When the Columbus Crew nearly moved to Texas in 2017, fans like Emily Kegg rallied to save the team.
Now, as the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) prepares to launch its 18th franchise in Columbus by 2028, those same supporters face a new dilemma: cheering for a team backed by billionaires while grappling with controversial public funding and the loss of a community park.
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The NWSL's rapid expansion has turned women's soccer into big business.
The Columbus ownership group—led by billionaires Jimmy and Dee Haslam, former Crew doctor Pete Edwards, and insurance giant Nationwide—paid a record $205 million expansion fee.
That sum dwarfs the $2 million fees paid by franchises just four years ago, highlighting the league's soaring valuation.
But the deal's financial structure has stirred unease.
In March, the Haslam group requested $50 million in combined city and county funds for a training facility and stadium upgrades.
The city proposed a 2% ticket tax on all events at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to repay its $25 million share, with the surcharge funding health and human services.
The county approved its $25 million share the day before the NWSL officially awarded the bid.
Public Park Sparks Outrage
The most contentious issue emerged over McCoy Park, a 28-acre public green space on Columbus's underserved Southwest Side.
The city had planned to transform it into adaptive sports fields for residents with disabilities, with over $900,000 already spent on community consultations.
