The MLS and Precourt Sports Ventures have announced andend to the year-long custody battle and the Columbus Crew SC could be saved. The grassroots movement affectionately named #SaveTheCrew has been updated to #SavedTheCrew. You can see the movement’s Facebook page has been updated with a cover photo that states the Crew has been saved.
This ends a tiresome ordeal that put a strain on all parties involved and seemed to be a lose-lose situation from the beginning. The details of the resolution include the owner of the Cleveland Browns andpartnres retaining the Crew’s history, roster and branding/naming rights to be applied to an expansion franchise, while Anthony Precourt would be able to move and rebrand the current franchise. Also part of the deal, a minority stakeholder has a suitable stadium solution in Columbus.
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is part of the ownership group that is purchasing the Columbus Crew
This is very good news for the Crew and its fans and will be beneficial to FC Cincinnati, who now has a new in-state rival to help fuel its expansion season. It is a mere semantic loss of franchise as the current franchise would move to Austin, Texas with an expansion team starting in Columbus with the same roster, history, and branding. Effectively an expansion team being granted in Austin.
A formal announcement was made this afternoon with more details to follow. This is the first breath of fresh air for a city that has stood by its team regardless of the outcome.
