Columbus council weighs $150 Crew ticket fee for Haslam NWSL bid
Source: dispatch.com
- Columbus City Council is considering a $150 ticket fee on Crew soccer games to fund a new women's professional soccer team.
- The Haslam family, who own the Cleveland Browns, proposes the NW SL team with a $65 million stadium in the Arena District.
- If approved, the fee would generate $6-7 million yearly starting in 2026 to cover team operations without city money.
Columbus City Council members are debating a proposal to add a $150 surcharge on Columbus Crew tickets to support a new National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) team bid by the Haslam family. The Haslams, known for owning the Cleveland Browns, plan a $65 million stadium next to Lower.com Field in the Arena District. This matters because it could bring professional women's soccer to Columbus without direct taxpayer funds, boosting local sports and economy, but raises questions about fairness to Crew