History of Columbus Crew in Timeline

The Columbus Crew is a professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio, competing in Major League Soccer (MLS) as part of the Eastern Conference. As one of the league's ten charter clubs, they began playing in 1996. Currently, the team is operated by an ownership group led by the Haslam family and Pete Edwards. This group represents the third ownership in the club's history.

June 15, 1994: Columbus Awarded MLS Franchise

On June 15, 1994, Major League Soccer announced that Columbus, Ohio, would be home to one of the ten founding members of the new top flight North American professional soccer league.

1994: Franchise Founded

In 1994, the Columbus Crew franchise was founded.

April 13, 1996: Inaugural Game and Coaching Change

On April 13, 1996, the Crew played their first game in front of a home crowd, winning 4–0 against D.C. United. After a slow start to the season, Tom Fitzgerald replaced head coach Timo Liekoski.

1996: Inaugural Season at Ohio Stadium

From 1996, the Crew played its home games at Ohio Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University.

1996: Club badge featured people

From 1996, the club badge featured people, containing three silhouetted males wearing construction hats beneath a stylized "Crew" wordmark.

1996: Inaugural Ownership and First Players

In 1996, MLS investor Lamar Hunt and his son Clark became the owners of the Columbus Crew and Kansas City Wizards. The first players for the Crew were Doctor Khumalo and Brian McBride, with McBride being the first overall pick in the MLS draft. Timo Liekoski was named the team's head coach for its first season.

1996: First shirt sponsor: Snickers

In 1996, Snickers chocolate bar became the Columbus Crew's first shirt sponsor, signing a five-year deal worth $6 million.

1996: Timo Liekoski becomes the first head coach

In 1996, Timo Liekoski became the first head coach of the Columbus Crew but was fired midseason.

1996: Inaugural Season

In 1996, the Columbus Crew began play as one of the 10 charter clubs of Major League Soccer (MLS).

1996: Crew donned black as primary uniform color

In 1996, the Columbus Crew donned black as their primary uniform color because the league required teams to have a dark and a white uniform.

1996: State law cited against relocation

In 1996, the state law (the Modell Law) cited against relocation was originally passed after the controversial relocation of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore.

1996: Homage to the club's original badge

The new badge unveiled on October 8, 2014, included the shield as an homage to the club's original badge from 1996 with the 96 representing the club's first year in competition.

1996: Beginnings

Tom Fitzgerald coached 161 of the Crew's first 183 MLS matches over parts of six seasons beginning in 1996.

1997: Eastern Conference Finals Loss

In 1997, the Black & Gold finished 15–17, placing third in the Eastern Conference, and lost in the Conference Finals to D.C. United.

1998: End of Era at Ohio Stadium

1998 was the final year the Crew played its home games at Ohio Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University.

1998: Chicago defeats Columbus for Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

In 1998, the Chicago Fire defeated the Columbus Crew for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

1998: U.S. Open Cup Final Loss and Scoring Champion

In 1998, the Crew finished 15–17, placing fourth in the Eastern Conference, and lost in the Conference Finals to D.C. United. The Crew reached the U.S. Open Cup Final but lost to the Chicago Fire 2–1 after extra time. Stern John was the scoring champion with 26 goals and 5 assists.

May 15, 1999: Columbus Crew Stadium Opening

On May 15, 1999, Columbus Crew Stadium, the first soccer-specific stadium in Major League Soccer, opened as the Crew beat the New England Revolution 2–0.

August 18, 1999: Dougherty Records 50th Win

On August 18, 1999, Mark Dougherty became the first goalkeeper in league history to record 50 wins, with a 4–2 victory over the MetroStars at Giants Stadium.

1999: Move to Columbus Crew Stadium

In 1999, the Crew began playing home games at Historic Crew Stadium (formerly Mapfre Stadium and Columbus Crew Stadium), the first soccer-specific stadium built for an MLS team.

1999: Crew donned black as primary uniform color until 1999

Until 1999, the Columbus Crew donned black as their primary uniform color because the league required teams to have a dark and a white uniform.

2000: Hosting MLS All-Star Game

In 2000, The Crew hosted the 2000 MLS All-Star Game, with Mike Clark, Brian McBride, and Dante Washington representing Columbus in the game.

2000: Crew unveiled their first fully yellow jersey

In 2000, the Columbus Crew unveiled their first fully yellow jersey, but could not wear it consistently at home until 2004 due to league rules.

2000: End of Snickers Sponsorship

In 2000, the five-year sponsorship deal with Snickers chocolate bar ended.

2001: Coaching Change

In 2001, after a slow 1–3–2 start, coach Tom Fitzgerald was replaced by Greg Andrulis.

2001: No Jersey Sponsor

In 2001, the Columbus Crew did not have a jersey sponsor.

2002: U.S. Open Cup Win and Rookie of the Year

In 2002, Columbus won the U.S. Open Cup, defeating LA Galaxy 1-0 in the final. Kyle Martino won Rookie of the Year, a first for the Crew.

2002: Pepsi becomes the team's sponsor

In 2002, Pepsi became the team's sponsor, lasting until 2004.

2002: U.S. Open Cup Victory

In 2002, the Crew won the U.S. Open Cup.

2003: CONCACAF Champions' Cup and McBride Departure

In 2003, Columbus played in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, advancing to the second round. Brian McBride played his final season with Columbus before joining Fulham.

2004: MLS Coach of the Year Award

Despite winning the MLS Coach of the Year Award in 2004, Andrulis was replaced on an interim basis by Robert Warzycha midway through the 2005 season.

2004: Crew could wear the yellow jersey consistently at home

In 2004, Columbus Crew could finally wear the yellow jersey consistently at home, as league rules stated that a club could only wear their light jerseys four times at home before that year.

2004: Pepsi sponsorship ends

In 2004, the Columbus Crew's sponsorship deal with Pepsi ended.

2004: Supporters' Shield Win and Defender of the Year Award

In 2004, the Crew won the Supporters' Shield and set a franchise record for points with 49. Robin Fraser won the Defender of the Year award.

2004: Supporters' Shield Victory

In 2004, the Crew won the Supporters' Shield.

2005: Coaching Changes and Playoff Miss

In 2005, Andrulis was replaced by Robert Warzycha midway through the season, and the club missed the playoffs. The club hired Sigi Schmid after the season.

2005: No Jersey Sponsor

In 2005, the Columbus Crew did not have a jersey sponsor.

2005: U.S. Open Cup games at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium

In 2005, the Columbus Crew played U.S. Open Cup games at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, which is owned by the Ohio State University.

December 14, 2006: Death of Lamar Hunt

On December 14, 2006, team founder and owner Lamar Hunt died.

2006: Nordecke fans travel to away games

In 2006 a large contingency of fans from the Nordecke began traveling together to support the Crew during their away campaigns.

2006: Sigi Schmid managed the team

In 2006, Sigi Schmid managed the team.

April 19, 2007: Signing of Guillermo Barros Schelotto

On April 19, 2007, the Crew signed Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

2007: No Jersey Sponsor

In 2007, the Columbus Crew did not have a jersey sponsor.

2008: Schmid Leaves for Seattle, MLS Rules on Tampering

After the 2008 season, Sigi Schmid left Columbus to coach Seattle Sounders FC, leading to tampering allegations and financial compensation ordered by MLS.

2008: North Stands Demolished

Before the 2008 season, the Columbus Crew front office demolished the north stands to build a stage, leading to the formation of the Nordecke supporters' group.

2008: Glidden becomes the new sponsor

In 2008, Glidden was announced as the new sponsor, with a three-year deal worth $1 million per year.

2008: MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield Win

In 2008, the Crew won its first Eastern Conference title and its first MLS Cup. The team also won its second Supporters' Shield. Guillermo Barros Schelotto won the MLS Most Valuable Player Award. Chad Marshall won MLS Defender of the Year award, and Sigi Schmid won Coach of the Year.

2008: MLS initiative to end ownership groups owning multiple franchises

In 2008, the league began its initiative to end having ownership groups owning multiple franchises in the league, there was no success in finding a local ownership group in the market of Columbus.

2008: Columbus Defeats Chicago in Eastern Conference Championship

In the 2008 season, Columbus Crew defeated the Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference Championship match.

2009: Warzycha Hired, Schelotto Designated Player, Supporters' Shield

In 2009, Robert Warzycha was named head coach, Guillermo Barros Schelotto became the franchise's first Designated Player, and the club won its second consecutive Supporters' Shield. Chad Marshall won his second consecutive MLS Defender of the Year award.

2009: Supporters' Shield Victory

In 2009, the Crew won the Supporters' Shield.

2009: "NorOnTour" term grew popular

In late 2009, the term "NorOnTour" grew popular to describe frequent fan traveling support.

2010: Champions League Quarterfinals and Open Cup Final Loss

In 2010, Columbus reached the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League but lost to Toluca. The club also lost in the 2010 U.S. Open Cup Final to the Seattle Sounders.

2010: Glidden sponsorship ends

In 2010, the three-year sponsorship deal with Glidden ended.

2010: "NorOnTour" term grew popular

In early 2010, the term "NorOnTour" grew popular to describe frequent fan traveling support.

May 2011: First Homegrown Player

In May 2011, the Crew signed its first ever homegrown player, Aaron Horton.

2011: No Jersey Sponsor

In 2011, the Columbus Crew did not have a jersey sponsor.

2011: Financial losses

In 2011, the Crew lost money, leading to the establishment of financial goals in 2012.

2012: Shift towards white uniform

In 2012, Columbus began shifting more towards a white uniform with yellow and black trim or stripes.

2012: Barbasol sponsorship deal announced

In 2012, the Columbus Crew announced a new shirt sponsorship deal with Barbasol, a shaving cream brand, worth $900,000 annually for five years.

2012: Set financial goals

In 2012, the Columbus Crew set three financial goals: acquiring a jersey sponsor, selling naming rights to Columbus Crew Stadium, and increasing season-ticket sales to 10,000.

2012: Kirk Urso's Death

The midst of the 2012 season was most notable for a tragedy that happened off the field, as rookie midfielder Kirk Urso died from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, an inherited heart disease caused by genetic defects of the parts of heart muscle.

July 30, 2013: Precourt Takes Over

On July 30, 2013, Anthony Precourt became the second investor-operator in the history of the club.

September 2, 2013: Robert Warzycha fired

On September 2, 2013, Robert Warzycha was fired as head coach and Brian Bliss became the interim coach.

September 2013: Robert Warzycha Departure

In September 2013, Anthony Precourt parted ways with head coach Robert Warzycha.

November 16, 2013: Gregg Berhalter hired

On November 16, 2013, Gregg Berhalter was announced as the head coach and the first sporting director in club history.

March 2014: Financial Goals Update

As of March 2014, the Columbus Crew had obtained a jersey sponsor (Barbasol), but was still "a ways off from the other two goals" of selling stadium naming rights and increasing season-ticket sales.

March 2014: Mark McCullers Departure

In March 2014, club president Mark McCullers stepped down after being told his contract would not be extended.

August 2014: Andy Loughane Hired

In August 2014, Andy Loughane filled the vacancy left by Mark McCullers.

October 8, 2014: Crew unveiled a new badge

On October 8, 2014, the Crew unveiled a new circular-shaped badge featuring the club's classic black and gold colors, a minimized original crest with "96" overlaid on top, and the black and gold checkerboard pattern.

2014: Stadium attendance records set

In 2014, the Columbus Crew set all-time stadium attendance records for highest overall attendance and the most sellouts in one season.

2014: Kei Kamara returned to the Crew

The beginning of the 2015 season started in late 2014 with the return of Kei Kamara.

2014: Club badge featured people until 2014

Until 2014, the club badge featured people, containing three silhouetted males wearing construction hats beneath a stylized "Crew" wordmark.

March 3, 2015: Stadium naming rights partnership with MAPFRE Insurance

On March 3, 2015, the Crew announced a multimillion-dollar stadium naming rights partnership with MAPFRE Insurance.

2015: Stadium Seating Capacity

As of the 2015 season, Historic Crew Stadium had a seating capacity of 19,968.

2015: Return to black jersey as alternate uniform

For the 2015 season, the Crew returned to a black jersey for its alternate uniform.

2015: Introduction of S.C. mascot

In 2015, "S.C.", the son of "Crew Cat", was introduced as the Columbus Crew's official mascot.

2015: MLS Cup Final Appearance

In 2015, Columbus Crew appeared in their second-ever MLS Cup Final, losing at home to the Portland Timbers 2–1.

2015: Naming rights for Crew Stadium purchased by Mapfre

In 2015, the naming rights for Columbus Crew Stadium were purchased by Madrid-based insurance company Mapfre.

2016: Unveiling of white kit inspired by the city of Columbus flag

During the beginning of the 2016 season, Columbus maintained a black kit, and also unveiled a white kit with yellow, red, and periwinkle trim introduced as being inspired by the city of Columbus flag.

February 2017: Sponsorship deal with Acura announced

In February 2017, the Columbus Crew announced a three-year sponsorship deal with Acura, valued at $1.8 million per year.

August 12, 2017: Justin Meram scores 1,000th goal in club history

On August 12, 2017, Justin Meram scored the 1,000th goal in club history.

October 17, 2017: Precourt announces intentions to relocate franchise

On October 17, 2017, Anthony Precourt announced intentions to relocate the franchise to Austin, Texas, if a downtown stadium could not be secured in Columbus, sparking the #SaveTheCrew movement.

November 15, 2017: Precourt and MLS meet with Columbus leaders about Crew's future

On November 15, 2017, Anthony Precourt and MLS commissioner Don Garber met with Columbus mayor Andrew Ginther and civic and business leaders about the Crew's future in Columbus, but did not resolve the relocation threat.

2017: First match against FC Cincinnati

In 2017, the Columbus Crew first met FC Cincinnati in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match, resulting in a 1–0 win for FC Cincinnati.

March 5, 2018: Lawsuit filed against Precourt to prevent relocation

On March 5, 2018, Ohio attorney general Mike DeWine and Columbus city attorney Zach Klein filed a lawsuit against Anthony Precourt, citing a previously untested 1996 state law (the Modell Law) that prevents sports teams that benefited from public facilities or financial assistance from relocating to another city without a six-month notice and attempting to sell the team to a local ownership group.

October 12, 2018: Haslam announces process of buying the Crew

On October 12, 2018, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, Jimmy Haslam, released a statement stating he was in the process of buying the Crew, along with other local groups.

2018: New stadium proposal unveiled

In 2018, plans were announced to build a new $230 million stadium in the Arena District of Downtown Columbus, seating 20,000 spectators.

January 1, 2019: Control of Crew franchise transferred to Haslam family

On January 1, 2019, control of the Crew franchise was officially transferred to the Haslam family and longtime team physician Dr. Pete Edwards, who took full ownership of the club after reaching a deal with Precourt Sports Ventures LLC. The new ownership group also quickly announced that they would be building a new stadium for the Crew in the Arena District of downtown Columbus.

2019: New stadium groundbreaking

In 2019, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Columbus Crew stadium took place.

2019: Return of "Crew Cat"

In 2019, with new ownership, the original "Crew Cat" mascot returned and attends games alongside S.C.

2019: Crew dealt with a myriad of injuries

The 2019 season was a forgettable one as the Crew dealt with a myriad of injuries throughout the season, including a season ending ACL injury to Federico Higuaín.

February 27, 2020: Sponsorship deal with Nationwide announced

On February 27, 2020, the Columbus Crew announced a multi-year deal with Nationwide, an insurance company, with an annual value reported to be more than $3 million.

December 12, 2020: Crew wins second MLS Cup

On December 12, 2020, the Crew won their second MLS Cup, defeating the Seattle Sounders 3–0 at Mapfre Stadium in MLS Cup 2020.

2020: New authority took ownership of Mapfre Stadium

In 2020, a new authority took ownership of Mapfre Stadium (renamed Historic Crew Stadium) and its adjacent city sports park, with the Crew continuing to control the venue as a training facility.

2020: MLS Cup Victory

In 2020, the Crew won the MLS Cup.

May 17, 2021: Columbus Crew name restored

On May 17, 2021, in response to the backlash surrounding the rebrand, the franchise announced that "Columbus Crew" would remain as their official name and that the new logo would be modified accordingly.

June 15, 2021: New stadium named Lower.com Field

On June 15, 2021, the new Columbus Crew stadium was named Lower.com Field through a sponsorship deal with Lower.com.

June 2021: OhioHealth Performance Center opened and New Stadium Completed

In June 2021, the OhioHealth Performance Center, the training facility for the Columbus Crew, opened. Also in June 2021, the new stadium was completed.

June 21, 2021: Formation of MLS Next Pro announced

On June 21, 2021, Major League Soccer announced the formation of MLS Next Pro, a developmental league for its clubs.

July 17, 2021: First win at Lower.com Field

The Columbus Crew recorded their first win at Lower.com Field on July 17, 2021.

December 6, 2021: Unveiling of MLS Next Pro and Columbus Crew 2

On December 6, 2021, MLS Next Pro was unveiled, with the Crew's team named Columbus Crew 2.

2021: Caleb Porter fired

Due to results of the 2021 season, Columbus fired Caleb Porter as head coach.

2021: Inauguration of Lower.com Field

In 2021, Lower.com Field became the home stadium for the Columbus Crew.

2021: Launch of The Crew Network

In 2021, the Columbus Crew launched The Crew Network to promote soccer in Ohio and offer opportunities to players, coaches, and parents.

2021: Campeones Cup Win

In 2021, the club won their first continental trophy by winning the Campeones Cup.

December 2022: Wilfried Nancy hired as head coach

In December 2022, Columbus hired Wilfried Nancy from CF Montréal as Porter's replacement.

2022: Caleb Porter fired

Due to results of the 2022 season, Columbus fired Caleb Porter as head coach.

2023: Attendance Records

In 2023, the Columbus Crew set club attendance records for both most cumulative attendance and most sellouts.

2023: MLS Cup Victory

In 2023, the Crew won the MLS Cup.

2023: Columbus Crew captured the third MLS Cup title

In Nancy's first season, Columbus advanced through the playoffs, beating Atlanta United FC, Orlando City SC, and FC Cincinnati in a playoff edition of the Hell Is Real derby to reach MLS Cup 2023, played on December 9 at Lower.com Field. The Crew defeated holders Los Angeles FC by 2–1 to capture the third MLS Cup title in the club's history.

2024: Crew lost to Pachuca in the final of the 2024 Champions Cup Tournament

Columbus faced C.F. Pachuca in the final of the 2024 Champions Cup Tournament and lost 3-0.

2024: Columbus advanced to their first continental final

In 2024, Columbus Crew defeated Monterrey in both legs of the semifinal, including a historic 3–1 victory away to mark the first MLS team win in Mexico in the tournament's history to advance to their first continental final.

2024: Leagues Cup Victory and Champions' Cup Final

In 2024, the Crew won the Leagues Cup and advanced to their first Champions' Cup final.

2025: Match Moved to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland

In 2025, the Crew moved their April 19 regular season match against Inter Miami CF to Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland due to anticipated demand to see players such as Lionel Messi. The match drew a club-record attendance of 60,614 spectators, but was criticized by fans.