The sight of Crew fans cheering, dancing and singing at Lower.com Field is not unusual. However, on this day, they were not supporting their team during a match. They were celebrating Columbus bringing home its third MLS Cup.

Tuesday, the Crew hosted their 2023 MLS Cup championship parade and rally, a special event made even more special by the fact there were no celebrations of this scale after their 2020 title win due to the pandemic.

"The joy of seeing the players and the fans and supporters all out here together," said Crew co-owner Dee Haslam. "You can't help but get caught up in it all."

Starting on 3rd Ave, the team traveled down Nationwide Boulevard to Lower.com Field, where a ceremony hosted by Crew public address announcer Josh Poland took place. Both Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who went to the podium holding a copy of The Dispatch from Monday with Crew championship coverage on the front page, and Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther took turns speaking to start the rally.

"I don't know about you, but I think saving the Crew was worth it," Ginther said to the crowd before announcing that he was proclaiming the day as "Champions Day" in Columbus.

After hearing some words from Crew ownership, the team's president and general manager, Tim Bezbatchenko, reminisced on hiring coach Wilfried Nancy a year ago.

"We looked at who would be available, and there were a couple coaches that we had our eyes on," Bezbatchenko said. "One was not available, and we said, 'Screw it. We're going to go after him anyway.'"

Nancy, whose mantra "impossible is an opinion" has become a popular rallying cry in Columbus, got the chance to speak to the city he brought a championship trophy in his first year.

"I know that we won, but I do this job also to create emotions. You know me, " Nancy said. "When I see you guys here, to celebrate the work of the organization, the work of my staff, the work of my players ... to see the connection between you and us, it's unbelievable."

That's when, unexpectedly, Nancy asked the crowd to join him in an exercise, "because apparently, I'm the coach," he joked. Saying that the two words that have been important to him this season were "compete" and "enjoy," Nancy invited the fans to "enjoy" by following his lead in a popular soccer celebration from the United Kingdom, dancing to the song "Freed from Desire." This song was also heard in the Crew's locker room on Saturday night and as players walked onto the stage after the parade.

The mic was then handed over to the team. Veterans Darlington Nagbe and Josh Williams both said some words. Williams, the longest-tenured player currently with the Crew, had the most emotional speech of the day.

"This is one of the most special years," the reserve defender said. "I didn't play a minute, but in saying that, this has been one of my favorite years in my career. I feel like the word brotherhood, is thrown around and it's used a lot. But to me, I don't know how else to describe what happened in the locker room."

To close out the event, the team held an "open mic," where any player who wanted to offer anything to the fans could do so. Cucho Herandez, Aidan Morris and Steven Moreira all took the mic to thank supporters, with Moreira screaming, "I'm staying! 2025," in reference to his recent contract extension.

The day finished with the crowd singing the team's famous chant, "Wise Men," and with Bezbatchenko, who grew up in Columbus, reflecting on his good fortune.

"I mean, there wasn't even a team," he said. "You had to wake up in the middle of the night and watch pro soccer in Europe. And then in '96, that all changes.

"We've taken it to a whole new level with Lower.com Field, and the fans have shown up. ... It's just remarkable and I pinched myself watching what happened on Saturday."

bmackay@dispatch.com

@brimackay15

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Crew throw celebration parade for MLS Cup title