COLUMBUS CREW STADIUM

Produced by Richard Arthur 2003

Columbus Crew (MLS) (1999-present)

As a charter franchise in Major League Soccer (MLS), the Columbus Crew commenced play at Ohio Stadium in MLS's inaugural season of 1996. As it is principally an American football stadium, the facility was never popular with the team or its fans. When renovations to the American football stadium forced the Crew out, their owner, oil billionaire Lamar Hunt, decided to build the team its own dedicated home. Thus, Crew Stadium was born — purpose-built for the Columbus Crew in the winter of 1998-99. The construction cost of $28.5 million was covered entirely with private funds from Mr. Hunt and his Hunt Sports group.

According to crew stadiums offical web site the stadium seats 22,555 (with room to expand to 30,000 total seats) and is located on the grounds of the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds. Crew Stadium opened May 15, 1999 with a match between the home side and the New England Revolution. It is the second soccer-specific stadium in the United States (the USL First Division's Charleston Battery opened its soccer-specific stadium, Blackbaud Stadium, on April 24, 1999) and the first in Major League Soccer (including a FIFA regulation 115 × 75 yard pitch), and has been credited with inspiring the wave of construction of soccer-specific stadiums throughout the league.

Unused postcard (approx.) 4" x 6" produced by Richard Arthur, Columbus, OH.

These cards are not sold commercially.