Columbus Crew SC anxiously await their debut at New Crew Stadium in 2021, but first a few more matchdays at the existing Historic Crew Stadium await.
Club president Tim Bezbatchenko said earlier this week that they’re planning to play three to four more games at their old stomping grounds before shifting into their new soccer-specific stadium. Players and supporters alike are anxiously awaiting the moment, too.
"We're focusing on early July, first week of July, working with the league on the schedule,” Bezbatchenko said earlier this week, per The Columbus Dispatch. “Whether or not that's a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, we don't know."
The 2021 MLS season is slated to begin April 17, with the 34-game schedule leaving room for roughly 13-14 games at Crew SC’s new downtown venue. Bezbatchenko said that number could change, but it’s their aim and timeline before officially making the move in early July.
Columbus are looking to build off winning MLS Cup in 2020, which earned them a Concacaf Champions League spot in 2021. Before MLS games begin, their CCL Round of 16 matchup with Nicaraguan club Real Estelí is scheduled for April 8 (away) and April 15 (home).
New Crew Stadium will have a 20,000 seating capacity and natural grass playing surface. It’s expected to cost $300 million and will be one of three soccer-specific stadiums that open in MLS this year alongside Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium and FC Cincinnati’s West End Stadium.
