Columbus Crew Tickets

Columbus Crew
The Columbus Crew plays professionally in Major League Soccer. This team is based in Columbus, Ohio. Originally, Lamar Hunt owned The Columbus Crew, as well as the FC Dallas and Kansas City Chiefs. His son, Clark, took over control when Lamar Hunt passed away in 2006.

The Columbus Crew, also known as the Crew, plays its home matches at the Columbus Crew Stadium. The Crew also played its home matches at the Ohio Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University between 1996 and 1999.

This team is called ?the Crew? because it refers to the blue-collar community.

History:
1996:
The Columbus Crew was established on February 6, 1996. The team selected Brian McBride, an All-American forward from Saint Louis University. Along with him, was Doctor Khumalo, an international superstar. Also, the Indiana University player and 1994 Hermann Trophy winner, Brian Maisonneuve, joined the team.

1997:
The Crew played its second major League Soccer season that took place in March of 1997. This was a repeat of the previous lackluster performance, but the Crew managed to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. They were knocked out by D.C. United. Thomas Dooley and Mike Lapper were new recruits for the Crew. They were both U.S. National Team regulars. Friedel was yet another inclusion brought into strengthen the team?s defenses.

1998:
In 1998, player movement and plans for a new purpose-built stadium were highlighted. One of the major movements included Brad Friedel [goalkeeper] leaving the Crew to play for Liverpool [English Premier League]. However, the team was sufficiently fortunate to bring in adequate replacements. Also, U.S. National Team goalkeeper, Juergen Sommer, was brought in. He was MLS's all-time wins leader from Tampa Bay.

1999:
Prior to the 1999 season, the team and management spent January through April preparing to make a lasting impact in the history of soccer in the Unites States of America. This preparation entailed Fitzgerald and the rest having to play the season?s first seven matches on the road prior to playing in the team's new home. Beyond the road trip, the Crew succeeded with a 5-2 record first position in the Eastern Conference.

2001:
2001 marked the Crew?s 6th season, in which it returned to the MLS Cup playoffs after a year?s absence. The team was bursting with confidence at this point in time that it adopted the motto 'Destiny 2001'.

2003:
This season was the last that Brian McBride and Mike Clark would play for the Crew.A number of on field injuries and inclusion of new players resulted in the team?s dismal performance. By the end of this season, they only had missed the playoffs for only the second time in their club?s history.

Regarding their championship performances, to date the Crew has managed to claim the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in which they defeated Los Angeles Galaxy [1?0]. The Crew also reached a final that was controversially relocated. The 1998 Open Cup, was shifted from Virginia Beach to Soldier Field because of a hurricane. Soldier Field was the home of the Chicago Fire, that emerged as winners [2?1].

Television and radio:
Columbus Sports Network usually televises Columbus Crew home matches. Matches that are played away from home are televised the Ohio News Network. However, a few matches in 2007 were broadcast nationally on ESPN2, HDNet, Fox Soccer Channel, and Telefutura. Radio broadcasts in English are heard on the radio channel, ?The Brew? 105.7 WBWR-FM. Radio broadcasts in Spanish are heard on Radio Sol WXOL.