Crew Stadium 2.0 - Construction News and Notes

There used to be some photos around that showed the field itself, planted and beginning to grow, in October 1998 (or thereabouts) while there is almost no structure to be seen. The erector set framework was on order but wasn't ready to ship yet and Scott's had to get the grass growing in order to have it ready for May.

So it was just this soccer field with nothing else. Pretty cool.

 

It's really a non-point though, isn't it? Anything can be made to do anything if needed.

 

Really, so was your point.

BTW, there are real life examples of similar stadia still in active use. One I can think of has pieces predating 1960 that were moved from another location.

 

Beaver Stadium?

 

That seems weird. You'd think the field would have been the last to go in, given how heavy construction equipment is.

Then again, it's not like they had time to do things properly.

 

Well, not really. My point was that HCS was built to be a proof-of-concept more than a real long-term solution. Everything from the planning to the location said impermanence. If Lamar were still around and the stadium situation was rearing its head, he could choose to spend $200m revamping it to modern MLS standards or do what the Haslam's did and go for a more premium location that will overnight boost interest and accessibility.

 

Anyone try out the new Condado at the stadium? Good? Is it the full menu or partial?

 

There is a taco stand on the south side that is a levy thing. Might get dos hermanos today. Kinda craving it and can't get my fix at the crew games.

 

Except that Columbus would never have opened its arms and it's corporate wallets and it's premium location to the Hunt family. For ldc to have gotten built it was always going to be necessary to sell the team and get the Hunts out of town.

IMO Clarkie Boy knew it and helped engineer a sale to a San Francisco frat boy who was always going to move the Crew away, and he figured that would be his revenge for everyone up here snubbing him.

Secretly, he was probably very disappointed that we ended up kicking Fatso out of town and ending up with better owners and a better stadium.

 

My memory is foggy but I don't really remember hearing a peep from the Hunt family at that time. I recognize that the league probably told ALL owners to shut up. However, even after the sale I dont recall seeing anything from them saying their fathers legacy is being honored, etc etc. Maybe they did and time like lots of other things has faded my memory of it

 

I can guarantee that Garber and others (including billionaire owners from the NFL, MLB, and NBA, along with some very high priced legal counsel) made it VERY plain to any MLS owner who was of a mind to criticize the Austin move, that they would really be very sorry if they did so publicly.

 

Didn't Paulsen publicly criticize things?

 

As I recall, the only comment we heard from HuntBoy was that they had tried, like, really hard to sell the team locally but couldn't find a buyer and the San Francisco Teat was the only offer they got. Too bad so sad.

Nothing else he could do, but rest assured, there was an agreement of some kind that the team would not be moved.

Unfortunately for this plethora of lies and half truths, it's full of holes.

First off, Hunt hired some rinky dink outfit no one had heard of in Cleveland to peddle the team. They were chosen, according to Clarkie, because one of the principals had actually attended Ohio State, so he clearly had extensive high end contacts in the Columbus business community.

It's hard even now to write that without laughing.

It's just too bad there aren't any business brokers or investment organizations actually in Columbus that have actual business connections here. None at all, apparently.

But Clark wants us to believe that these guys in Cleveland were so diligent in their work that they dug up some ass clown on the west coast with zero sports ownership.or management experience who just happened to want to buy an MLS team.

These guys, whoever they were, are world beaters, clearly.

Clark Hunt is the league's financial guru, and has been their chief strategist when it comes to the big items for years. There's no way they pulled some slight of hand on him or pulled off a secret deal under the table. Didn't happen.

In fact, Clark couldn't accept that the problem in CBus was his family name. He is the one who told Garber & Co. that Columbus was a non viable market. He couldn't make it work, so therefore it was clearly unworkable. They believed him; after all, who would know better than financial genius Clark whose family had owned the team for 20 years?

He knew the deal with Austin and he didn't give a shit. He and Garber both wanted out of Columbus, Old Man Lamar be damned. He sold the team to the league and it was the league, doncha know, that added the Austin out behind his back. Poor Clark was totally in the dark.

Right.

Clarkie found a way to deny his culpability and make sad eyes about Daddys legacy, but he knew the deal all along.

 

In other words, to invert a phrase, "it's nothing business, just personal"?

 

Thanks for the team Dad. Now f*ck off.

 

I miss that statue.

 

We know there was a gag order put upon Crew FO employees.

Did other FOs put gag orders upon their employees? I wouldn't be surprised if they were given talking points.

 

Not to mention his dad practically started the whole "Columbus vs Hunt" thing when he figuratively shat on the Nationwide Arena deal. Too bad John H. McConnell was too busy tripping over his own drool while running to sign the lease to listen to Lamar.

It's probably safe to say that, outside a few thousand Crew fans, the Hunt family name means nothing in Columbus.

How'd that arena deal work out, John P? (John P. being the current owner of the CBJ and John H's son, for those who don't know.)

 

One thing I noticed at the last Crew 2 game, but hadn't seemed to notice prior... There's now large tarps covering the wall between the Tipico Club seats and the Lower.Com Lounge seats.

At least it isn't the bland gray.

 

Has anyone been at the training facility, or otherwise heard an update about the two new training fields? When these were announced it was reported that the goal was to have them done before the MLS ASG.

 

I'm at the state fair, and saw the new practice fields they put in. Looked like it's academy focused.

 

Here is some video from one of the new pitches at the OHPC. Looks to be finished and functional. First I’ve seen of it.

The athletes came, saw, and showed their skills! 💪

Last week, we hosted the Crew Youth Skills Challenge at @CrewStadium. Campers learned new skills, worked towards mastery, and had a great time! 🤩#Crew96 | #VamosColumbus pic.twitter.com/u5DdW1irFp

— Crew Youth (@TheCrewYouth) August 1, 2024

 

Can't wait to watch the Crew play Mbappe here

While we have considered numerous sites throughout Cleveland and the region, our focus has been on two potential paths for the future of our stadium.

While significant work remains, the more we have explored the Brook Park option, the more attractive it has become, and we are… pic.twitter.com/5wXzpNANxz

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 7, 2024

 

Brook Park: Cleveland's second downtown!