The Columbus Crew announced that it will be playing its game against Inter Miami and star Lionel Messi next season at Huntington Bank Field, the home of the Cleveland Browns, and not at Lower.com Field in Columbus.
The April 19 game will be the first Major League Soccer regular season game in northeast Ohio.
Jimmy and Dee Haslam and their Haslam Sports Group own the Crew and the Browns. Lower.com field seats 20,000, while Huntington Bank Field seats 67,000.
In a statement Wednesday, Haslam Sports Group Chief of Strategy and development and Crew President of Business Operations Josh Glessing said, “At Huntington Bank Field, we can welcome significantly more Crew fans, and it gives us an opportunity to engage with new fans in Northeast Ohio. We know that the match will not be as convenient for everyone so in acknowledgement of that, we are providing special benefits to Season Ticket Members and Nordecke membership who join us in Cleveland."
The Crew's 2025 season-ticket holders will receive their standard allotment of tickets at Huntington Bank Field, and will be placed in an equivalent or improved location compared to their typical area at Lower.com Field.
Season ticket members also will have a one-week window (Jan. 6-12) to upgrade, relocate or add discounted tickets to their allotment.
Crew fan Morgan Hughes, who helped lead the Save the Crew effort that began in 2017 and led to a new stadium, told WOSU Wednesday that he has heard from upset local Crew fans.
But Hughes said he isn't as upset as long as it's just a "one-time cash grab."
"I'm legitimately happy for the fans in northeast Ohio," Hughes said.
Messi and Inter Miami defeated the Crew 3-2 in Columbus on Oct. 2.
