Columbus Crew owner Anthony Precourt may seem ready to move to Austin, but Mayor Andrew Ginther says the city is working hard to keep the team here.
On Tuesday, Precourt announced he would relocate the Major League Soccer team unless a new stadium is built downtown. The plan was met with derision from fans, and with disappointment from city leaders.
Ginther said on Wednesday he doesn't want to see the Crew leave Columbus.
“The city has done an awful lot in working with the private sector, the county, and others,” Ginther said. “You know, I’ve done everything from send letters, to make calls to corporate leaders, to increase corporate sponsorship and buy-in trying to increase the number of season ticket holders.”
Precourt said staying at their current location isn't a viable option.
"No investor in Columbus presented a serious offer to invest in the club while the team played at MAPFRE stadium,” Precourt said during a teleconference. “Not for 100 percent, not for 50 percent, not for any percentage."
But Ginther says that isn't true.
“We’ve been working with the private sector to set up a substantial commitment for corporate sponsorships, multi-million dollars over multiple years," Ginther said. "The private sector also stepped up and offered to buy the team, at least a majority ownership of the team so there could be local ownership and control.”
Ginther says The Columbus Partnership made a “very serious and significant offer” on behalf of the local business community. In a statement Tuesday, though, Ginther said the city "did not receive full engagement from the team's ownership."
The Crew will play at MAPFRE Stadium through at least 2018. After that, though, the ball is up in the air.
