COLUMBUS CREW CLUB GUIDE
History, Stadium, Players, and More!
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Columbus Crew
Columbus Crew SC is an American professional soccer franchise based in Columbus, Ohio. The team competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the league’s Eastern Conference.
Columbus Crew History
The Columbus Crew is one of the original ten clubs of Major League Soccer (MLS), having been established in 1994 as the first club in the league’s history. The team began play in 1996, representing Columbus, Ohio, and quickly became a staple of American soccer. From the outset, the Crew aimed to cultivate a strong local following and develop a competitive team. In their early years, they played their home games at Ohio Stadium before moving to the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States, Mapfre Stadium (originally known as Columbus Crew Stadium), in 1999. This move signaled the club’s commitment to the growth of soccer in the U.S. and set a precedent for other MLS teams to follow.
In terms of achievements, Columbus Crew found success early on, winning the U.S. Open Cup in 2002. This victory was a significant milestone, marking the club’s first major trophy. Throughout the early 2000s, the Crew continued to build their profile and develop their squad, leading to their first MLS Cup victory in 2008 under the guidance of coach Sigi Schmid. The team featured notable players like Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who was instrumental in the championship run and was named the MLS Cup MVP. This period marked the Crew as one of the prominent teams in the league, solidifying their place in MLS history.
However, following their MLS Cup win, the Crew experienced a period of fluctuation in their performance. Despite making regular playoff appearances, the team struggled to replicate the success of 2008 in subsequent seasons. The mid-2010s, however, marked a resurgence for the Crew under the management of Gregg Berhalter, who took over in 2013. Berhalter’s tenure saw the Crew adopting a possession-based style of play and making significant strides in the league, culminating in a runner-up finish in the 2015 MLS Cup, where they were defeated by the Portland Timbers.
The following years brought challenges and controversies, notably the #SaveTheCrew movement in 2017 and 2018. The team’s owner, Anthony Precourt, announced plans to relocate the club to Austin, Texas, citing financial struggles and a desire for a new stadium. This news sparked widespread backlash from the Crew’s fanbase and the larger soccer community, leading to a grassroots campaign to keep the team in Columbus. The movement was successful, leading to the purchase of the club by a new ownership group led by the Haslam and Edwards families, ensuring the Crew’s stay in Columbus and marking a new chapter in the club’s history.
In the wake of the ownership change, the Crew experienced a revival on and off the field. The team, led by coach Caleb Porter, won their second MLS Cup in 2020, a significant achievement that underscored the resilience of the club and its supporters. The victory was particularly poignant given the challenges faced by the team and the city in the preceding years, including the relocation saga and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Crew’s triumph in the 2020 MLS Cup served as a testament to the club’s enduring spirit and the strong bond between the team and its community.
Entering the new era, Columbus Crew moved to a state-of-the-art stadium, Lower.com Field, in 2021, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history. The new stadium reflects the growth of the club and soccer in the United States, offering a modern venue for fans and a symbol of the team’s rebirth and future aspirations. The Crew continues to be an integral part of the MLS landscape, representing the enduring passion and dedication of its fans, the resilience of the club, and the evolving story of soccer in America.
Columbus Crew SC Youth Development System
Crew SC Academy is a fully funded professional academy, overseen by our President, Tim Bezbatchenko.
Columbus Crew SC Academy
The purpose of our Academy is to develop professional players that embody excellent character for Columbus Crew SC of Major League Soccer.
- Put our First Team in a position to make the playoffs each year and consistently contend for championships
- Play an identifiable Brand of Columbus Crew Soccer
- Develop a winning culture across our club and have a homegrown player appearance in every First Team match
- Create a consistent pipeline of Academy players signed professional every two years at a minimum
Columbus Crew SC has a clear identity based around specific principles of play that are integrated from the First Team through the Academy. We continually focus on our collective style of play, while ensuring the individual needs are fully developed. Our game model is built around specific, age appropriate principles, which go more in depth as they become closer to arriving at the First Team.
First Team Integration
The connection between the Academy and First Team is critical to create consistent culture, training methodology and style of play. Experiences are designed to make Crew SC Academy participants feel closer to the first team, while respecting the boundaries between the two levels.
Player Integration
- Consistent training opportunities (regular season, preseason)
- Friendly matches
Staff Integration
- Crew SC Academy staff are expected to attend first team training
- Mentorship program with First Team
- First Team Head Coach led Academy sessions/matches
- First Team Technical Staff led workshops
High Potential Players
Through our Supplemental Training programming, we offer our high potential players two (2) additional training sessions per week outside of their normal team training. By working with their respective school and creating a flexible schedule, we have two separate groups of players come in the either in the morning or afternoon.
Our goal is to optimize each player’s individual development, providing and focusing on the following:
- Individualized training plan
- Position specific training
- Physical performance plan
- Psychological wellbeing
- Leadership development
- Nutritional well-being
Columbus Crew Recruitment
Crew SC Academy current fields teams that participate in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U-14, U-15, U-17, and U-19 age groups. Players identified through our scouting network are invited to trials in Columbus. We also periodically host invitation-only combines to identify players from within our market.
Please submit the information requested below to be considered for a trial or combine invitation, and it will be considered by Crew SC Academy Technical Staff. As we receive a significant amount of submissions and hold no open tryouts, you will likely only be contacted in the event you are offered a trial or combine invitation.
Club Directors and Coaches may directly contact Crew SC Academy Scout Ben Crognale (bcrognale@columbuscrewsc.com).
For more information from the official website, click here.
MLS Next
MLS NEXT clubs will kick off the inaugural season this weekend, Sept. 11-12, while adhering to detailed health and safety protocols. MLS NEXT competition was developed under guidance from federal, state and local government officials, and in keeping with U.S. Soccer’s PLAY ON guidelines. The 2020 competition structure for MLS NEXT prioritizes athlete, staff and community health and safety through regional play and minimized travel.
Featuring six age groups (U-13, U-14, U-15, U-16, U-17 and U-19), competition will highlight local rivalries and eliminate air travel and overnight trips, with select matches to be played at neutral sites in geographically centered locations. The MLS NEXT fall 2020 competition schedule will be created and announced in four-week phases in order to adjust to evolving health and safety recommendations. The first week of matches were today released, and future matches will be posted in the coming days and continue to be posted throughout the fall competition.
MLS NEXT is working with clubs in areas with limited access to matches due to the minimized travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Those clubs impacted will play additional local matches. As the schedule is being released in four-week phases, future adjustments to the fall competition calendar may be made as conditions permit.
For more information specific to MLS NEXT, please click here.
Columbus Crew Academy Recruitment
Crew SC Academy is a fully-funded, free-to-play professional academy, overseen by Crew SC President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko and Technical Director Pat Onstad, and led by Academy Director Kelvin Jones.
Crew SC Academy fields teams in the U-14, U-15, U-16/17, and U-18/19 age groups that participate in MLS NEXT, the best player development experience in North America, currently featuring 113 clubs and over 90% of the current youth national team player pools.
Players identified through our scouting network are invited to trials in Columbus. We also host invitation-only Recruitment Events to identify players from within our market.
Please submit the information requested here to be considered for a trial invitation, and it will be considered by Crew SC Academy Technical Staff. As we receive a significant amount of submissions and hold no open tryouts, you will likely only be contacted in the event you are invited to trial.
Club Directors and Coaches may directly contact the Crew SC Academy via e-mail at crewsocracademy@gmail.com.
Billet Program
Columbus Crew SC Academy is offering high potential youth soccer players across the United States of America an opportunity to live in Columbus and to play with our Academy through our Billet Program.
Crew SC Academy is currently looking for prospective families for the 2020-21 season and beyond.
Our Billet Program is made possible when a local family accommodates the housing needs of players who travel outside in the Columbus region to participate in Crew SC Academy.
Matching players with safe, caring and healthy families in the Columbus area will contribute in meaningful ways to the development of each player, both on and off the field.
While all families can apply to be a potential billet family, we may not be able to accommodate all families due to the limited number of players participating in this program.
For more information on the Billet Program, please click here.
Pre-Academy Registration
What is the Crew SC Pre-Academy?
The Pre-Academy is free-to-play developmental programming for the U9/10 and U11/12 age groups. Any player who makes the training group will stay with their home clubs and participate in the supplemental training team with Crew SC Academy one time per week.
This program will extend our development pathway and allow us to work closer with the local clubs to develop talent in concert. The Pre-Academy teams will feed into our full-time Academy teams that begin at U14.
Structure:
The Crew SC Academy Director & Head Coaching staff will oversee one (1) weekly training session, and participating players can remain on their respective club teams.
For more information on the pre-academy, please click here.
Columbus Crew Recruitment Tryouts
Columbus Crew is currently inviting in players on a trial basis as identified through their scouting network. Please come back at a later date while we monitor for the latest news on upcoming tryouts.
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Columbus Crew Colors & Badge
The Columbus Crew’s primary colors are black and gold. These colors have been a defining part of the club’s identity since its inception. The black represents resilience and power, while the gold stands for excellence and success. Together, these colors have become synonymous with the Crew, reflecting the team’s spirit and history.
The Columbus Crew’s badge underwent a significant redesign in 2021. The current badge features a circular crest, which is a departure from the previous shield-shaped design. At the center of the badge is a stylized “C,” representing both Columbus and the Crew. This “C” is also meant to depict the Ohio state flag in an abstract form, paying homage to the club’s roots and the state’s heritage. Surrounding the central “C” are 96 black dots, signifying the year the team was established, 1996, and reinforcing the club’s status as a founding member of Major League Soccer. The overall design of the badge maintains the club’s traditional black and gold color scheme, while also introducing a modern and unique visual identity that connects the team’s past with its future.
Columbus Crew Kit
The Columbus Crew’s kit design has evolved over the years while maintaining the club’s iconic black and gold color scheme. Traditionally, the home kit primarily features black with gold accents, reflecting the team’s primary colors and identity. This usually includes a black jersey with gold trim, black shorts, and black socks, though variations in design and the specific placement of gold elements can change from season to season based on the kit manufacturer’s design.
The away kit, on the other hand, typically offers more variation from year to year, but it frequently utilizes the gold color to differentiate it from the home kit. The away designs have ranged from primarily gold outfits to white or other colors with gold and black detailing. These kits serve to provide contrast with the home kit while still paying homage to the team’s colors and heritage.
Additionally, the kits feature the team badge prominently displayed on the chest, and depending on the season, they might include additional elements like patterns or graphics that pay tribute to the club’s history, the city of Columbus, or specific themes relevant to the club’s identity. The design of the kits often seeks to balance tradition with a modern aesthetic, appealing to both longtime fans and attracting new supporters.
Columbus Crew Stadium
The Columbus Crew currently play their home matches at Lower.com Field, a state-of-the-art stadium that opened in 2021. This venue marked a new era for the club, reflecting its growth and ambition in Major League Soccer (MLS). Located in the Astor Park neighborhood of downtown Columbus, Ohio, the stadium is part of a larger redevelopment and revitalization effort in the area, aiming to enhance the fan experience and contribute to the community.
Lower.com Field has a seating capacity of approximately 20,000, designed specifically to create an intimate and engaging atmosphere for soccer fans. The stadium includes a variety of features to enhance the matchday experience, such as a continuous wrap-around concourse, diverse food and beverage options, and areas for fans to gather before and after games. One of the signature elements of the stadium is the Nordecke section, which is the largest supporters’ section in MLS and designed to accommodate the passionate Crew fan groups. This section includes safe-standing areas and is intended to generate a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
The stadium’s design emphasizes accessibility and fan comfort, featuring a steep bowl design to keep spectators close to the action on the field and provide excellent sightlines from all seats. Additionally, Lower.com Field includes modern amenities and technology to enhance the spectator experience, such as advanced lighting and sound systems, large video screens, and widespread Wi-Fi coverage.
Sustainability and community engagement were also key considerations in the stadium’s design and construction. The facility includes environmentally friendly features and aims to serve as a year-round hub for community events, youth sports, concerts, and other activities beyond just Crew soccer matches.
Overall, Lower.com Field represents a significant investment in the future of Columbus Crew and the sport of soccer in Columbus, providing a modern, world-class venue for fans and players alike.
Columbus Crew Club Culture
The culture of Columbus Crew SC is deeply rooted in its community and the passionate support of its fans. The club’s culture is characterized by a strong sense of unity, tradition, and an unwavering commitment to the sport of soccer in Columbus and beyond.
Supporters Groups: The backbone of the Crew’s culture is its supporters groups, the most notable being the Nordecke, which translates to “North Corner” in German, referencing the section of the stadium where the most fervent fans gather. This supporters’ group, along with others, creates a vibrant and intimidating atmosphere at home games through constant chanting, singing, and drumming. These groups are not just active on match days; they engage in community service, charity events, and soccer-related activities throughout the year, strengthening the bond between the team and its fans.
Community Engagement: Columbus Crew SC places a strong emphasis on community involvement and outreach. The club runs various programs and initiatives aimed at promoting soccer at the grassroots level, engaging with local youth, and supporting charitable causes. This commitment to the community helps foster a strong bond between the team and its fans, reinforcing the idea that the Crew is more than just a soccer club; it’s a vital part of the Columbus community.
Traditions: Several traditions contribute to the unique culture of Columbus Crew SC. These include the singing of “Wise Men Say,” a rendition of the classic song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, before each match, and the tradition of the “Nordecke” end of the stadium leading chants and celebrations. Another significant tradition is the “Smoke on the Water” ceremony, where smoke is released in the Nordecke section after every Crew goal, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Identity and Pride: The rebranding efforts, including the return to the “Columbus Crew” name after fans’ backlash against a proposed rebrand, highlight the importance of identity and tradition to the club’s culture. The club’s identity is deeply intertwined with the city of Columbus and its history, and there is a shared sense of pride in what the team represents – resilience, community, and a pioneering spirit as one of MLS’s original teams.
Matchday Experience: The matchday experience at Lower.com Field is designed to reflect the club’s culture, with local food offerings, fan activities, and interactive areas that allow fans to celebrate their love for the team and the game. The stadium itself, especially with the inclusion of the Nordecke section, is designed to maximize fan engagement and create an intimidating home-field advantage.
Rivalries: Rivalries also play a significant part in shaping the club’s culture, with the Crew having intense matchups against regional rivals like FC Cincinnati, known as the “Hell is Real” derby, and the Chicago Fire. These rivalries add to the excitement and passion surrounding the club, fostering a strong sense of unity and identity among supporters.
In summary, the culture of Columbus Crew SC is a tapestry of passionate support, community engagement, cherished traditions, and a deep sense of identity tied to the city of Columbus. This rich culture is a driving force behind the club’s enduring appeal and success on and off the pitch.
Columbus Crew City
Columbus, Ohio, is the home city of Columbus Crew SC and plays a significant role in shaping the club’s identity and culture. As the state capital and one of the largest cities in Ohio, Columbus offers a diverse and vibrant community that has warmly embraced soccer and the Crew as integral parts of the city’s cultural and social fabric.
Columbus is known for its strong sports culture, hosting a variety of professional and collegiate teams. However, the presence of Columbus Crew SC has helped to establish soccer as a significant part of the city’s sporting landscape. The fans, known for their passion and loyalty, have been central to the club’s culture, creating a lively and supportive atmosphere at matches. The Nordecke, the dedicated supporters’ section at Lower.com Field, is particularly famous for its energetic chants, songs, and displays, contributing to a formidable home-field advantage.
The city itself is characterized by a mix of urban and suburban environments, with a rich history and a growing economy. It’s known for its educational institutions, particularly The Ohio State University, which adds to the youthful and energetic demographic. This diverse population helps contribute to the vibrant fan base of the Crew, encompassing various backgrounds and communities.
Columbus also prides itself on its cultural offerings, from art and music to food and festivals, which reflect the city’s diversity and creativity. These cultural aspects intertwine with the soccer culture, as fans and the community come together to celebrate and support their team. Events like pre-game marches to the stadium and community outreach programs help to strengthen the bond between the club and the city.
Moreover, the city’s response to the #SaveTheCrew movement, which aimed to keep the team in Columbus in the face of relocation threats, highlighted the deep connection between the club and its home city. The successful campaign demonstrated the community’s commitment to its team and helped solidify the Crew’s place in the heart of Columbus.
In summary, Columbus offers a dynamic and supportive backdrop for Columbus Crew SC, underpinned by a strong sense of community and a growing soccer culture. The city’s blend of tradition and modernity mirrors the club’s own evolution and ambitions, making Columbus an integral part of the Crew’s identity.
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