Following a 4.7 magnitude earthquake on Sunday in the Los Angeles area, Columbus Crew players have explained the experience as they were staying close to the epicentre of the quake.

"I heard all the guys in the hotel were nervous being on the 17th floor," said goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum, who was away from the team visiting his brother in Los Angeles.

"I was nervous at first but quickly realized what was going on and that it would pass pretty quickly. It was my first quake so I was pretty excited."

Defenders Danny O'Rourke and Eric Brunner were walking to a restaurant when the quake hit.

"It was crazy," O'Rourke said.

"I felt the ground was pulling me in one direction. I wasn't walking. I was moving. It was pretty interesting. We were right by the beach and some people came running out of a hotel and said, 'Grab everybody.' Others said it happens all the time."