The Crew leave no stone unturned for fans

Article by Coliseum, published September 9, 2020

The Crew have unlocked a fresh batch of renderings for its new facility, which includes details of a first-of-its-kind seating option at the venue.

The Crew staged their latest virtual town hall event for the development recently, which is now around 40 percent complete and on course to open in summer 2021.

The new Columbus Crew Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium under construction in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It will primarily serve as the new home stadium of the Columbus Crew SC of Major League Soccer (MLS), replacing the club’s current home, Mapfre Stadium.

Image: Columbus Crew SC

The renderings include the North terraces, standing room only areas overlooking the new Nordecke supporters’ section, and the upper concourse of the New Crew Stadium. Located on the West side of the stadium, the Ledge seats, new to a MLS venue, will be lodged in front of the suites in the midfield area and will offer splendid views of the pitch.

Speaking during the town hall which was a virtual affair, Matt Schuepbach, Senior Project Designer at design firm HNTB, highlighted how the stadium has been drawn up to provide fans an enthralling experience and a very electrifying atmosphere – “The fans at the stadium will be as close as possible to the pitch. The first row is eight feet closer to the pitch than at MAPFRE (Stadium), and this cascade up to the upper bowl. Even this is 25 to 30 feet closer to the pitch than it was at MAPFRE, so the whole idea of being on top of the action is going to be so intimidating at this venue.”

The Nordecke area has been designed to accommodate the team’s most ardent fans. The North stand will incorporate standing room terrace decks above this area so fans can feel the whole stadium atmosphere per se, without getting directly immersed in it.

Schuepbach also explained how the New Crew Stadium will comprise patio-style areas to make certain that fans get completely immersed in the thick of the action, even when they’re away from the pitch – “It was an intentional move from the ownership that fans, when they’re getting concessions, food or walking around the concourse, still have a visual connection to the action on the pitch. All concessions and restrooms are pushed to the perimeter, allowing that connection, no matter where you are, to see the pitch.”

Image: Columbus Crew SC

The Crew in May unveiled more renderings of the stadium after Haslam Sports Group and the Edwards Family, investor-operators of the team, announced the creation of a joint venture for the commercial development of the Confluence Village, which will sit in the vicinity of the new arena.

The club’s owners made the announcement in concert with the Columbus-based The Pizzuti Companies. The Confluence Village will be located in downtown Columbus, with the Crew and Pizzuti to bring about sweeping transformations in the area with offices, commercial, residential and verdant space to come up.

Columbus Crew broke ground on its new 20,000-seat downtown stadium in October last year, just hours after the club’s owners was through with the acquisition of land on which it will sit.

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Image: Columbus Crew SC