The Short North and Arena District are set to be illuminated in gold each night during Black & Gold Week, building up to Crewsmas.
In Columbus, Ohio, the Columbus Crew and Major League Soccer are marking their 30th season by looking back on soccer memories and iconic players in anticipation of the upcoming home opener on Saturday.
As part of Black & Gold Week, the Short North and Arena District will be lit up in gold every evening, creating excitement for “Crewsmas,” which is the first home game of the season.
To kick off the season, the Crew, the founding Club of MLS, will organize themed events for fans throughout the week leading up to the match against Chicago Fire FC at Lower.com Field on Feb. 22.
This season’s home match tickets labeled “Fee Free Weekend” are available for purchase with no added fees. Fans can find those tickets on Ticketmaster.
Other community events in Columbus are planned to generate excitement for the Crew and MLS prior to the first game.
Nearly 20 Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s community centers are participating in a mini-tifo contest to win prizes and engage in friendly competition.
Each center will create small choreographed visual displays, and fans can vote for one center online or in-person. The center that receives the most votes wins tickets to a future Crew home match, and their voters will be automatically entered in a jersey raffle.
The Club is also hosting a scavenger hunt throughout the city from Feb. 18 to Feb. 21.
Fans can follow along with the Crew’s social media to find crew representatives at specific locations for each day of the hunt. When they arrive at the location, fans can search for prizes such as 30th season commemorative calendars and a pair of tickets to the season opener.
During their journey, fans with the Columbus Crew mobile app can track their progress with the digital passport feature. After the end of Black & Gold Week, Crew-themed rewards will be given to supporters based on the number of locations they visited.
Other merchandise for supporters includes a secondary jersey kit inspired by Columbus-native R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps at the Crew Shop. Fans can also learn about and purchase commemorative tickets here.
The Crew will also recognize distinguished alumni throughout the season. Details about alumni celebrations will be announced later.
