The city of Columbus is hoping for more time to facilitate a potential purchase of Crew SC.
City Attorney Zach Klein on Monday filed a motion to pause the six-month time period for a local investor to purchase the team from Precourt Sports Ventures.
“This tactic enables us to pause the six-month time period as outlined in the law in order to protect investments by the people of Ohio,” Klein said in a press release accompanying the filing. “This will allow the City of Columbus to ensure that local investors in fact have the opportunity to purchase the team. We remain committed to doing everything we can to keep The Crew here in Columbus.”
The city and state of Ohio filed suit in March to prevent Precourt Sports Ventures from moving the team to Austin, Texas, invoking Ohio Revised Code Section 9.67, or the “Modell Law,” which is supposed to keep sports teams that receive public funding from leaving the state.
The city said last week that prospective buyers stand ready to purchase the club, granted they’re able to review the organization’s finances.
City Attorney Klein’s motion to toll, or pause, is available here.
Meanwhile, in Austin, a potential stadium site is being reviewed by Austin City Council.