June 12, 20187 yr Cant imagine Garber will be okay with this whole fiasco dragging out into the playoffs and MLS Cup and his next State of the League address with all the negative publicity he had to endure last year.
June 13, 20187 yr I'm pretty sure Garber has a personal vendetta against the Crew and will do absolutely everything in his power to not get in the way of the move. I think the best chance the Crew have is for the lawsuit to becoming threateningly real. I believe that will nudge the league toward saying 'forget it' before they're forced to hand over the books to discovery. Above all else, the league does not want their financials exposed.
June 14, 20187 yr GAME #17: https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-06-13-columbus-crew-sc-vs-atlanta-united-fc/recap https://www.massivereport.com/2018/6/13/17462218/atlanta-united-end-columbus-crew-sc-unbeaten-streak-with-2-0-win-mls-2018 Columbus was riding a 9-game unbeaten streak (4-0-5) going into this match - which marks the halfway point of the 34-game MLS season. Despite that unbeaten streak, the last three MLS results for the Crew were draws. And with Atlanta coming into Mapfre leading by only three points, this was a golden opportunity for the Crew to tie Atlanta for 1st in points with a win going into the league's World Cup break. But it didn't work out that way. Mensah had a great chance on a header that went just wide off a free-kick in the 28th minute. But instead it was Atlanta that scored in the 30th minute off a header from a corner-kick to go up 1-0. The Crew pressed forward in the second half to get an equalizing goal, and had some decent chances at 51', 60', 71', & 76'. But Atlanta's keeper Brad Guzan was up to the task and made some quality saves to keep the Crew scoreless. In the 82nd minute, Atlanta scored an insurance goal on a counterattack to clinch the match. So the Crew go into the break at third in the East with a 7-4-6 record. They won't play again until June 23 when they travel to Los Angeles to face the expansion club LAFC.
June 18, 20186 yr Precourt has a lot riding on next week's Austin City Council meeting Summer recess looms for Austin's City Council, and what it decides at its meeting in 10 days will directly affect whether the Crew SC moves to the Texas city by the 2019 season. Calling it a “very favorable deal to the city," Precourt Sports Ventures and its principal, Anthony Precourt, have proposed a stadium at McKalla Place, a 24-acre, city-owned site. If the deal moves forward, PSV has indicated the Crew would play the 2019 season at a temporary stadium site, according to the Austin Business Journal. The sooner a decision comes, the sooner Precourt can move forward. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/06/18/precourt-has-a-lot-riding-on-next-weeks-austin.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 19, 20186 yr ^ That's probably accurate. Precourt desperately needs something (almost anything at this point) from the June 28 Austin City Council meeting that he can point to as "positive momentum". There are two competing legislation on the June 28 agenda. One legislation would designate Austin to enter negotations with Precourt for the McKalla Place propoerty and would give Precourt that positive momentum (although even the bill's sponsors are calling for negotiating far better terms than PSV initial proposal - so still not a "done deal"). The second legislation calls for Austin to enter an RFP process for the McKalla Place property (which would pretty much close the door on PSV's inferior proposal). However, as much as I appreciate that information posted by the administrator formerly known as ColDayMan, I question the inclusion of that semi-bucolic waterside view of downtown Austin. Precourt's MLS2ATX stadium wouldn't be going anywhere near downtown Austin. Instead, it would be going on this non-bucolic former chemical dump site 10 miles north of downtown at McKalla Place! There is a tour of this "awesome location" on a previous page at https://www.urbanohio.com/forum/index.php/topic,13478.msg917370.html#msg917370
June 20, 20186 yr It's amusing that PSV thinks they'll shuttle in half the capacity of the stadium for each and every game. 10,000 from shuttles. Does he realize how many shuttles that is?
June 20, 20186 yr Even if Austin acquiesces and negotiates with PSV.......and they square away a deal for the site.........They still have a lawsuit with the State of Ohio and City of Columbus to deal with. No matter anyones personal view on the constitutionality of the Modell Law.....its still currently a law and if they attempt to leave they will have violated it. Let's not forget they are in court against Mike Dewine. The same Mike Dewine running for governor and the same Mike Dewine who drafted the Modell Law. Ohio and Columbus wont be giving up anytime soon. And about the approximately 10,000 people who would be shuttled from off-site parking locations......I remember reading that they would require like 180 some shuttles or something. I dont know if that means 180 individual buses or like a few dozen buses making multiple runs back and forth but either way....that's quite ridiculous to think that many people would be okay with getting to the stadium like that.
June 20, 20186 yr If only Columbus had such a prime piece of Urban land like McKalla place they could have built the stadium on PSV would not be moving the team. As MLS states, they want an urban environment next to warehouses, light industrial buildings, chemical companies along with street level retail like tire stores and auto parts stores and food amenities like McDonalds and Taco Bell for its fans to be able to visit before and after the games. IF only.
June 20, 20186 yr Even if Austin acquiesces and negotiates with PSV.......and they square away a deal for the site.........They still have a lawsuit with the State of Ohio and City of Columbus to deal with. No matter anyones personal view on the constitutionality of the Modell Law.....its still currently a law and if they attempt to leave they will have violated it. Let's not forget they are in court against Mike Dewine. The same Mike Dewine running for governor and the same Mike Dewine who drafted the Modell Law. Ohio and Columbus wont be giving up anytime soon. And about the approximately 10,000 people who would be shuttled from off-site parking locations......I remember reading that they would require like 180 some shuttles or something. I dont know if that means 180 individual buses or like a few dozen buses making multiple runs back and forth but either way....that's quite ridiculous to think that many people would be okay with getting to the stadium like that. Not to be a Debbie Downer on the whole Moddell Law, but it really does have no teeth. I wont be surprised if it gets thrown out, and even if it doesn't, a court is pretty loathe to require specific performance on something and almost never does. They really cant force PSV to sell because of his property rights. The only thing that would come from this law is a bigger settlement with the city on a buyout.
June 20, 20186 yr Even if Austin acquiesces and negotiates with PSV.......and they square away a deal for the site.........They still have a lawsuit with the State of Ohio and City of Columbus to deal with. No matter anyones personal view on the constitutionality of the Modell Law.....its still currently a law and if they attempt to leave they will have violated it. Let's not forget they are in court against Mike Dewine. The same Mike Dewine running for governor and the same Mike Dewine who drafted the Modell Law. Ohio and Columbus wont be giving up anytime soon. No matter anyone's personal or legal opinions about the Modell Law, the fact that it exists and is an existing court case is a real issue for PSV, MLS & Austin. The Modell Law may or may not prove fruitless in keeping the Crew in Columbus. But the legal process must still be played out - and that doesn't seem good for PSV's already tight time-frame to play in Austin in 2019. It's been interesting to see the legal commentary on twitter regarding the Modell Law. Those legal experts were initially very skeptical about the Modell Law. But then, as the legal filings of the PSV-MLS side were made public, they have been so nonplussed by their incoherence that they are beginning to wonder about the lawsuit's outcome. One of the twitter followers - who also runs the https://socceresq.com/ website said this after PSV's latest legal filing to an appeal court: https://twitter.com/turneresq/status/1006234329507217408: "They start out arguing that the lower-court has (wrongly) effectively entered a preliminary injunction. No surprise there. -- Their basis for this is that the law is unconstitutional for X/Y/Z reasons, and that they've complied with the law. But, the lower court has not made a determination as to any of that. So, how can one appeal rulings that haven't been made?" He actually said about this PSV filing, "That's not how law works!" PSV-MLS could still end up winning their case against the Modell Law, but it won't on the brilliance of the legal work. https://twitter.com/turneresq/status/1006242409431236608: "Are @aprecourt/MLS[/member] finally admitting in their filing that they're moving the @ColumbusCrewSC in 2019, no if/and/buts? This section from the brief gets pretty close. -- That said, it still doesn't comply with the statutory language, and no documentation to that effect has been sent to local governments. -- And in the next paragraph, they are back to being vague, so never mind probably." So there is an existing law that PSV needs to follow the process of - at the very least - whether they find it inconvenient to their desired time-frame or not.
June 20, 20186 yr And about the approximately 10,000 people who would be shuttled from off-site parking locations......I remember reading that they would require like 180 some shuttles or something. I dont know if that means 180 individual buses or like a few dozen buses making multiple runs back and forth but either way....that's quite ridiculous to think that many people would be okay with getting to the stadium like that. If think that's ridiculous (it is btw) PSV's Plan A was to build on Butler Shores Park across the river from downtown Austin. Doing so would have occupied all of the available parkland with a similar low level of on-site parking as McKalla. PSV's answers to those Butler Shores parking concerns was to say that fans could park downtown and take "water shuttles" across the river to the stadium!!! PSV's amateur antics would be funny if the fate of the Crew didn't hang in the balance.
June 20, 20186 yr The bigger challenge for PreCourt is what is Plan B if the city of Austin does not want the team. Given the bad will he has created with Columbus, I cant see him salvaging the relationship if the Crew does not move to Austin. That would mean he either sells or moves some other place. Then the issue becomes if the contracts he has will let him go anywhere besides Austin without significant additional costs. However, staying in Columbus with him as owner does not seem like the likely conclusion here. Something is going to have to give one way or another.
June 20, 20186 yr Why doesn't he just move the team to Sacramento if he's so intent on moving? They already have a stadium under construction (at least I have heard they do), and Sacramento was on the short list for MLS expansion. Plus, isn't Precourt from California? Seems like the path of least resistance. Why is he so set on Austin?
June 20, 20186 yr ^ 1) I think is purchase contract allows him to void the lease early should an option to move to Austin and only Austin become viable 2) If he wanted to go to Sac he would need more approvals from the league and would either have to wait until his lease in Columbus ran out (not a good option), or buy out the lease (not a good option either) 3) Sacramento has their favored ownership group in place already and they could make things difficult or try and extract a pound of flesh or additional influence he may not be willing to give up at this time. While Sacramento would make sense at one level, and if Austin fails, I am sure it will be used for leverage, it is not as good of a option as Austin for Precourt for some of the above reasons.
June 20, 20186 yr MLS owns the team. By their own words, Precourt is simply the "operator/investor". It is ultimately up to the league to shoot down the move. The biggest issue MLS may have with the lawsuit is their books being exposed to the public. The league really does not want that to happen.
June 20, 20186 yr Yes, MLS owns the team, but Precourt isn't allowed to relocate the team to any city he wants whenever he wants. His contract provides an out if he moves to Austin. If he wanted to move to Sacramento, I think he would have to get approval from the MLS board, who may shoot it down (I think they would approve it, personally). Also, Sacramento doesn't have their full ownership yet for an MLS team. They need someone to come in with much more money than they currently have. The problem is, Sacramento doesn't have a strong business community. They have no Fortune 500 companies in their metro area. Cincinnati has 9. Columbus has 4. Austin has one large one (Dell). There aren't a lot of rich people in Sacramento, so they need to find others to invest in the city.
June 20, 20186 yr I do not believe MLS can legally (because of a contract) approve a relocation to Sacramento, even if they wanted to. If Precourt wants to sell the Crew to a local group in Columbus and join the Sacramento team, then more power to him. But he bought the Crew with the intention of moving them to Austin. He wants this. He wants it so bad he's willing to build his stadium with his own money (despite citing this as a problem in Columbus) on a former chemical dump site with inadequate transportation infrastructure miles from downtown Austin (another issue cited against Columbus: he wanted a downtown stadium). Precourt is a liar and a scumbag. Why anyone would want to do business with him is beyond me.
June 20, 20186 yr I do not believe MLS can legally (because of a contract) approve a relocation to Sacramento, even if they wanted to. If Precourt wants to sell the Crew to a local group in Columbus and join the Sacramento team, then more power to him. But he bought the Crew with the intention of moving them to Austin. He wants this. He wants it so bad he's willing to build his stadium with his own money (despite citing this as a problem in Columbus) on a former chemical dump site with inadequate transportation infrastructure miles from downtown Austin (another issue cited against Columbus: he wanted a downtown stadium). Precourt is a liar and a scumbag. Why anyone would want to do business with him is beyond me. "Precourt is a liar and a scumbag. Why anyone would want to do business with him is beyond me." This. This is what should be going through the minds of the Austin City Council. Why go with this lying bastard on anything-especially his horrible hypocritical proposal? He is lying, untrustable, and will screw over Austin just as easily as he is trying to screw over Columbus. This is not a good look at all for MLS.
June 21, 20186 yr OMG - just smell the desperation coming from PSV in Austin!!! 8) 8) 8) PSV spokesman: McKalla site resolution threatens MLS move to Austin By Chris Bils - American-Statesman Correspondent Posted: 5:53 p.m. - Wednesday, June 20, 2018 While four Austin City Council members put out a release Wednesday detailing plans for an “open and fair process on McKalla Place,” a spokesman for Precourt Sports Ventures said that process could kill plans for a Major League Soccer team in Austin. Council Members Leslie Pool, Ora Houston, Alison Alter and Ellen Troxclair have co-signed a resolution intended to solicit development plans for the 24-acre city-owned site in North Austin. ( . . . ) Richard Suttle, a lobbyist representing PSV and MLS said, “If that resolution were to pass, it’s just not consistent with the timing of bringing MLS to Austin.” A second resolution on the agenda for the June 28 council meeting asks for Austin’s city manager to begin exclusive negotiations with PSV for a stadium. Co-sponsors on that resolution are Mayor Steve Adler along with Council Members Kathie Tovo, Sabino “Pio” Renteria and Delia Garza. ( . . . ) Pool, Houston, Alter and Troxclair argue that the city is putting itself at a disadvantage by not considering other options. “It makes sense that we would want to know what our options are, no matter how Council decides to move forward on this topic,” Pool said in the release. “Knowing all of the opportunities available to us not only helps us make an informed decision, but it puts us in a better negotiating position with all of the participants, as well.” ( . . . ) Pool has maintained that she will not be rushed into a decision and has been critical of PSV’s proposal. Alter, Houston and Troxclair also would like to see it weighed against other development plans. “I would love to have a soccer team in Austin,” Alter said in the release. “Nonetheless, the terms of the deal matter. There is a high price involved with giving this land to PSV, and we need an accurate accounting of the opportunity costs to ensure that this decision is not made in a vacuum.” MORE: https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/soccer/psv-spokesman-mckalla-site-resolution-threatens-mls-move-austin/KYvSBC5bn3BNIBJkmJDGYK/
June 21, 20186 yr More about this latest example of PSV-MLS snakery: http://thecomeback.com/soccer/the-latest-revelation-in-the-columbus-crew-relocation-drama-should-shake-mls-to-its-core.html https://www.massivereport.com/2018/6/21/17486890/precourt-sports-venture-may-begin-looking-at-other-cities-for-columbus-crew-sc-mls-2018
June 21, 20186 yr Per Andrew Erickson of The Dispatch, the PSV/MLS appeal has been dismissed. This is positive news for STC in the courtroom.
June 21, 20186 yr More about this latest example of PSV-MLS snakery: http://thecomeback.com/soccer/the-latest-revelation-in-the-columbus-crew-relocation-drama-should-shake-mls-to-its-core.html https://www.massivereport.com/2018/6/21/17486890/precourt-sports-venture-may-begin-looking-at-other-cities-for-columbus-crew-sc-mls-2018 MLS is shooting itself in the face.
June 21, 20186 yr ^Sounds like it is not leveraging Columbus and Austin per PSV anymore, it is Austin and other places. It appears like Precourt is determined to leave Columbus no matter what, which was probably his endgame when he bought the team 5 years ago.
June 21, 20186 yr Like I said before - PSV's amateur antics would be funny if the fate of the Crew didn't hang in the balance:
June 22, 20186 yr Crew SC owner, Major League Soccer shut down by court of appeals The 10th District Court of Appeals has swiftly refused to dismiss the Columbus Crew SC lawsuit. Precourt Sports Ventures, Columbus Crew SC and Major League Soccer argued in a filing last week that the "Art Modell Law" – the focal point in the lawsuit filed by the city and state to keep the soccer team in Columbus – was unconstitutional. They also said the Franklin County Common Pleas Court had overstepped its reach in the case. The appeals court ruled today that their request was premature. Until Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Brown issues a final ruling in the case, the appeals court said it has a "lack of jurisdiction," according to court documents obtained by Columbus Business First. More below: https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/06/21/crew-sc-owner-major-league-soccer-shut-down-by.html "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 23, 20186 yr https://www.massivereport.com/2018/6/21/17490116/columbus-crew-sc-zack-steffen-out-vs-los-angeles-fc-with-knee-injury-mls-2018 I dislike it when the Crew goes on a break, but returns more broken than before the break. In this case, it is phenom goalkeeper Zach Steffen who got broken during a Thursday practice session with a knee injury. Because of this he will not be travelling to Los Angeles for tonight's game. The extent of Steffen's injury is not known yet. http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180622/soccer--crew-lafc-will-be-without-key-pieces Somewhat mitigating the loss of Steffen in tonight's game is that LAFC will be without their leading scorer Carlos Vela, who is playing with Mexico’s national team at the World Cup (and scored a PK goal in Mexico's victory today).
June 24, 20186 yr Ketterer isn't starting, is he? After watching that USOC shootout, I'm positive there are some local high school GKs with more ability.
June 24, 20186 yr Ketterer isn't starting, is he? After watching that USOC shootout, I'm positive there are some local high school GKs with more ability. Kempin will likely be tonight's starter (I hope). Ketterer wasn't that bad during the Open Cup game - but that shootout. Wow, I really felt bad for him in that shootout! Total humiliation!
June 24, 20186 yr GAME #18: https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-06-23-los-angeles-football-club-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180624/lafc-2-crew-sc-0--two-early-goals-send-crew-to-second-straight-loss The Crew acted like they were suffering from jet lag in this game's first 15 minutes. LAFC scored a 4th minute goal off a 30-yard free-kick in which it appeared that Crew's backup keeper Jon Kempin didn't set up his defensive wall properly. Ciman's shot was good, but it easily got past the narrow three-man wall and into an unprotected part of the goal. Then, in the 8th minute, it was the Crew defense's time to fall asleep when a ball deflected around in the 18-yard box and got advanced to a LAFC player that was completely unmarked for an easy finish to put LAFC up 2-0. LAFC nearly scored another goal off a header in the 13th minute before the Crew seemed to wake up and begin possessing the ball. After that terrible opening 15, the Crew played much better. They started retaining possession and looked like a Berhalter posses-and-attack team. But despite possessing the ball, the Crew struggled to find decent scoring chances. Their best was in the 69th minute, when Artur fed a crossing pass to Higuain, who headed the ball into the LAFC net. But the goal was disallowed with an offside call. The Crew return to Columbus for a match against Real Salt Lake next Saturday.
June 25, 20186 yr It has been just over 8 months since Crew owner/operator Precourt Sports Ventures announced it would consider relocating the team to Austin after the 2018 season. This Thursday, Austin City Council has a meeting that may (or may not) determine the ultimate fate of this proposed move. Below is an article from the Dispatch that does a good job looking at the current state of play in #MLS2ATX and #SaveTheCrew: http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180624/austin-city-council-meeting-thursday-important-to-crew-scs-future -- Item 60, sponsored by council members Leslie Pool, Ora Houston, Alison Alter and Ellen Troxclair, would instruct the city manager to solicit plans for mixed-use development at McKalla Place in addition to PSV’s stadium proposal. The lobbyist for PSV has alleged that passage of this item would force PSV to "look to other cities" instead of Austin. -- Item 64, sponsored by Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and council members Delia Garza and Sabino “Pio” Renteria, would instruct the city manager to enter exclusive negotiations with PSV regarding a stadium at McKalla Place and report back Aug. 9 with either a status update or a contract to approve. -- There are 11 members on Austin City Council, so it appears that three council members remain uncommitted toward either item going into Thursday's meeting. -- Meanwhile, a lawsuit by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein is more than three months old and will continue for the foreseeable future. The 10th District Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal filed by PSV and MLS, continuing a 90-day pause in the lawsuit ordered in May by Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey M. Brown. -- And as the clock ticks in Austin and the lawsuit is pending, many wonder if Central Ohio leaders will put together an offer to keep the team in Columbus. Details on that front remain scarce, but Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer offered a window into the process, confirming last week that he is under a non-disclosure agreement and participating in a valuation of the team.
June 26, 20186 yr News about GK Zach Steffen from the team. He underwent meniscus surgery on his left knee and is expected to miss the match this weekend against RSL: https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2018/06/25/crew-sc-goalkeeper-zack-steffen-undergoes-successful-knee-procedure According to Dispatch beat reporter Andrew Erickson on twitter, Coach Berhalter says Steffen is "TBD" for the following match at the LA Galaxy on July 7:
June 26, 20186 yr It has been just over 8 months since Crew owner/operator Precourt Sports Ventures announced it would consider relocating the team to Austin after the 2018 season. This Thursday, Austin City Council has a meeting that may (or may not) determine the ultimate fate of this proposed move. Below is an article from the Dispatch that does a good job looking at the current state of play in #MLS2ATX and #SaveTheCrew: http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180624/austin-city-council-meeting-thursday-important-to-crew-scs-future -- Item 60, sponsored by council members Leslie Pool, Ora Houston, Alison Alter and Ellen Troxclair, would instruct the city manager to solicit plans for mixed-use development at McKalla Place in addition to PSV’s stadium proposal. The lobbyist for PSV has alleged that passage of this item would force PSV to "look to other cities" instead of Austin. -- Item 64, sponsored by Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and council members Delia Garza and Sabino “Pio” Renteria, would instruct the city manager to enter exclusive negotiations with PSV regarding a stadium at McKalla Place and report back Aug. 9 with either a status update or a contract to approve. So what's the best case scenario for #SaveTheCrew here? Item 60 passing and item 64 not passing?
June 26, 20186 yr So what's the best case scenario for #SaveTheCrew here? Item 60 passing and item 64 not passing? Probably so. Although it seems that passing Item 60 (which would authorize an RFP process for McKalla and give competition to PSV) might be the more important of the two. Item 64 (now renamed to Item 130) would give Precourt want he wants, but it doesn't end his negotiations with Austin. So its passage, while not good, is not necessarily fatal to #SaveTheCrew. ^ PreCourt selling the team to a local group of investors Ultimately this would be the best scenario for keeping the Crew in Columbus long-term.
June 26, 20186 yr PSV must be worried that Item 130 (formerly Item 64 - which gives Precourt exclusive negotiation rights for the McKalla site with the City of Austin) is not going to pass. He just amended his conceptual site plan to add affordable housing on the stadium site!!! You can see the side-by-side plans with and without the affordable housing at the twitter page of Austin Statesman reporter Chris Bils: Its not very different from the original stadium site plan. PSV just turned one of the surface parking lots at the rear of the site into a parking garage and tacked a four-story, 130-unit affordable housing apartment building onto the garage. Once again, I'm loving the twitter hot takes to this latest PSV buffoonery: Like I said before - PSV's amateur antics would be funny if the fate of the Crew didn't hang in the balance. ???
June 27, 20186 yr SMH - this MLS2ATX thing just keeps getting more complicated! Now a Texas open government lawyer is threatening to sue Austin if they enter into a non-competitive agreement with PSV. Let's see where PSV is now. The existing Modell lawsuit in Ohio. A pending lawsuit in Texas. I wonder if San Antonio will join in with a lawsuit against MLS for the way they got jobbed in the expansion process? Time to sell (at a profit) to Columbus, Tony. Then give Greeley and Suttle their walking papers and run back to California!!!
June 29, 20186 yr 60 and 130 passed. Seems like half the council is ready to approve the stadium now and the other half wants more data. I'd give a favorable outcome for Columbus a 10% chance.
June 29, 20186 yr 60 and 130 passed. Seems like half the council is ready to approve the stadium now and the other half wants more data. I'd give a favorable outcome for Columbus a 10% chance. Keep in mind that there are numerous scenarios in which both cities could end up with a team when all is said and done. There are numerous rumors floating around from credible sources that the future of the Crew (or an MLS team) in Columbus will not necessarily be determined by what happens in Austin.
June 29, 20186 yr 60 and 130 passed. Seems like half the council is ready to approve the stadium now and the other half wants more data. I'd give a favorable outcome for Columbus a 10% chance. At this point, I don't think anyone can say with certainty what the percentages really are. There are just too many moving parts after 8+ months of relocation drama to be sure. All I know for sure is that this move to Austin was presented as a "done deal" in October 2017. Then it was going to be a "done deal" by the end of 2017. Then by beginning of the MLS season in March 2018. Then by last night's Austin council meeting on June 28. Now its getting deferred to August 9. And all the while, a competing item (that PSV's lobbyist said would kill MLS2ATX) also got passed along the PSV-endorsed item (that still calls for more negotiations with PSV) and the existing Modell lawsuit in Ohio continues plus the possibility of two lawsuits in Texas over this and we don't know the status of talks to sell the Crew to Columbus investors (which would also act as a lifeline to MLS to get rid of this whole mess!).
June 29, 20186 yr An action photo of J. Anthony Precourt in action from last night's Austin council meeting: Previous to the council meeting, Precourt engaged in some authentic interaction with his MLS2ATX bros: Which resulted in a photograph so awkward that it was immediately mocked on twitter!
July 1, 20186 yr GAME #19: https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-06-30-columbus-crew-sc-vs-real-salt-lake/recap https://www.massivereport.com/2018/6/30/17521762/columbus-crew-sc-struggle-again-but-hold-on-for-a-2-1-win-over-real-salt-lake The Crew were already missing starting GK Steffen going into this match. But because of an injury picked up during practice, Higuain would also be unavailable as well. 21-year-old rookie Eduardo Sosa filled in for Pipa, making his first-ever MLS start. Unlike last week's LAFC game, the Crew got off to a strong start. In the 4th minute, Argudo was fouled inside the penalty box on a corner kick. Zardes converted the PK to give the Crew a very early 1-0 lead. In the 23rd minute, the Crew scored on a quick series of touches. Artur moved the ball from the left side to the right side over to Afful - Afful heads the ball forward to Santos down the right side - Santos passes over to Sosa making a central run - Sosa shoots a pinpoint accurate finish - and the Crew are up 2-0. After going up 2-0, RSL started to wake up and gain more possession for the remainder of the first half. This continued into the second half. Although the Crew defense (which included Gaston Sauro in his first MLS start since returning from his career-threatening injury) was holding firm, RSL was getting some decent scoring opportunities. RSL finally cashed in on one in the 74th minute. But they couldn't find a second goal and the Crew held on for a 2-1 win. This home win breaks a two-game losing streak and vaults the Crew into 3rd-in-the-East (pending the outcome of today's NYRB game).
July 2, 20186 yr Good crowd, over 16k. It was fireworks night. Given the way Precourt has been treating fans this season, I almost expected this: But they did have actual fireworks after the game: https://www.massivereport.com/2018/7/1/17522488/gallery-columbus-crewsc-vs-real-salt-lake
July 2, 20186 yr Since Austin City Council kicked the MLS2ATX can down the road to August 9 (and passed separate legislation that gives PSV competition for the McKalla stadium site) it looks like there's going to be a month of 'complex and delicate negotiation' ahead in Austin between the City and PSV. Below is an article from Columbus Business First that does an excellent job of updating the #SaveTheCrew situation: Columbus Crew update: Month of 'complex and delicate negotiation' ahead in Austin in latest hurdle for relocation https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/07/01/columbus-crew-update-month-of-complex-and-delicate.html
July 8, 20186 yr GAME #20: https://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2018-07-07-la-galaxy-vs-columbus-crew-sc/recap - https://www.massivereport.com/2018/7/8/17545404/crew-sc-blown-out-by-galaxy - BAD NEWS: The Crew lost in L.A. for the second time in three weeks. - GOOD NEWS: The Crew don't play anymore games in L.A. this season.
July 8, 20186 yr Since Austin City Council kicked the MLS2ATX can down the road to August 9 (and passed separate legislation that gives PSV competition for the McKalla stadium site) it looks like there's going to be a month of 'complex and delicate negotiation' ahead in Austin between the City and PSV. Below is an article from Columbus Business First that does an excellent job of updating the #SaveTheCrew situation: Columbus Crew update: Month of 'complex and delicate negotiation' ahead in Austin in latest hurdle for relocation https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2018/07/01/columbus-crew-update-month-of-complex-and-delicate.html - If this is the way PSV's lead lobbyist is going to conduct these "complex and delicate negotiations" with Austin - the Crew might be saved come August 9th: -
July 14, 20186 yr Some relatively minor on-field and off-field news: On-field -- The Crew acquired 26-year-old forward Patrick Mullins for $150K in allocation money from DC United. Mullins scored had 13 goals and 2 assists in 34 appearances over his first two seasons with DC. However, in this season, Mullins has only started 2 games for DC (appearing in 10 total) and became expendable due to DC’s signing of Wayne Rooney. Mullins will likely compete for the backup striker role, currently held by Adam Jahn: https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/post/2018/07/11/crew-sc-acquires-forward-patrick-mullins-trade-dc-united https://www.massivereport.com/2018/7/11/17561396/report-columbus-crew-sc-linked-with-d-c-uniteds-patrick-mullins-mls-2018 Off-field -- Both the PSV-MLS side and the City-Ohio-SaveTheCrew side had a status conference with Franklin County Judge Brown last week. This was the first conference with the judge since PSV-MLS filed an appeal of his orders issued on May 8. That PSV-MLS appeal was ultimately rejected - but because of that appeal, all the deadlines set by the judge will need to be amended. Judge Brown clarified that his May 8 orders remain in effect. Those orders paused the lawsuit to allow prospective Crew buyers an opportunity to make an offer for the team. Those orders set deadlines for the parties to agree on information to be provided to potential buyers and to agree on the terms of a non-disclosure agreement. Judge Brown’s latest order indicated the court will set new deadlines for complying with the May 8 orders after he conducts separate meetings with the defendants and plaintiffs. So basically, the #SaveTheCrew lawsuit is getting back on track after PSV-MLS's appeal delayed it: https://socceresq.com/2018/07/12/savethecrew-order-puts-parties-back-on-track-but-not-much-else/ http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20180712/crew-cuts-judge-sets-deadline-for-protective-order-in-lawsuit
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