Lower.com Field
The field's southwest gate on the day of the first game
Map
Former namesNew Crew Stadium (prior to opening)
Address96 Columbus Crew Way, Columbus, Ohio[1]
Coordinates39°58′6.46″N 83°1′1.52″W / 39.9684611°N 83.0170889°W / 39.9684611; -83.0170889
OwnerConfluence Community Authority (CCA)
OperatorColumbus Crew
TypeSoccer-specific stadium
Capacity20,371
Field size115 × 75 yards
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke groundOctober 10, 2019[2][3]
OpenedJuly 3, 2021
Construction cost$314 million
ArchitectHNTB[4]
Tenants
Columbus Crew (MLS) (2021–present)

Lower.com Field is a soccer-specific stadium in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It serves primarily as the home stadium of the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, replacing the club's previous home, Historic Crew Stadium. The new stadium cost $314 million and is located at the center of the mixed-use Astor Park development adjacent to the Arena District and downtown.[5] It seats 20,371 spectators and includes 30 suites and 1,900 club seats.

History

The stadium under construction, March 2021

Construction on the new stadium was originally scheduled to begin in the summer of 2019, but after delays, [6] groundbreaking was later rescheduled to October 10, 2019.[3] Upon completion of Lower.com Field, Historic Crew Stadium was redeveloped into the training center of Columbus Crew.[7]

On June 15, 2021, the Crew announced that Columbus-based online real estate company Lower.com had purchased the naming rights to the stadium; per team policy, terms were not disclosed.[8]

The first game in Lower.com Field was on July 3, 2021, and resulted in a 2–2 draw between the Crew and the New England Revolution. Parts of the stadium were still under construction at the time.[5][9] The first goal in stadium history was scored by Tajon Buchanan of New England; Columbus' first goal was scored by Gyasi Zardes during the same match.[10] On July 17, 2021, the Crew earned their first win at Lower.com Field with a 2–1 victory over New York City FC.[11]

The stadium is owned by the Confluence Community Authority (CCA), a special district governed by the City of Columbus and Franklin County. The Crew have a 30-year lease with the CCA with an annual rent of $10 and an option to purchase the stadium outright in 2047 for 30 percent of its market value.[12]

Major events

Men's club matches

Date Team #1 Result Team #2 Tournament Spectators
September 29, 2021 United States Columbus Crew 2–0 Mexico Cruz Azul 2021 Campeones Cup 18,026
December 9, 2023 United States Columbus Crew 2–1 United States Los Angeles FC MLS Cup 2023 20,802
July 24, 2024 United StatesCanada MLS All-Stars – TBD 2024 MLS All-Star Game

International matches

USMNT vs Costa Rica, WC qualifying, Oct 13, 2021, pre-match

Men's matches

Date Team #1 Result Team #2 Tournament Spectators
October 13, 2021  United States 2–1  Costa Rica 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF third round 20,165
January 27, 2022  United States 1–0  El Salvador 20,000

Women's matches

Date Team #1 Result Team #2 Tournament Spectators
April 9, 2022  United States 9–1  Uzbekistan Friendly 12,071
April 9, 2024  United States – TBD 2024 SheBelieves Cup
 Japan – TBD

References

  1. ^ "A-Z Guide for Matchday and Stadium Policies". ColumbusCrew.com. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. ^ "City council approves Crew SC stadium development". WBNS-TV. Tegna. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Crew SC Communications (September 17, 2019). "SAVE THE DATE: Columbus Crew SC to break ground for new stadium on Oct. 10 in open-to-the-public ceremony". Columbus Crew SC. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  4. ^ "Columbus Crew MLS Stadium". HNTB. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Myers, Jacob (March 24, 2021). "It's a date: new Crew Stadium will open July 3 against New England". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  6. ^ "Columbus Crew SC's downtown stadium construction to start in summer of 2019". ESPN.com. January 9, 2019.
  7. ^ "Plan calls for $230M Columbus Crew stadium in the Arena District, anchoring new mixed-use development". Columbus Business First. December 6, 2018.
  8. ^ "Introducing Lower.com Field: Columbus Crew announces long-term stadium naming rights partnership with Lower". ColumbusCrew.com. June 15, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
  9. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (June 7, 2019). "Columbus Crew president: New stadium won't open until summer of 2021". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  10. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (July 3, 2021). "Recap: Columbus Crew 2, New England Revolution 2". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  11. ^ Myers, Jacob. "Columbus Crew holds on to first-ever win at new stadium, Zelarayan scores free-kick winner". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Bush, Bill (October 4, 2022). "Crew's rent for Lower.com Field only $10 a year, but team still late with payments". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.

External links

Events and tenants
Preceded by Home of the
Columbus Crew
2021 – present 		Succeeded by
current
Columbus Crew
City of Columbus, Ohio
Stadiums of Major League Soccer
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