The Crew have reversed course and will "offer refunds through Nov. 3" to fans who have bought '18 season tickets, according to Andrew Erickson of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. Crew fans and even some sponsors have "complained about the possible move" of the club to Austin, and some have "taken issue with being told that they would not be allowed a refund" on '18 tickets. The Crew began their season-ticket membership campaign Aug. 10, more than two months "before the announcement" of the potential relocation. It is "not common for professional sports teams to offer refunds for season-ticket packages" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/26). In Columbus, Doug Buchanan noted the team is giving season-ticket holders until 5:00pm ET on Nov. 3 to "request a refund." But the club is "not offering any refunds on potential playoff games at Mapfre Stadium this year" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/25).
NOTHING SET IN STONE: MLS Commissioner Don Garber said it is "not proper to say" that the Crew and Chair Anthony Precourt "want to move." Garber: "What they're doing is evaluating what their options are to determine whether it makes sense to move to Austin or whether or not it makes sense for them to have factors that will improve their performance and stay in the City of Columbus." Garber said a planned meeting he has with Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus Partnership CEO Alex Fischer will determine "what kinds of things need to happen for the Crew to work with the city and stay" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 10/26). SI.com's Brian Straus noted Garber said "nothing that might imply Precourt wants to stay" in Columbus. Garber cited the Earthquakes' move to Houston in '06 -- which officially is considered the launch of an expansion team in Houston and a two-year hiatus for the Earthquakes -- as a "traumatic decision that long-term ... can be beneficial for the sport and the league overall." Garber said, "No league, and certainly no leader of a league, wants to move a club. ... [Precourt] is a good guy. He believes in the sport. He believes in Major League Soccer. ... We're all going to work together to get the right outcome" (SI.com, 10/25).
WELCOME PARTY: In Austin, Kevin Lyttle cites a source as saying that at least one Crew exec was "back in Austin this week, talking to city officials and organizing a search for a prospective stadium site." Soccer "will be on the agenda" at the next Austin City Council meeting Nov. 9. Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo said that she is working with other council members to "draft a resolution asking city staff to complete an inventory of available city-owned parcels and conduct analysis into the possible impact of having an MLS team in Austin" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10/26).
