📍 Columbus, Ohio
⚽ Home of the Columbus Crew

Ask any longtime MLS fan about the Columbus Crew and they’ll almost certainly tell you that the team forever changed the game of soccer in the United States. Formed in 1994 as one of the charter members of a fledgling Major League Soccer, the Crew opened America’s first soccer-specific stadium in 1999 and set the standard for future pro soccer venues. Though the Crew no longer play at their historic former home in the Columbus suburbs, the team has embarked on a new quest to make history at the modish grounds of ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Over their thirty year history, the Crew have secured the ultimate prize on three occasions, clinching the MLS Cup in 2008, 2020 and 2023. The side has also won the the Supporters’ Shield three times, and has taken home both the 2002 U.S. Open Cup and the 2021 Campeones Cup.

The atmosphere and energy in Columbus is unrivaled, with the stadium often sold out and filled to the brim with 20,000+ Black and Gold faithful. As one of the most successful clubs in MLS, the Crew have a dedicated base and multiple supporters sections who ensure that the chants never stop. The pre-game celebration also kicks off each game night with the playing of an altered version of the Elvis hit “Can’t Help Falling in Love“….with Crew, that is. It’s incredible to watch the entire stadium stop what they’re doing and break into song, sending chills down your spine. Tifo is usually coordinated during big matches too, particularly for the Hell is Real Derby against in-state foe FC Cincinnati.

The location of ScottsMiracle-Gro Field in Columbus’ Arena District is perfect – it’s convenient and centrally located, and the team is continuing to develop the area directly surrounding the stadium. A parking garage and some apartments are under construction nearby, and an adjacent smokestack at the former Municipal Light Plant has been repainted in Crew colors. It’ll be exciting to see how the neighborhood continues to develop heading into the future. One thing’s for sure: the Crew are here to stay in downtown and will continue to be a bulwark in the city of Columbus for decades to come.