It now seems as if the Columbus Crew will stay in MLS after a yr that confirmed the most effective and the worst of MLS. It confirmed the loyalty of followers and the mistrust of administration. The black marks, nonetheless, will not go away anytime quickly.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
October 15, 2018
8:00 AM
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AFTER A YEAR of campaigning in an ordeal which was one of many low factors within the historical past of Main League Soccer, it seems as if the Columbus Crew will stay within the Ohio capital.
The proposed deal would see the Haslam household, which owns the Cleveland Browns within the NFL, purchase the Columbus Crew from Anthony Precourt. In flip, Precourt would begin his new staff, Austin FC, within the Texas capital.
The information displays the most effective and the worst of the league. For Crew followers and followers of MLS from the early years, that is welcome information. The #savethecrew marketing campaign was a hard-fought marketing campaign that noticed the staff dragged by the mud. The Precourt and the league appeared horrible all through all the ordeal and within the eyes of many, it can take a very long time to recuperate.
Hopefully with this information, the staff can rebuild and return to being probably the most revered organizations within the league.
Listed here are some ideas on the information
Historical past is preserved
Within the NHL, there are presently 31 groups however the “original six” groups virtually have revered standing. It was these six groups (Montreal, Toronto, New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Boston) that carried the league for 25 years till profitable growth could possibly be achieved and the league might develop into the success it’s now. These six groups comprise of a overwhelming majority of the league’s most beloved and treasured items of historical past.
MLS will not be there however it’s on course. However not matter how a lot the league grows, the Columbus Crew could have performed a big position in its early survival and thereby comprise an vital a part of its historical past.
The completion of Columbus Crew Stadium in 1999 was an unlimited turning level within the league. With that stadium, the league started creating soccer particular stadiums – and bodily belongings. Different groups would quickly observe. As groups left NFL stadiums and into their very own houses, the survival of the league appeared doubtless. Crew Stadium put the league on a special path than the beforehand defunct NASL.
On high of Crew Stadium, the Crew itself performed such an vital a part of the profession for therefore most of the finest American gamers of the previous 30 years. Brian McBride, Brad Friedel, Paul Calgiuri, Thomas Dooley, and Frankie Hedjuk all loved success for the U.S. nationwide staff on the highest ranges and the Crew helped them get up to now.
The Columbus Crew has carried out lots for American soccer and the excellent news is that in contrast to the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Quebec Nordiques, the Baltimore Colts, or the Seattle SuperSonics, it can proceed.
The NHL has its “original six” and it will be good to see the prevailing authentic groups of MLS regularly develop into that kind of respect for having to hold the league within the early years when the standard was far inferior to what it’s now.
Highlight on Crew followers
There isn’t any doubt that Columbus and its followers have had it tough lately. Administration beneath Precourt was poor. The native tv deal made it laborious for its followers to look at the Crew. The staff wasn’t effectively promoted inside its metropolis and the as soon as nice Crew Stadium paled compared with newer stadiums all through the league.
Morale amongst staff supporters has naturally suffered and attendance has declined. There has even been jabs in regards to the Crew’s viability on this period of MLS coming from excessive profile gamers comparable to Michael Bradley.
However the previous is the previous. Issues received’t unexpectedly reverse course in a single day. However there’s a highlight now on Crew followers improve attendance and environment on the stadium. A brand new stadium, hopefully a brand new tv deal, higher advertising and marketing, and a brand new proprietor devoted to Columbus are on the way in which. Now the Crew followers should reply by displaying up the way in which it used to up to now.
Will the success of the #SaveTheCrew motion invigorate the fanbase? It’s an enormous query.
Ugliness for MLS
The saga seems to have a contented ending for Crew followers the league didn’t look good in all of this and it’ll take an extended time for it to recuperate.
First, regardless of Precourt saying he was looking for a technique to hold the staff in Ohio, additional studies confirmed that he had the intention of shifting the membership to Austin from the beginning. MLS and Precourt got here throughout on this ordeal as by no means being open to protecting the staff in Columbus – regardless of statements on the contrary.
With lawsuits pending, there was no means out of this to look good. Not solely will MLS keep in Columbus however now Precourt will get to start out his staff in Austin and seemingly lower the lengthy line of growth cities trying to get into the league.
Austin FC’s notion
Each time an growth staff enters into MLS, there’s a real hope across the league that the staff will probably be a optimistic addition by way of attracting followers and native curiosity.
Austin FC goes to be fully completely different. Within the eyes of plenty of followers, the staff goes to characterize an unsightly facet to the league. Crew followers are certainly going to despise Austin FC however it’s laborious to think about a lot positivity across the league for Austin FC. Precourt isn’t widespread and the staff will replicate that.
When the Austin FC emblem was unveiled, it was universally panned.
Precourt rolled out his “thoughtful” and “original” Austin FC emblem. Surprise how a lot the design agency ripped him off for this. Simply Google “Tree Logo” and these come up. First picture is his new emblem. The opposite two are on Google. #SaveTheCrew #CrewSC #AustinFC pic.twitter.com/dAef1drPQ2
— Brian Hoyt (@OhioBrian) August 24, 2018
On high of that, there are reliable questions whether or not or not the town of Austin actually desires the staff. When trying on the latest profitable growth groups, there was plenty of public curiosity about having a staff come to the world.
Austin FC goes to be beneath the microscope and if the staff doesn’t succeed within the Texas capital, many followers will not care, a bunch will rejoice, and the ugliness of this entire ordeal will probably be a lingering black mark.
