I knew attendance would take a dive because of the Austin situation, but I can't help but think the very low attendance so far (47.6% capacity over 3 games) is a really bad look to potential investors (if Ohio wins their suit against PSV and MLS). One has to be very confident the people with the money believe the Crew can be a success just by virtue of getting PSV out and building a new stadium.

 

I understand how peeved people are about the whole thing, but I also believe it would be a bigger F YOU to Precourt if the stadium were packed - I think it would make him look as foolish as he is. What is going on now is not good.

The problem is that not everyone is acting in unison. If everyone showed up, or everyone stayed away, it would make a powerful statement. The way it is now, it seems like the biggest backers are trying to encourage people to come out, but those who aren't as involved don't want to give Precourt any money.

^ No, my point is that the NFL and sports entities will always play cities off each other even it if means downsizing from a large market like LA to a small market with eager owners willing to throw money at it (or an eager city council) like st. Louis or Nashville. Leaving the large market void is helpful because it creates the threat that a team can easily move back there because it is a known entity and has the population and wealth to make it there.

 

THat is not the case for small markets like Columbus. Point being, If Philly moves, it will be taken care of down the line and they will eventually end up with another team again. Columbus being a small market does not get the favored treatment.  That is my main point.

That is why Cincinnati city council should not give any money to FF Cincinnati. Let him build the stadium with his own money.  Who is to say FC Cincy owner Carl Lindner is not going to have that same relocation clause written into his contract if his team gets into MLS.  Say if in 20 years Carl Lindner or his heir wants to move to greener pastures, FC Cincinnati will be in the same situation the Columbus Crew is now in.

 

The money that FC is seeking is infrastructure money that is available to anyone bringing a viable development. It is not because it is a stadium but rather because it is projected to have a certain economic impact. Whether it is the stadium or if the company is say Cardinal Health, the money would be the same.

Crew SC owner, MLS have two weeks to respond to lawsuit that aims to keep soccer team in Columbus

 

Crew SC owner Precourt Sports Ventures and Major League Soccer have until April 19 to respond to a lawsuit that aims to keep the soccer team in Columbus.

 

According to a document filed by Attorney General Mike DeWine with the Franklin County Clerk of Courts, Precourt Sports Ventures and MLS have two weeks to “plead or otherwise move in response to the ... complaint.”

 

The city and Ohio attorney general Mike DeWine announced this month that they had sued the team, MLS and Precourt Sports Ventures, demanding they comply with a state law regulating the relocation of professional sports franchises.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/05/crew-sc-owner-mls-have-two-weeks-to-respond-to.html

Mayor tells Anthony Precourt to open books to potential Crew SC buyers

 

Mayor Andrew Ginther has told Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt that a group of potential buyers need to see his financial records before going any further.

 

Ginther sent a letter to Precourt, released to the public today, that says Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer "has been in contact with prospective purchasers who have the necessary bona fides to operate an MLS franchise and are able to make a reasonable offer to purchase the team."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/06/mayor-tells-anthony-precourt-to-open-books-to.html

Mayor tells Anthony Precourt to open books to potential Crew SC buyers

 

Mayor Andrew Ginther has told Crew SC owner Anthony Precourt that a group of potential buyers need to see his financial records before going any further.

 

Ginther sent a letter to Precourt, released to the public today, that says Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer "has been in contact with prospective purchasers who have the necessary bona fides to operate an MLS franchise and are able to make a reasonable offer to purchase the team."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/06/mayor-tells-anthony-precourt-to-open-books-to.html

 

Another really great read from Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace about #SaveTheCrew.  This one in response to the most recent news about the Mayor telling Precourt (and MLS) to open their books for potential local Crew buyers:

 

Columbus is blazing its own parallel path in attempt to save Crew

 

http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180407/michael-arace--columbus-is-blazing-its-own-parallel-path-in-attempt-to-save-crew

Even in the midst of all the angst and stupidity involving our owner (and MLS) trying to rip the Crew from Columbus, there are some lighter moments.  Such as before yesterday's game, when an MLS2ATX troll attempted to embarrass #SaveTheCrew with this tweet:

 

The trouble for @AustinFC20 was that Columbus Clippers game he was citing for having low attendance - it was in Indianapolis!!!  Which the Columbus Clippers twitter feed pointed out to glorious effect:

 

Note that although the Clippers replied to the erroneous tweet, the reply shows the @AustinFC20 tweet as "being unavailable".  That's because @AustinFC20 deleted his original tweet.  He must have been hoping this would save his troll account from ridicule.  It didn't work!

 

Here is the full twitter ridicule of @AustinFC20 -

- plus this representative sample from a #SaveTheCrew supporter:

 

Even the Indianapolis Indians twitter account joined in to mock @AustinFC20:

 

Plus:

GAME #6:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-04-07-chicago-fire-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

Well, the run-up to last night's game against Chicago was fun - thanks to the @AustinFC20 twitter buffoonery.  Too bad the game wasn't as entertaining.

 

One of the trying aspects of the Berhalter possess-and-attack system is the way the Crew plays around with the ball in their deep defensive zone.  This has led to some dicey near-goal chances (and most notably to that first Portland goal in the 2015 MLS Cup).  Well, Steffen had his "Steve Clark Moment" last night.  In the 27th minute, Mensah passed it back to Steffen.  Then Steffen tried to pass it to Trapp at the middle edge of the 18-yd box.  But Steffen didn't see a Chicago player lurking in the area and got the pass intercepted and converted into an easy goal.

 

After that virtual own goal, the Crew tried and tried to score while the fans froze in 30 degree weather.  Despite outshooting the Fire 20-6 and getting three glorious scoring chances between the 72 and 77 minute marks -- Zardes hit the crossbar, then a Crew goal was disallowed due to a close offsides call, then an Abu shot hit the left post -- this was not going to be the Crew's night and Chicago won 1-0.

In regards to that wonderful Columbus Clippers twitter putdown of that Austin troll, I remember when the Crew's twitter feed used to stand up for us:

 

Columbus files motion to give investors more room to buy Crew SC

 

To give investors more time to try to purchase the Crew SC, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein has asked for an official pause in the six-month period outlined in the "Art Model Law."  That's the provision, aka Ohio Revised Code Section 9.67, that the city and state are using to sue the team, MLS and Precourt Sports Ventures in an attempt to prevent the Crew from moving to Austin, Texas.

 

Klein filed his motion today with Franklin County Court of Common Pleas asking for an extension on the notice. ... “This will allow the City of Columbus to ensure that local investors in fact have the opportunity to purchase the team," he said. "We remain committed to doing everything we can to keep The Crew here in Columbus”, Klein said in a statement.

 

This is the latest move to keep the Crew SC in Columbus.  On Friday, Mayor Andrew Ginther sent a letter to Crew owner Anthony Precourt, asking him to open financial records to a group of potential Crew buyers in Columbus before going any further.

 

MORE: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/09/columbus-files-motion-to-give-investors-more-room.html

And also from #SaveTheCrew:

 

https://blog.savethecrew.com/2018/04/savethecrew-pens-open-letter-to-mls-regarding-the-future-of-the-columbus-crew-sc/

 

The thing is that even if a local group is found, there is nothing that can really compel PreCourt to sell the Crew to them. It may cost him more money and create some additional delays but bottom line is that he will ultimately have the right to move the team.

The thing is that even if a local group is found, there is nothing that can really compel PreCourt to sell the Crew to them. It may cost him more money and create some additional delays but bottom line is that he will ultimately have the right to move the team.

 

We shall see.

Unless there was something in the contract that Precourt signed when he purchased the team, nothing would require him to sell to a local investor. It is a hail mary pass to try and frustrate and delay but if he is determined enough to get out of town with a team, he will ultimately prevail.

Unless there was something in the contract that Precourt signed when he purchased the team, nothing would require him to sell to a local investor. It is a hail mary pass to try and frustrate and delay but if he is determined enough to get out of town with a team, he will ultimately prevail.

 

We shall see.

The thing that may force MLS to intervene with the move is the discovery portion of the lawsuit. I'm sure there is a lot of stuff they do not want out for everyone to see.

What is sad is that we have letters from the mayor and the SaveTheCrew movement, but where is the rest of our civic leadership? We are about to lose a civic institution(yes it does qualify) and where are the letters and protests from our various civic groups, and particularly, from our business "leadership"? Where is the letters from Huntington Bank, or Nationwide, or Wexner, etc? it seems we are lacking in the leadership department.

 

I miss Coleman.  At least Coleman would have put up much more of a fight-he would fight for the city. The business community just seems to languish in a self-absorbed stupor. Losing a major league team is NOT good for business.

 

JMHO. /rant

What is sad is that we have letters from the mayor and the SaveTheCrew movement, but where is the rest of our civic leadership? We are about to lose a civic institution(yes it does qualify) and where are the letters and protests from our various civic groups, and particularly, from our business "leadership"? Where is the letters from Huntington Bank, or Nationwide, or Wexner, etc? it seems we are lacking in the leadership department.

 

I miss Coleman.  At least Coleman would have put up much more of a fight-he would fight for the city. The business community just seems to languish in a self-absorbed stupor. Losing a major league team is NOT good for business.

 

JMHO. /rant

 

You have to give the Ginther administration credit for getting the Ohio Attorney General plus Bricker & Eckler on a pro bono basis to take on the lawsuit side of this fight.  But it is true that Ginther is not the public advocate that Coleman was.

 

I wish we knew what was going behind the scenes with city leadership and the business community.  But I can't believe they won't give up the Crew without a fight.  All the tea leaf watching and rumors point to some kind of legitimate offer coming from Columbus to purchase the Crew.

 

If a legitimate offer does come from Columbus, it changes MLS' role in this.  Up to now, MLS/Garber could just sit on the sidelines and say "Well, Precourt tried to make it work in Columbus, but they just didn't support him" (even though there's plenty of evidence that Precourt vastly underfunded team operations and never even tried to get local corporate support).  If MLS would reject a legitimate offer from Columbus, it would become clear to everyone nationally that its not just Precourt but MLS/Garber that are forcing this move.

 

That could still happen, but it would require MLS & Garber to be the bad guy.  And its not clear that Garber wants to be that bad guy.  He's been ducking interviews where #SaveTheCrew questions would come up, and hedging his bets with "I'd prefer to keep the Crew in Columbus" statements in the few interviews he has taken.

 

Although this #SaveTheCrew battle is an uphill climb, it's not a hopeless cause.  In 2013, the relocation of the Sacramento Kings to Seattle was thought to be a "done deal".  The then-owners of the Kings wanted to sell to a group that would relocate the team to Seattle.  The Sacramento Mayor with the help of local business owners found a different ownership group that would keep the team in Sacramento.  Eventually the NBA owners voted to reject the sale to the Seattle group and forced a sale to the Sacramento group:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failed_relocation_of_the_Sacramento_Kings

 

#SaveTheCrew is not an easy battle, but it's not over.

^^ True there may be behind the scenes stuff with the business community that we are not aware of. If we can keep it I am really liking the idea of relocating it to Dodge Park.

The grapevine hints at an ownership group with a downtown stadium. Time will tell.

What will it take for Precourt to sell and/or give in to keeping the Crew in Columbus in a stadium downtown?

What will it take for Precourt to sell and/or give in to keeping the Crew in Columbus in a stadium downtown?

 

Well the city landing Amazon's HQ2 would do the trick I think, but that isn't going to happen. And we can't all pool our money together and hire some criminals to give him the good beating he deserves (just joking here).

 

So besides that, I imagine keeping the heat on from all civic and business groups in the city, helping foment discontent about this among the opposition to the move in Austin (and San Antonio), and coming up with a concrete proposal to buy the crew and build a stadium, with the money for both laid out to show both Precourt and MLS, is all we can do.

What will it take for Precourt to sell and/or give in to keeping the Crew in Columbus in a stadium downtown?

 

Cant see him wanting to sell. He bought them with the long goal to pull them out of Columbus and move to Austin. It is not just an investment for him it is a personal thing. He loves Austin and calls it his second home. It could have been Columbus, KC, Orlando, Atlanta, Minnesota, it would not matter. He wants to own a team in Austin. THis is why I don't think he is selling.

What will it take for Precourt to sell and/or give in to keeping the Crew in Columbus in a stadium downtown?

 

MLS forcing Precourt to sell to a local investor group.

What will it take for Precourt to sell and/or give in to keeping the Crew in Columbus in a stadium downtown?

 

MLS forcing Precourt to sell to a local investor group.

 

Been trying to follow #SaveTheCrew as best I can, but is there a local investor group truly interested that has the realistic funds?

What will it take for Precourt to sell and/or give in to keeping the Crew in Columbus in a stadium downtown?

 

MLS forcing Precourt to sell to a local investor group.

 

Been trying to follow #SaveTheCrew as best I can, but is there a local investor group truly interested that has the realistic funds?

 

Yes. There is a group of local investors that are very serious about buying the team and reportedly have the funds to do so. They also apparently have some solid stadium plans that would more than likely blow anything Austin can offer out of the water.

What will it take for Precourt to sell and/or give in to keeping the Crew in Columbus in a stadium downtown?

 

MLS forcing Precourt to sell to a local investor group.

 

Been trying to follow #SaveTheCrew as best I can, but is there a local investor group truly interested that has the realistic funds?

 

So far its just speculation based on the public moves that city leadership has done - but especially Monday's motion by the city attorney to delay the six-month 'Modell Law' window to allow 'local investors' time to look at PSV/MLS books to make a reasonable offer:  https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/09/columbus-files-motion-to-give-investors-more-room.html

 

Local leadership is playing their cards very close to the vest.  So no names have been released on these 'local investors'.  However, the most likely downtown stadium location is a prepped-and-ready 25 acre parcel west of the Arena District - much more about this at https://www.urbanohio.com/forum/index.php/topic,7699.msg824545.html#msg824545.  That parcel is owned by Nationwide under its Nationwide Realty Investors (NRI) affiliate.  Nationwide has a minority ownership stake in the Blue Jackets, and NRI helped the Clippers move into their new downtown ballpark.  So its not unreasonable to think that Nationwide might be one of the 'local investors' involved in buying the Crew.

 

BrewDog has publicly stated they would like to be an investor in the Crew.  Which sounds odd, but they've been building and investing a ton in Central Ohio lately and certainly don't lack for ambition.

 

Plus, when the Precourt relocation news came out last year, the head of the Columbus Partnership - civic group that includes the leaders of 50 leading organizations in Central Ohio - announced they had made multiple offers to Precourt before his announcement (ranging from bringing in minority local investors to buying a 50 percent stake in the Crew to buying the Crew outright from PSV).

 

So, unless this is just a massive bluff on the side of local leadership - and to believe that you'd have to believe that the Ohio Attorney General and Brickler & Eckler (one of the most prestigious Columbus law firms) would also participate in this bluff - there's no question that some local ownership that has realistic funds could be put together to purchase to Crew.

 

Brutus Buckeye is right that the key is Precourt's willingness to sell the team to local investors.  Thus far, Precourt has not been willing to sell.  Will that willingness change in the future?  We shall see.

https://www.massivereport.com/2018/4/13/17233660/psv-and-mls-will-move-to-dismiss-lawsuit-filed-by-ag-dewine-columbus-crew-sc-mls-2018

 

An unsurprising move by PSV/MLS to dismiss the "Modell Law" lawsuit next week.  This looks like the first of many legal back-and-forth moves on the #SaveTheCrew front.  A lawyer who writes for Massive Report did an interesting analysis at link above.

 

As for this motion to dismiss, if the April 19 motion to dismiss is granted, PSV/MLS would be free from having to worry about the "Modell Law".  However, that would not stop the City/State from appealing the decision to a higher court.  If the April 19 motion fails, the case would continue with both parties filing motions for summary judgment, which argues that the case should be decided based on the merits of the case without going to trial.

As for on-the-field Crew news, Columbus will be playing another NHL/MLS Derby when they face DC United tonight (the CBJ are facing the Caps in the NHL Playoffs).  The Crew are looking to stop their first losing streak of the 2018 season, while DC is looking for their first win of the 2018 season.

 

Tonight's game won't be in RFK - DC's long-time home - or in DC's brand new Audi Field - which is still under construction.  Instead, DC has been cobbling together some alternate home venues until their new stadium is ready in July.  Last month they hosted a game in something called the Maryland Soccerplex, a 5,000-seat venue located 40 miles north of DC.  Tonight's game is at the Navy-Marines Corps Memorial Stadium, a 34,000-seat stadium in Annapolis.

 

This game will feature both artificial turf and a narrower-than-standard playing field.  Because MLS!

GAME #7:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-04-14-dc-united-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

The Crew dropped their third straight MLS game last night at DC (Annapolis) in a game that felt alot like last week's loss at Chicago.

 

DC struck very early with a goal only 44 seconds into the match(!) - on a fine interplay and finish.  This turned out to be DC's only shot-on-goal for the entire game!

 

Santos nearly tied it up for the Crew in first half stoppage time on a free-kick that hit the crossbar.  Then, early in the second half at 53', a DC defender was given a straight red-card for a dangerous tackle and DC would play the remaining 40 minutes down a man.

 

So it became "park the bus" time for DC as the Crew tried and tried for an equalizer with the man advantage.  Columbus did have a few near-goals.  In the 61st minute, a diving Santos header was saved by the DC keeper (and former Crew keeper) Steve Clark.  In the 66th minute a Zardes header was barely saved by Clark and looked like it may have barely eked over the goal-line (it also might not have but only specialized goal-line technology would have known for sure).

 

But ultimately, the Crew won every game stat (shots 24 to 5; possession 69% to 31%) except for the most important one - the final score (1-0).

https://www.massivereport.com/2018/4/13/17233660/psv-and-mls-will-move-to-dismiss-lawsuit-filed-by-ag-dewine-columbus-crew-sc-mls-2018

 

An unsurprising move by PSV/MLS to dismiss the "Modell Law" lawsuit next week.  This looks like the first of many legal back-and-forth moves on the #SaveTheCrew front.  A lawyer who writes for Massive Report did an interesting analysis at link above.

 

As for this motion to dismiss, if the April 19 motion to dismiss is granted, PSV/MLS would be free from having to worry about the "Modell Law".  However, that would not stop the City/State from appealing the decision to a higher court.  If the April 19 motion fails, the case would continue with both parties filing motions for summary judgment, which argues that the case should be decided based on the merits of the case without going to trial.

 

The city and the state should do whatever they possibly can to block the move, including appealing any motion to dismiss.

I don't think there's any chance it's dismissed.

 

I can't stop thinking about how hilarious it would be if after all of this PSV has to sell to local ownership and MLS ends up with 2 teams within 2.5 hours of Columbus.

Crew SC owners prepared to open books to 'bona fide' potential buyers

 

Potential buyers apparently will get the chance to look at Columbus Crew SC's financial records, but that doesn't mean Central Ohio soccer fans will get to find out how the team's doing.

 

According to email correspondence between Marc Kessler, attorney for Major League Soccer, and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine's office, Precourt Sports Ventures is "prepared to provide pertinent information to bona fide offerors, subject to an appropriate non-disclosure agreement."

 

The email chain, filed with Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on Friday, was in response to a letter Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther sent to Crew SC majority owner Anthony Precourt. Ginther said that Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer "has been in contact with prospective purchasers who have the necessary bona fides to operate an MLS franchise and are able to make a reasonable offer to purchase the team."

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/16/crew-sc-owners-prepared-to-open-books-to-bona-fide.html

I don't think there's any chance it's dismissed.

 

I can't stop thinking about how hilarious it would be if after all of this PSV has to sell to local ownership and MLS ends up with 2 teams within 2.5 hours of Columbus.

 

What would be the other one?

FC Cincy

Given the requirements that is being asked of expansion candidates, it appears that in order to be a qualified buyer has to be a billionaire. From a local standpoint that would leave 2 options Wexner and maybe one or two others. If they are not interested, I don't think there is a viable local owner and the whole thing unravels and he goes to Austin anyway. They don't seem interested in a group of multimillionaires, they want to have at least one billionaire backer it seems.

Given the lawsuit, they'd have to provide some pretty solid evidence for why that's the case and why a group of multi-millionaires does not = 1 billionaire.

I think Sacramento's issue with the whole expansion process is pretty good evidence. They need to find their own billionaire owner to get a team.

 

Also, same with Beckham and Miami's team. that is part of the reason it took so long to get off the ground, they brought in a billionaire at the end to get it over the top.

 

Detroit, Cincinnati, Nashville all have billionaires on their bids too.

 

It is becoming pretty evident that this is a necessity for MLS ownership or new ownership to be admitted to the club.

Crew SC | Major League Soccer officials have met with potential local investors

By Andrew Erickson, The Columbus Dispatch

Posted: April 19, 2018 at 5:26 PM

 

Major League Soccer officials, including deputy commissioner Mark Abbott, were in Columbus last month to meet with Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer and potential local investors for Columbus Crew SC, Abbott and Fischer told The Dispatch on Thursday.

 

The meeting also included a review of potential local stadium sites for the team, which has played at Mapfre Stadium on the state fairgrounds since 1999.  Fischer and Abbott declined to name the investors or identify the stadium sites.  “It was a productive meeting,” Abbott said.

 

Fischer and Abbott did not elaborate on next steps between the league, Columbus officials and potential Crew investors.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180419/crew-sc--major-league-soccer-officials-have-met-with-potential-local-investors

Crew SC | Major League Soccer officials have met with potential local investors

By Andrew Erickson, The Columbus Dispatch

Posted: April 19, 2018 at 5:26 PM

 

Major League Soccer officials, including deputy commissioner Mark Abbott, were in Columbus last month to meet with Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer and potential local investors for Columbus Crew SC, Abbott and Fischer told The Dispatch on Thursday.

 

The meeting also included a review of potential local stadium sites for the team, which has played at Mapfre Stadium on the state fairgrounds since 1999.  Fischer and Abbott declined to name the investors or identify the stadium sites.  “It was a productive meeting,” Abbott said.

 

Fischer and Abbott did not elaborate on next steps between the league, Columbus officials and potential Crew investors.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180419/crew-sc--major-league-soccer-officials-have-met-with-potential-local-investors

 

In that previous article, it also mentioned the next legal step for PSV/MLS in the 'Modell Law' lawsuit:

 

"Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein filed suit last month against Precourt Sports Ventures and the MLS arguing noncompliance with Ohio Revised Code 9.67, also known as the Art Modell Law, which requires a professional sports franchise receiving public benefit or playing most of its home games at a tax-supported facility to either receive permission or provide six months’ notice before moving.  In addition, locals must be given the opportunity to purchase the team, the law states."

 

"Thursday was the agreed deadline for counsel representing Precourt Sports Ventures and MLS to respond to the lawsuit.  Attorneys indicated they would file a motion to dismiss, arguing that not only does the Modell Law not apply to the Crew but it is in violation of both the U.S. and Ohio constitutions.  A ruling on such a motion is not expected for several weeks."

 

---

That motion to dismiss was filed after the above article was posted.  Below is the update on that motion to dismiss being officially filed in Franklin County court:

 

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180420/mls-precourt-sports-ventures-file-motion-to-dismiss-crew-lawsuit

Precourt and MLS file motion to dismiss 'Modell' lawsuit

 

Major League Soccer and Precourt Sports Ventures filed a motion Thursday to dismiss the lawsuit the city and state are using to keep Columbus Crew SC from moving, deeming it "blatantly unconstitutional."

 

Attorneys who represent the defendants said Ohio Revised Code 9.67 - the 'Art Modell Law' - does "not apply to PSV entities or MLS," according to the 25-page motion filed with Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

 

The law says owners whose teams use tax-supported facilities and accept financial assistance from the state are prohibited from moving to another city unless they give at least six months' notice and give individuals who live in the area an opportunity to purchase the team.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/04/20/precourt-and-mls-file-motion-to-dismiss-modell.html

GAME #8:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-04-21-columbus-crew-sc-vs-new-england-revolution/recap

 

Columbus broke their three-game losing streak - but they didn't get a home win either.

 

The Crew struck first in the 9th minute on a Revs own-goal sent in off a Valenzuela cross.  But then gave up that lead only five minutes later off a New England Revs shot that was more like a Boston Bruins shot.  Rev striker Teal Bunbury hit a sharp angle shot that went through Mensah's legs and beat Steffen to go just inside the far post.

 

The Crew regained the lead in the 43rd minute off a nice bit of assisting from Santos to Higuain that found Zardes one-on-one at the edge of the 18-yard box.  A deft one-touch separated Zardes from the defender and allowed him to uncork a sharp shot past the diving Revs goalkeeper.

 

But once again, the Crew gave up that lead only minutes later in the dying moments of first half stoppage time.  A Revs header from midfield bounced up on Mensah, who tried to settle it down.  Instead it found a Revs player who got it over to an unmarked Cristian Penilla about 15-yards left of the Crew net, who one-timed a beautiful blast past Steffen to tie it 2-2.

 

Mensah had a chance to atone in the second half, but his 50th minute header from a corner kick hit the crossbar.  Steffen had a number of good saves in the second half to keep the game tied (68' shot, 71' header).  Plus Mensah had a game-saving block in the 87th minute.

 

The Revs dodged a couple of bullet too - a Higuain shot saved by a Revs defender in the 69th minute and a desperation 94th minute Martinez shot that was nearly own-goaled by a Revs defender!  But the right post kept the game tied.

After last Saturday's MLS match, Crew reserves held a Sunday scrimmage with the University of Louisville.  This is notable because two key veterans rehabbing from injuries saw their first game action in some time:

 

-- https://www.massivereport.com/2018/4/20/17261140/mike-grella-gaston-sauro-set-to-return-to-game-action-on-sunday-columbus-crew-sc-mls-2018

 

-- https://www.massivereport.com/2018/4/22/17269172/columbus-crew-sc-scrimmage-win-gives-grella-sauro-an-opportunity-to-return-mls-2018

 

Winger/midfielder Mike Grella played 60 minutes in the scrimmage.  The 31-year-old Grella was a free-agent pickup over the off-season.  Grella played mostly in the English second-division since 2008 before joining the New York Red Bulls.  In 2015 & 2016, Grella scored 16 goals for NYRB before going down with a season-ending knee injury in June 2017.  He could add some scoring punch off the bench for the Crew.

 

Defender Gaston Sauro is well known to Crew fans.  Sauro played a big role in the Crew's run to the 2015 MLS Cup.  But in 2016, Sauro had a series of knee injuries that turned into a potentially career threatening situation.  He ended up needed a full cartilage replacement in his left knee.  This required waiting five months for donor cartilage, because at his 6'-3" height not many donors are a match.

 

After Sauro's cartilage replacement surgery and 18 months rehab activity, the 28-year-old is hoping to restart his MLS-career.  Sauro played 45 minutes in Sunday's scrimmage.  If all goes well, Sauro could see time as a late-game defensive sub and eventually a spot starter.  But whatever role he plays, it would just be great to see him on the field after being told that he might not ever play again.

GAME #9:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-04-28-columbus-crew-sc-vs-san-jose-earthquakes/recap

 

Columbus broke their four-game winless streak (0-3-1) with a 2-1 over San Jose last night.  But until the end of the match, it looked like the Crew would duplicate last weeks draw.

 

It started similarly with the Crew gaining an early lead - this time on a beautifully driven shot by Afful in the 28th minute.  Then the pattern continued when the Crew switched-off defensively and allowed an unmarked Quakes header to equalize in the 45th minute.  And then the pattern continued in the second half, with the Crew dominating possession and shots, but not scoring.

 

This pattern only broke in the 84th minute when 2nd-half sub Mike Grella broke through with the game-winner.  Santos made a smart cross-pass from right to left that picked out Grella in the left edge of the 18-yard box.  One Quakes defender fell trying to intercept the pass, which left Grella one-on-one with another Quakes defender.  Grella one-touched the ball to separate from the defender, and then blasted a near-post shot past the Quakes keeper for his first goal with the Crew!

 

It looks like Grella was a good off-season pickup! (see my comment about him in the previous post)

GAME #10:  https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-05-05-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap

 

The Crew & Sounders had a 0-0 draw on a rare Sunny Saturday in Seattle.  But to paraphrase former OSU President Gordon Gee, "This draw was a great victory!"

 

Why?  Because Pedro Santos got a red card in the 15th minute and the Crew played to next 75+ minutes down a man to the Sounders.  Santos kicked a clearance down the field - but his follow-through took his left foot into the upper chest of an onrushing Seattle player.  After a video review, the ref issued a red card.  Possibly deserved because the play did look bad - possibly too harsh because the player ran into the follow-through of the kick and didn't look like any intent to injure on Santos' part.

 

After the red card, it was Columbus that had the better scoring chances.  In the 20th and 22nd minutes, Zardes had two decent chances - the best in the 22nd on a shot just wide of the right post.  Then in the 33rd minute, when Zardes chested a crossing-pass down and played it over to Valenzuela on the left edge of the 6-yard box - but the ball bounced a little high off Seattle's artificial turf after his controlling touch and his shot was fired over the crossbar.

 

At 31', Columbus replaced midfielder Martinez for central defender Crognale and formed a three-man back line with Williams and Abubakar.  Facing this defense Seattle's offense didn't look very dangerous despite their man advantage.  Lots of long-range crosses and shots, but very few close-in scoring threats for the home team.  Seattle's best chance came in the 73th minute, when they did manage one close-in threat and got their only shot-on-goal(!).  But a Dempsey shot from six-yards out was nicely saved by Steffen to preserve a draw and road point for the Crew.

 

Although the game was far from thrilling, it was pretty fantastic result for the Crew - getting a road point after being down a man for 75+ minutes.  This was the first of three games in eight days for the Crew.  The next two are back home in Columbus - Wednesday against Philadelphia and Saturday against Chicago.

Judge orders 90-day toll in notice period in #SaveTheCrew suit. Motion to toll, motion to stay discovery both granted "in part," or for this 90-day period.

 

 

 

 

This is pretty big news for Crew fans. If there is a serious buyer, or group of buyers, this is a big step in taking back our team. I do believe there is a serious buyer/group of buyers based on rumors that have been circulating, but nobody can figure out who is involved.

Excellent write-up:

 

The Contradictory Case of the Columbus Crew

 

In what industry are customers blamed when a business fails? Who has ever regretfully said “boy, diners should have kept eating the lousy food at that closed restaurant” or “passengers should have kept putting up with the subpar service at that defunct airline.” We of course never say such things because they’re counterintuitive to the inherent goal of any for-profit endeavor: to earn customers’ business.

 

And when it comes to soccer in Columbus, there is definitely business to earn. Ohio’s capital is the epitome of a soccer town. Columbus runs through the very veins of American soccer history. With its passionate fanbase and electric atmosphere, the rally cry of “Dos-a-Cero” against arch-rival Mexico was born in Columbus out of many dramatic US National team victories here. It’s a place that legendary goalkeeper Tim Howard describes as having its own mystique, as playing in US soccer’s spiritual home has become a rite of passage for national team players. But soccer to Columbus is more than just our national team. It’s the type of place where over 80,000 people will show on a Wednesday when top European clubs like Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain come to town for an ICC exhibition. Fans here will even wake early on weekend mornings to watch top professional soccer from overseas, as evidenced by Columbus being a top TV ratings market in the U.S. for the English Premier League.

 

Cont

^ That's pretty damning.

^^ The author of that outstanding article is Tim Myers.  He has been a stalwart on the #SaveTheCrew twitter front and that article published by Medium is a summary and extension of some of his insightful twitter threads.  He is being rightfully praised by the #SaveTheCrew faithful: