Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew SC has announced that it is moving ahead with plans to move to Austin, Texas, even as it discusses the possibility of a new stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Mapfre Stadium was one of the first soccer-specific stadiums in the United States when it was built in 1999, but it is now getting old and outdated compared to newer stadiums that have been built since then, Sports Illustrated reported.
President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership Alex Fischer said the group of local business leaders discovered the club owner, Precourt Sports Ventures’ conversations with Austin about moving in meetings last month. Fischer felt that the decision about whether to move would rest on which location could give the club more public financing for a new stadium, SI reported.
“I think there’s no question [Precourt] expects public financing and or support for any stadium in either city,” Fischer said to SI.com.
If the Crew do move to Austin, they would most likely play in a temporary facility for the 2019 and 2020 seasons while a stadium is built, SI reported.
Anthony Precourt, who runs Columbus Crew SC, told The Columbus Dispatch that he doesn’t know when a decision about moving will be made.
“This is just an announcement that we are exploring our options,” Precourt said in a call with reporters, The Columbus Dispatch reported. “No relocation decision has been made.”
Precourt said that if the club did stay in Columbus, a downtown stadium would be necessary, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
The Crew finish the 2017 MLS season Oct. 22 with an away match versus New York City FC at Citi Field. The Crew, which currently hold the fifth seed in the league's Eastern Conference will compete in the MLS playoffs beginning Oct. 25.
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