Hunt Discusses Crew's Facility Needs, Affirms Commitment To Club

11-Year Old Columbus Crew Stadium Was First Soccer-Specific Venue In The U.S.

MLS Crew Owner Clark Hunt said that the team "must look at its long-term facility needs," including a "new stadium," according to Jeff Bell of BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS. Crew President & GM Mark McCullers said that the 11-year old Crew Stadium "remains an iconic soccer site, but the team needs to look out five to 10 years for its facility needs." Nine of MLS' 16 venues are "soccer-specific with more under development." One of the Crew's "chronic problems at Crew Stadium -- muddy parking lots -- is being addressed." A "paving and drainage improvement project next to the stadium should be completed this year, adding 2,000 paved parking spots to go with the 800 in place." Meanwhile, Hunt said his family is "very committed to the Crew." There have been rumors that the Hunts are "looking to sell the Columbus franchise," but Hunt said that that is "not the case." He did note that "his family is looking for additional local investors to take a minority stake in the club." Bell notes the Crew's attendance through 11 home games was up "nearly 5 percent from a year earlier." But Hunt said that the team "needs to get better at developing corporate partnerships in the region." Hunt: "We've been going into a headwind the past two or three years because of the difficult economy. We are happy it is starting to improve so we can make up some of that ground" (BUSINESS FIRST OF COLUMBUS, 8/27 issue).

BUILD IT, AND THEY MAY COME: In Houston, Jose de Jesus Ortiz noted AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke, whose company owns the MLS Dynamo, last week "outlined the club's clear goal to attract and sign a marquee designated player next winter or summer." The "fact is that when you add it all together, the Dynamo cannot realistically attract -- or afford, for that matter -- a genuine star designated player until" they move into their new stadium or "until a few months before they move in." When asked "about the team's hope of possibly landing a star designated player, multiple Dynamo players shrugged, looked up, pointed at Robertson Stadium and admitted it would be nearly impossible to try to recruit a star while playing" at the facility (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/28).