“Meaningful” is up to interpretation. I assume they’d want to play a match versus some big-draw EPL club there. It’s the only type of match-up that might generate sufficient demand. Not demand to see the Crew, of course. Stealing a truly important match from Columbus and giving it to Cleveland would be just a big FU to the team’s core fan base.
Maybe one of those pointless exhibitions with pre season touring English sides. They always suck and that way they can shove anyone they want out on the field in a yellow shirt and nobody will care. Anything much more significant and you've just given the finger to your core fans who pay the freight all year long. His problem is that he sees other MLS teams making big money with a Messi game by moving it to a bigger place, but Columbus doesn't have one. Nobody likes passing up a nice fat cash cow but thems the breaks.
Columbus does have a bigger stadium, biggest in the state I believe. Just isn’t owned by the Haslams. I see no reason to put a game in Cleveland, other than vanity. Legit question for people that live in NEO and Cleveland area: does the average Cleveland sports fan give a shit about anything related to Columbus? Sports? Culture?
When the Crew played there in the late 90's, it was the narrowest pitch in MLS, smaller than FIFA requirements. Then in 1998 they did the renovation which forced Lamar to build HCS. One of the things they did was lower the field some 15 feet in order to add more seating, which narrowed the surface even further. Bottom line, Ohio Stadium cannot provide a regulation playing surface or anything close to it.
But a friendly vs big EPL team, where attendance is important… Y’all, only games that sell out are MLS games. USOC doesn’t sell out. Leagues Cup doesn’t sell out. CCC doesn’t sell out. And I’m talking about LDC. Put Man U or Liverpool there, that’s a sell out at Ohio Stadium. And it’s a friendly, so field size is irrelevant.
It was like 12k for Minnesota on a Friday at like 6. Think it would do better this year. To be in browns stadium it would have to be against a Liga MX side, Miami, or maybe Cincinnati. Remember there are rumors the browns would play in Akron or Columbus during the stadium remodel although it sounds like they'll just build a new stadium
The Browns field is real grass versus Ohio Stadium being turf. Any game against a high profile European team will be in Cleveland in my kind. And as an exhibition, I am fine with that.
Let’s all hope the new Cleveland stadium or renovated first energy is capable of a 75 yard wide pitch. This Copa America has been an embarrassment as far as pitch dimensions go. 100% of the blame goes to the NFL owners for their lack of foresight. The Haslams have the ability to change that narrative.
First Energy hosted Gold Cup matches in 2019. Don’t Gold Cup venues have to be regulation 75 yards wide?
Crew co-owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam gift $2 million to Pelotonia Paywalled for most, I assume. But the story is more or less in the title. They learned about Pelotonia back in 2019 and have been exploring ways to become involved. Quote from Dee Haslam: “Pelotonia offers hope for so many people impacted by cancer, including my own family,” she said. “Everyone is affected by cancer. My hope is more and more people get involved in Pelotonia – whether they ride on their bikes or make donations. I get excited thinking about all of the ways you can participate. I hope our gift inspires others to support Pelotonia as well.”
There was a situation several years ago that made me aware of how charities take their donations and use them for salaries, legal fees, "other fees" or whatever else. One very noble fact about Pelotonia is that 100% of donations go to kicking cancer in the ass. Expenses are paid for via grants and other monies.
Where ever you give, take time to look at reports on how they use their cash. Places that have open books are to be commended. Lots of charities spend most of their cash on staff. That's not always unjustified, however. Charities that mobilize volunteers tend to need a larger staff to do so. But always look at the CEO or equivalent to see what their compensation is. And then there's cases like the Columbus Zoo...
As someone who has spent their whole career in the non-profit space it is crazy to me to think you can keep and retain talented people without providing competitive compensation. Running a 30, 40, 50 million dollar non-profit is no easy task. Transparency around donated income is a must and as pointed out above its not very hard to find the compensation on the top earners of an organization.
Putting this here, because Haslams mentioned: https://scarvesandspikes.com/2024/0...of-womens-league-after-2027-womens-world-cup/
"UPDATE: Cleveland Pro Soccer has reached out to Scarves and Spikes to deny the unconfirmed report that they have relation to the Columbus Crew or the Haslam family."