Columbus Crew

Columbus Crew SC, commonly known as the Crew, is a professional football club based in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Founded in 1994, the Crew is one of the ten charter clubs of Major League Soccer (MLS), the premier professional football league in the United States and Canada. The club is owned by a group led by Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who also own the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL), and Dr. Pete Edwards, a Columbus-based orthopedic surgeon.

The Crew's history is marked by notable achievements and significant moments in American football. The club was the first to construct a soccer-specific stadium in the US, opening the Columbus Crew Stadium (now known as Historic Crew Stadium) in 1999. This pioneering move set a precedent for other MLS clubs to follow, contributing to the growth and development of the league.

On the field, the Crew has enjoyed considerable success. The club won its first MLS Cup in 2008, defeating the New York Red Bulls. The Crew has also won the U.S. Open Cup once, in 2002, and the MLS Supporters' Shield (awarded to the team with the best regular-season record) three times, in 2004, 2008, and 2009. The Crew's players and coaches have also received individual recognition, with several being named to the MLS Best XI, awarded the MLS MVP, or recognized as the MLS Coach of the Year.

The Crew's colors are black and gold, and its crest, redesigned in 2020, features a stylized "C" for Columbus, a checkerboard pattern inspired by the city's German heritage, and a circular shape representing the unity and inclusivity of the Crew community. The club's mascot is "Crew Cat," a black and gold anthropomorphic feline.

The Crew's supporters are known for their passion and loyalty. The most prominent supporter group is the Nordecke (German for "North Corner"), which occupies the north end of the Crew's home stadium. The Nordecke is known for its raucous support, including singing, chanting, and displaying tifos (large-scale, choreographed displays of support).

In 2020, the Crew faced a significant challenge when previous owner Anthony Precourt attempted to relocate the team to Austin, Texas. However, a grassroots movement known as "Save The Crew" successfully rallied support to keep the team in Columbus. The Haslam and Edwards ownership group subsequently purchased the team, ensuring its future in Columbus.

In 2021, the Crew opened a new state-of-the-art stadium, Lower.com Field, in the heart of downtown Columbus. The stadium represents a new chapter in the Crew's history, providing a world-class venue for the club's passionate supporters and further solidifying the Crew's place in the Columbus community and the broader American football landscape.

The Columbus Crew's journey, from its pioneering early days to its recent successes and challenges, reflects the growth and evolution of professional football in the United States. As one of the MLS's original clubs, the Crew has played a significant role in raising the profile of the sport in the US and continues to be a leading force in American football.