Update: Local buyers may save the Crew
The Columbus Crew may be on the verge of being saved.
Rumors have swirled all day on social media regarding the future of the franchise, which investor/operator Anthony Precourt wants to move to Austin, Texas.
An announcement to address the rumors — which mostly include Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam buying the Crew and Precourt starting a new team in Austin — is expected Friday afternoon, according to multiple reports.
https://twitter.com/AEricksonCD/status/1050807378189402113
https://twitter.com/JeffreyCarlisle/status/1050808804202479616
The official Twitter account for the Save The Crew movement, which has fought to keep the Crew in Columbus since finding out Precourt’s intention to move the team, tweeted an image that said, “Saved the Crew.”
https://twitter.com/Save_The_Crew/status/1050794204731985921
While nothing has been confirmed, #SaveTheCrew is trending nationally on Twitter and Crew fans are gathering at Endeavor Brewing Company in Columbus with a large banner that reads, “We ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
https://twitter.com/EndeavorBrewing/status/1050755936846004224
https://twitter.com/MassiveReport/status/1050813655611310081
https://twitter.com/AndrewKingMLS/status/1050799628399054848
Precourt announced his plan to move the Crew to Austin in in October, 2017, and has since unveiled a new team name and logo for his proposed team and worked with the city of Austin to secure a stadium site.
The last year has been full of questions, concerns, debates and uncertainty for the Crew SC and soccer fans in both Columbus and Austin.
Any announcement of progress toward a decision will be welcome.
Even the City of Columbus, which filed a lawsuit against Precourt Sports Ventures during the relocation saga, shared its anticipation of the announcement on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/ColumbusGov/status/1050823225817657350