattle Sounders FC, and the team named former musician and adjunct coach Robert Warzycha head coach. In 2009, Barros Schelotto was rewarded with the honor of becoming the franchise ‘s inaugural Designated Player. [ 23 ] The golf club went 13–7–10 in the regular season, effective adequate for 49 points and their irregular consecutive Supporters ‘ Shield. The Crew was eliminated by Real Salt Lake in the two-legged Eastern Conference semi-finals, 4–2 on aggregate. Chad Marshall won his second base consecutive MLS Defender of the Year award. [ 9 ] Columbus started the 2010 season in the CONCACAF Champions League. They reached the quarterfinals, but lost to Toluca in March. The club finished the season 14–8–8, but lost in the quarter-finals of the MLS Cup playoffs to the Colorado Rapids. The Crew lost 2–1 in the 2010 U.S. Open Cup Final at Qwest Field, home of Seattle Sounders FC. [ 9 ]
Warzycha ‘s Final Years ( 2011–2013 ) [edit ]
In 2011, the Crew finished ninth in the league at 13–13–8 and lost in the angry wag round of the playoffs to the Colorado Rapids. [ 24 ] [ 25 ] In 2012, the club finished sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 15–12–7 commemorate. They would narrowly miss the playoffs. On September 2, 2013, the Crew parted ways with Head Coach Robert Warzycha after an embarrass home personnel casualty to the Seattle Sounders, combined with a highly thwart fanbase. Brian Bliss, the Crew ‘s technical film director, took over as interim head passenger car. [ 26 ] This effectively ended his stay with the baseball club since 1996, when he joined the club as a player .
The Precourt earned run average ( 2013–2018 ) [edit ]
On July 30, 2013, Anthony Precourt became the second base investor-operator in the history of the club. [ 27 ] Precourt upgraded portions of Crew Stadium, adenine well as evolving the team ‘s mark in a way that identified with the city of Columbus, all within his first 15 months with the club. On November 6, 2013, Precourt announced that Gregg Berhalter would be the cabaret ‘s new head bus. [ 28 ] Berhalter besides became the first sporting film director in golf club history. The 2014 temper saw Columbus render to the postseason for the beginning time since 2011. Under Berhalter, the Crew finished the year 14–10–10, good enough for the third seed in the Eastern Conference of the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Crew besides sent two of its players to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, center back Giancarlo González and left back Waylon Francis, who both represented Costa Rica during the tournament. Gonzalez was hailed for his performance, being named to ESPN ‘s Best xi of the group stage. [ 29 ] Berhalter was nominated for 2014 MLS Head Coach of the Year. Likewise, goalkeeper Steve Clark was nominated for 2014 Goalkeeper of the Year and Michael Parkhurst won the Individual Fair Play Award for the third clock time. [ 30 ] Off the field, the Black & Gold announced sports industry veteran Andy Loughnane as its new President of Business Operations on August 16, 2014. [ 31 ] The team set the all-time attendance record and sellout record for a individual season at Crew Stadium. [ 5 ] The combination of the club ‘s on-field success and off-field revival capped a successful full foremost class for Precourt and Berhalter. On October 8, 2014, the Precourt ownership changed the identify and logo of the club, changing the mention from “ Columbus Crew ” to “ Columbus Crew SC ”. [ 32 ] The begin of the 2015 season started in late 2014 with the render of Kei Kamara. [ 33 ] Kamara proved to be beneficial as he scored 22 unconstipated season goals and 4 playoff goals. Along with Kamara, Ethan Finlay and Waylon Francis received spots in the MLS All-Star game versus English Premier League cabaret Tottenham Hotspur. [ 34 ] On September 26, 2015, Crew SC hosted their largest sellout crowd since 2008 with an announced attendance of 22,719. [ 35 ] Crew SC came into the playoffs with a bye in the beginning rung after securing second place in the Eastern Conference. Following the eastern Conference semi-final and concluding match-ups, Crew SC played host to the Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS Cup Final. [ 36 ] This was the baseball club ‘s second-ever MLS Cup Final appearance after the 2008 MLS Cup championship. The Crew was upset by the Portland Timbers at dwelling following the 2–1 loss. All three goals were scored in the first half including the lone Crew SC goal scored by Kamara. [ 37 ] Kamara was nominated for the Landon Donovan MLS MVP Award. Kamara was besides nominated for and won the MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year Award. Wil Trapp was nominated for the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award. [ 38 ] [ 39 ]
Proposed resettlement to Austin [edit ]
A “ Save the Crew ” tifo before a game against the Chicago Fire in 2018 On October 17, 2017, Precourt announced intentions to relocate the franchise to Austin, Texas if a downtown stadium could not be secured in Columbus. [ 40 ] Following the newsworthiness, fans and supporters of the club began a crusade and movement known as # SaveTheCrew. Many had been present in the city ‘s council build on behalf of the cause. Later in the calendar month, it was revealed that Precourt had a clause in his buy of the baseball club that would allow him to entirely relocate the franchise to Austin. [ 41 ] On November 15, 2017, Precourt and MLS commissioner Don Garber met with Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther and civil and business leaders about the Crew ‘s future in Columbus. After the meet, both sides issued press releases detailing the meet. Per the delegating from Columbus, Precourt and MLS refused to take the move threat off the table. [ 42 ] Per Precourt and MLS, Columbus leaders did not present any plan for a downtown stadium. [ 43 ] On the issue, the mayor stated it was “ obvious that Don Garber nor PSV ( Precourt Sports Ventures ) had any commitment for the team to stay in Columbus ”. [ 44 ] In the annual state of the league conference, commissioner Garber addressed more on the electric potential go. He had stated the difficulties there has been present with the commercialize over the years. Discussing in 2008, when the league began its inaugural to end having ownership groups owning multiple franchises in the league, there was no success in finding a local ownership group in the grocery store of Columbus, with an concerned group wanting to purchase the team but with a very low value. It was then when the league ‘s executives hired a unlike company banker and expanded its search regionally where Anthony Precourt was involved. Garber stated that had Precourt not acquired the club, there was a hypothesis that Columbus would have ceased operations and ultimately fold. As to why the issues were not stated publicly, Don Garber stated that the league is a “ private business ” and what ‘s been happening has been seen in other major sport leagues in the area. [ 45 ] On March 5, 2018, Ohio lawyer general Mike DeWine and the city of Columbus filed a lawsuit against Precourt, citing a 1996 state law that prevents sports teams that benefited from public facilities or fiscal aid from relocating to another city without a six-month notice and attempting to sell the team to a local ownership group. [ 46 ] The bill was primitively passed after the controversial resettlement of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. [ 47 ]
Haslam era and second MLS Cup ( 2018–present ) [edit ]
On October 12, 2018, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, Jimmy Haslam, released a affirmation stating he was in the process of buying the Crew, along with other local groups. [ 48 ] MLS late released a affirmation stating their willingness to keep the Crew in Columbus, and that Precourt will get the rights to start a team in Austin if the deal goes through. [ 49 ] On January 1, 2019, manipulate of the Crew franchise was officially transferred to the Haslam syndicate and longtime team doctor Dr. Pete Edwards, who took full possession of the golf club after reaching a deal with Precourt Sports Ventures LLC. [ 50 ] The new possession group besides promptly announced that they would be building a modern stadium for the Crew in the Arena District of business district Columbus. The team then hired Tim Bezbatchenko as president from Toronto FC and Caleb Porter, previously with the Portland Timbers, as their new passenger car for the 2019 season. [ 51 ] The 2019 season was a forgettable one as the Crew deal with injuries throughout the season. Before the start of the 2020 MLS temper, the Crew made two major signings, bringing in new Argentinian designated player Lucas Zelarayán and midfielder Darlington Nagbe. The team started out the season well, winning their group in the MLS is Back Tournament before going out in the orotund of 16 and finishing in third gear stead in the Eastern league and fourth place overall. After making a carry in the playoffs, the Crew won their second MLS Cup just two years into the Haslam era, defeating the Seattle Sounders 3–0 at Mapfre Stadium on December 12, 2020, in MLS Cup 2020. [ 52 ] Weeks into the 2021 season, the franchise announced they would now be known as Columbus SC, using “ Columbus Crew ” and “ The Crew ” in informal instances. [ 53 ] The rebrand received powerfully minus reception from supporters of the team. [ 54 ] A statement by the Nordecke claimed that “ neither the Nordecke nor any Crew Supporters Group was involved at any time with the concept, development, or design of the rebrand. The Board was only shown the rebrand in the last few days, and it was presented to us as a completed product with no opportunity for stimulation. ” The logo was far criticized as generic and harming the team ‘s identity. [ 55 ] This was done despite promises of fan engagement by team president of the united states Tim Bezbatchenko, which led to him being labeled as a “ traitor ”. [ 56 ] A request was created on change.org to restore the team ‘s name. [ 57 ] other observers noted that the rebrand was part of a alike vogue in MLS teams to emulate european name conventions, [ 58 ] and was compared to the rebranding of Chicago Fire FC two years earlier. [ 59 ] [ 60 ] On May 17, 2021, in response to the backfire surrounding the rebrand, the franchise announced that “ Columbus Crew ” would remain as their official name and that the new logo would be modified accordingly. In summation, the “ SC ” was dropped from the mark, with the team ‘s name being simply the “ Columbus Crew ” once again. [ 61 ] [ 62 ] They recorded their first winnings at Lower.com Field on July 17, 2021. [ 63 ] [ 64 ] [ 65 ]
Colors and badge [edit ]
foremost logo ( 1996–2014 )
second base logo ( 2014–2021 )
The official colors of the Crew are black and aureate. [ 66 ] Columbus ‘s common primary coil jersey is predominately bright yellow with black trim and has been nicknamed the “ banana kit out ” or “ canary kit ” by fans. The interchange consistent has historically been black. In the latter part of the 2000s, The Crew began shifting more towards a white uniform with scandalmongering and black trim or stripes. even thus, the aside uniforms are rarely worn by The Crew due to the strong favor shown to the traditional home uniform ; and besides due to the fact that the historically total darkness jersey compound the summer heat in the United States climate. For the 2015 season, the Crew returned to a black new jersey for its alternate uniform. prior to the initial MLS season, a citywide public contest was created to decide the diagnose for the team, the very first entrance was a strike, and the Columbus Crew was born. The club badge from 1996 to 2014 was unique amongst MLS teams in that it featured people, containing three silhouette males wearing construction hats beneath a conventionalized “ Crew ” wordmark. The logo was intended to represent a crowd of hard-working people, much like the hard-working, gloomy collar image the city of Columbus cultivates. Citing a gulf between what the peak stood for and the 21st-century identity of the city of Columbus, owner Anthony Precourt initiated a rebrand upon assuming ownership in 2013. Precourt said that Columbus was nobelium longer a true blasphemous collar town, and that the industrial/manufacturing motif was no long representative. In fact, Columbus had grown into a 21st-century city and become much more “ dynamic and divers ”. [ 67 ] On October 8, 2014, the Crew unveiled a new badge. The newly circular-shaped badge features the clubhouse ‘s classic black and amber colors, a minimize original crest with “ 96 ” overlaid on top, and the black and gold checkerboard model predominantly seen on flags waving in the Nordecke. [ 68 ] [ 69 ] A great deal of symbolism was packed into the newly badge. The horizontal stripes are representative of the ten-spot original MLS franchises, and the shield is an court to the club ‘s original badge with the 96 representing 1996 – the club ‘s first base year in rival. The gusset “ O ” in the badge mimics the same form found in Ohio state pin, a nod to Columbus ‘s role as the state ‘s capital city. last, as a significant point of pride for the city of Columbus, “ Columbus ” was added to the new badge, along with “ SC ” to further define the post more accurately as a soccer club. The club ‘s nickname, the Crew, besides evolved from its original entail as a hard-working construction crew to a new, more relevant one as “ a tight-knit group of people who come together to share a passion for our golf club and the sport of soccer ”. The nickname, Crew, is now meant to symbolize a singular stigmatize of family and friendship between the club, the fans and the communities who unite to embrace and celebrate the authenticity and inheritance of the sport. With the rebrand, the club besides identified three brand pillars : original, energetic, and authentically Columbus, in an feat to celebrate its history as a team of firsts – first club in Major League Soccer, inaugural soccer-specific stadium, beginning major professional championship for Columbus – its youthful, passionate energy, adenine well as Columbus ‘s young, progressive culture. [ 69 ]
- Uniform history
- [ citation needed]
1996–97
1998
1999–01
2002–03
2005–06
2006–07
2008–09
2010–11
2012–13
2014
2015–16
2017–18
2019–20
2021–present
stadium [edit ]
On May 15, 1999, the Crew opened Columbus Crew Stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer, as the Crew beat the New England Revolution 2–0 before a sold-out herd of 24,741. It has been the model stadium for the stay of the league, and one of the stadiums used by the United States national team in World Cup qualifying. In 2015, the name rights for the stadium were purchased by Madrid -based indemnity company Mapfre. previously, the Columbus Crew played their home games at the 102,000-capacity Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes college football team. They ended with a 33–20 record while playing there. The team has besides played U.S. Open Cup games at two other stadiums : two games in 2005 and 2016 at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, besides owned by the Ohio State University and family of the OSU soccer teams ; and one in 2014 at the FirstEnergy Stadium–Cub Cadet Field on the campus of the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. As separate of the new possession marriage proposal for the Crew unveiled in 2018, the club announced plans to build a newfangled stadium in the Arena District of Downtown Columbus. The new stadium would cost $ 230 million and be located at the center of the Confluence Village neighborhood, a mixed-use development with residential and commercial buildings. It would seat 20,000 spectators and include 30 suites and 1,900 club seats. [ 70 ] In 2020, a fresh agency took ownership of Mapfre Stadium, soon renamed Historic Crew Stadium, and its adjacent city sports park, with the team continuing to control that venue in terms of its consumption as a train facility. The educate adeptness, the OhioHealth Performance Center, opened in June 2021. [ 71 ] The new stadium had its innovative ceremony in 2019 and was completed in mid-2021. [ 72 ] On June 15, 2021, the new stadium was named Lower.com Field via a sponsorship deal with Columbus-based on-line veridical estate of the realm company Lower.com, [ 73 ] and the Crew ‘s beginning game there was on July 3 against the New England Revolution. [ 74 ]
tax income and profitableness [edit ]
Having lost money in 2011, in 2012 the Crew identified three fiscal goals with the aim of achieving fiscal stability. [ 75 ] First, the team wanted a different jersey sponsor, which it achieved when they reached a share with Barbasol. Second, the team wanted to sell naming rights to Columbus Crew Stadium, hoping for $ 15 million over 10 years. Third, the Crew had announced in September 2011 that it aimed to increase season-ticket sales from its current levels ( belated revealed to be 4,000 ) to 10,000. [ 75 ] [ 76 ] By November 2012, Crew season tickets were at 6,000, [ 76 ] and by August 2013, the Crew had surpassed 7,000 season ticket holders. [ 77 ] Under Precourt Sports Ventures, Anthony Precourt, and Andy Loughnane, the Crew ‘s goals have shifted from entirely focusing on season ticket sales to selling out MAPFRE Stadium. In 2014, the golf club set all-time stadium attendance records for highest overall attendance and most sellouts in one season. Loughnane confirmed that the club was trending to increase its season ticket membership by 1,000 members per year and besides stated his purpose for the clubhouse to assimilate into the bodied community and fan culture, adding that he believes this transformation is happening quickly. [ 78 ] On March 3, 2015, the Crew announced that they had agreed to a multimillion-dollar stadium naming rights partnership with MAPFRE Insurance, a beginning for the stadium. [ 79 ] In 2015, the Crew and EAS Sports Nutrition agreed to a name rights deal for its discipline facilities. Merchandise sales grew double digits since the former year, as did food and beverage sales. It was besides announced that the club gained over 1,000 new season ticket members from the previous year. [ 80 ]
Mars ‘ Snickers cocoa bar was the Crew ‘s first gear undifferentiated presenter, on a five-year, $ 6 million deal that lasted from 1996 to 2000. [ 81 ] From 2002 to 2004 Pepsi was the team ‘s shirt presenter. [ 82 ] Glidden was the Crew ‘s shirt patronize from 2008 to 2010, a manage worth $ 1 million per year. [ 83 ] In early 2012, they signed a five-year deal with Barbasol, which is based in Dublin, Ohio, for an undisclosed tip. [ 83 ] In former February 2017, Columbus Crew SC signed a three-year deal with Acura, making the company the Official Jersey Partner and the Official Automotive Partner of the team. The deal was besides the largest annual commercial transaction in club history. [ 84 ]
There was no jersey sponsor in 2001, 2005–2007 and 2011.
club culture [edit ]
Supporters and Nordecke [edit ]
The Nordecke after Columbus scored a finish against the Chicago Fire in 2013 Before the 2008 temper, the Columbus Crew front office demolished the north stands where the most ardent of Crew supporters stood, in ordain to build a stagecoach that would provide extra gross by facilitating concerts and other events. anterior to this, the team ‘s three supporters ‘ groups ( Crew Supporters Union, Hudson Street Hooligans, and La Turbina Amarilla ) sat aside because of differences between the groups ranging from senesce to ethnicity. The build of the stagecoach forced the groups to come together into the union corner of the stadium, forming one large block of vocal supporters. The three groups formed the Nordecke ( ), which is german for “ north corner ”, celebrating the city ‘s german inheritance. In 2006 a big eventuality of fans from the Nordecke began traveling together to support the Crew during their away campaigns. In former 2009/early 2010 the term “ NorOnTour ” grew popular on sociable network, to describe the frequent fan traveling accompaniment. [ 85 ]
mascot [edit ]
Columbus Crew ‘s first mascot was “ Crew Cat ”, who was the franchise ‘s mascot for about 20 years. [ 86 ] Columbus ‘s official mascot is “ S.C ”, the son of “ Crew Cat ” that was introduced for the 2015 MLS season. [ 87 ] As new possession was employed in the 2019 season, the older “ Crew Cat ” returned and attends games aboard S.C .
Rivalries [edit ]
The Crew has a competition with the Chicago Fire. [ 88 ] Columbus is approximately a six-hour drive away from Chicago. Due to the proportional conclusion proximity of the two cities, it is not rare for supporters of both teams to make the trip to support their golf club in matches between the two. In the 2008 season, Columbus defeated Chicago in the Eastern Conference Championship equal. In 1998, Chicago defeated Columbus for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Crew besides plays for two competition cups during the regular season. One of the series is with Toronto FC for the Trillium Cup, due to the stopping point proximity of the cities. [ 88 ] The Crew besides contests FC Dallas for the Lamar Hunt Pioneer Cup. This trophy was created due to Lamar Hunt being the owner of both teams until his death. FC Cincinnati supporters claim the Crew as a equal, although some Columbus supporters do not consider the former USL team a equal. [ 89 ] The two sides met in a 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match in front of 30,000 spectators, the largest non-final crowd for an open Cup fixture. [ 90 ] [ 91 ] This bowler hat is known as the Hell is real Derby, based on a christian billboard along I-71 between Columbus and Cincinnati. [ 92 ] [ 93 ]
Broadcasting [edit ]
In 2016, Crew SC games aired on TWC Sports Channel ( now Spectrum Sports ), simulcast on Sinclair Broadcast Group -operated stations in Columbus. The majority of games aired on The CW affiliate WWHO, and selected games besides aired on WSYX, WTTE, and WSYX ‘s MyNetworkTV subchannel. [ 94 ] [ 95 ] Dwight Burgess and Neil Sika served as co-hosts. [ 96 ] In 2019, the team reached a deal with Fox Sports Ohio ( now known as Bally Sports Ohio ), placing all matches on either it or secondary coil channel Bally Sports Great Lakes. [ 97 ] On March 1, 2019, the team announced English-language radio broadcasts will be on 97.1 WBNS-FM with Chris Doran as the dedicate audio broadcaster. spanish radio air was besides announced for ColumbusCrewSC.com and Juan Valladares as the broadcaster [ 98 ] On February 21, 2020, the team announced Jordan Angeli will replace Dwight Burgess and will be the foremost woman broadcaster in the baseball club ‘s history. [ 99 ]
Players and staff [edit ]
current roll [edit ]
- As of December 1, 2021[100]
No.
Pos.
Player
Nation
team management [edit ]
Front office
Investor-operators
Dee and Jimmy Haslam
JW and Whitney Johnson
Dr. Pete Edwards
President
Tim Bezbatchenko
Coaching staff
Head coach
Caleb Porter
Assistant coaches
Ben Cross
Ezra Hendrickson
Pablo Moreira
Tim Hanley
Technical director
Crew SC Academy
Assistant general manager and
Crew 2 general manager[101]
Corey Wray
Academy general manager
Kelvin Jones
Director of individual development
Sergio Lozano
Academy head coaches
Andreas Engelmark
Evan Fuhs
Mutanda Kwesele
last update : July 3, 2019
source : [ 1 ]
Head coach history [edit ]
The Crew have had eight different head coaches since joining the league in 1996. Timo Liekoski, the only finnish head bus in MLS history, was the first head bus in 1996, but started 6–16 and was fired midseason to be replaced by Tom Fitzgerald. [ 102 ] Sigi Schmid managed the team for three seasons ( 2006–08 ). Robert Warzycha was the heading passenger car doubly, the first gear time on an interim footing anterior to Schmid ‘s arrival and then immediately after Schmid left until September 2, 2013, when he was fired and Brian Bliss became the interim coach. On November 16, 2013, it was announced that Gregg Berhalter would become the head coach angstrom well as the beginning sporting director in club history. [ 103 ] After Berhalter left to take over as coach of the United States men ‘s home soccer team, Columbus hired Caleb Porter, who had previously been the head bus of the Portland Timbers in MLS and the Akron Zips men ‘s soccer team in the NCAA. Fitzgerald and Warzycha are tied for the all-time drawing card in regular season wins ( 70 ). [ 104 ]
General director and sporting director history [edit ]
Name
Nationality
Tenure
Jamey Rootes
1995–2000
Jim Smith
2000–2004
Mark McCullers
2004–2013
Gregg Berhalter
2013–2018
Pat Onstad
2018–2021
Honors [edit ]
- Individual Club Awards
- MLS Fair Play Award (5): 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2016
read [edit ]
This is a fond number of the final five seasons completed by the Crew. For the full season-by-season history, see List of Columbus Crew seasons .
^ 1. Avg. attendance include statistics from league matches only.
^ 2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, CONCACAF Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches .
International tournaments [edit ]
Columbus holds a 13–6–3 all-time record in international friendlies. [ citation needed ]
actor records [edit ]
Appearances [edit ]
- As of November 7, 2021[106]
Bold denotes players still playing for the baseball club .
Goals [edit ]
- As of November 7, 2021[106]
Bold denotes players still playing for the baseball club. † 3 goals in MLS Cup Playoffs and 1 finish in the MLS is Back Tournament smasher round .
Assists [edit ]
- As of November 7, 2021[106]
Bold denotes players inactive playing for the club .
Shutouts [edit ]
- As of November 7, 2021[106]
Bold denotes players still playing for the club .
Captains [edit ]
average attendance [edit ]
Sources: [ 108 ] [ 109 ]
Season
Regular season
Playoffs
1996
18,950
20,807
1997
15,043
11,304
1998
12,275
12,094
1999
17,696
10,983
2000
15,451
missed playoffs
2001
17,551
20,883
2002
17,429
11,624
2003
16,250
missed playoffs
2004
16,872
15,224
2005
12,916
missed playoffs
2006
13,294
missed playoffs
2007
15,230
missed playoffs
2008
14,622
17,613
2009
14,175
10,109
2010
14,642
10,322
2011
12,185
no home games in playoffs
2012
14,397
missed playoffs
2013
16,080
missed playoffs
2014
16,881
9,040
2015
16,985
20,797
2016
17,125
missed playoffs
2017
15,439
17,853
2018
12,447
12,892
2019
14,856
missed playoffs
2020
4,138**
1,500***
All-time
15,366
14,396
* All-time highest home attendance : 31,550 on September 15, 1996 at Ohio Stadium.
**Attendance was 17,473 Pre-COVID and 1,471 Post-COVID.
***Attendance was capped at 1,500 due to COVID restrictions .
References [edit ]
Read more: The MMS Institute Thailand