Will the Columbus Crew play Lionel Messi in Cleveland? A breakdown of what we know
When Crew season-ticket renewals opened up for the 2025 season on July 5, the fine print stated the team could play home matches outside of Columbus, "including but not limited to a stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio.”
Many interpreted this to mean that the Crew are planning to play a home match at Cleveland Browns Stadium during the 2025 season. Crew owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam also own the Browns.
The Crew have already come close to playing up the road. Near the end of June, it was reported the club was in talks about moving their CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals home leg to the Northeast Ohio venue if their opponent was Inter Miami, rather than CF Monterrey.
Related Columbus Crew article: Crew playing in Cleveland? Browns making a move? Inside the Haslams' stadium games | Arace
At the time, Josh Glessing, chief of strategy and development at Haslam Sports Group told television network News 5 that the Crew were looking into playing in Cleveland because this would be an opportunity "to put Lionel Messi, one of the most famous, if not the most famous people in the world - arguably the greatest soccer player in history - on the biggest stage possible."
Champions Cup games were excluded from the 2024 season ticket packages. Season ticket holders were guaranteed the option of purchasing them for an additional cost, but it was only an option. It was possible to decline tickets that would have required travel 145 miles away from the Crew's home venue of Lower.com Field.
More: Crew playing in Cleveland? Browns making a move? Inside the Haslams' stadium games | Arace
The Crew did not end up playing in Cleveland this year because Monterrey advanced over Miami. But the door is still open for a 2025 regular-season home match.
"The Crew are dedicated to sharing and expanding our club’s and supporters’ passion for soccer," Crew spokesperson Rob McBurnett said in a statement to The Columbus Dispatch. "And we identified a special opportunity to advance that goal by hosting a potential semifinals match in Cleveland.
"While we won’t hold a 2024 match in Northeast Ohio, we will continue to explore the possibility in future years, especially given our familiarity with Cleveland Browns Stadium and ability to host substantially more supporters while creating a memorable matchday experience that reflects and benefits our incredible fan base."
Once season ticket holders were made aware of the new addition to the 2025 terms and conditions, a number took to social media and shared their dismay.
The Crew's supporter group, The Nordecke, made a statement saying the organization strongly opposes "playing meaningful matches in Cleveland or elsewhere outside of the Columbus Metro Area."
A Statement on 2025 Season Tickets from The Nordecke Board.#Crew96 | #VamosColumbus pic.twitter.com/JtX7BCxryz
— The Nordecke ⭐⭐⭐ (@Nordecke) July 11, 2024
In May, Dee Haslam expressed a desire for the Crew to play in front of larger crowds. Addressing Lower.com Field she told a forum: "We didn't build it big enough. We learned that pretty quickly because we have a tremendous fan base."
The capacity at Lower.com Field is 20,371, while Browns Stadium can seat 67,431.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew vs Lionel Messi, Inter Miami possibly in Cleveland?
